The 3D effects of a vertical-axis wind turbine

Rotor and wake induction

Journal article (2020)

Authors

Delphine de Tavernier Wind Energy - Aerospace Engineering
Carlos Ferreira Wind Energy - Aerospace Engineering
U. Paulsen Technical University of Denmark
H Madsen Technical University of Denmark
Research Group
Wind Energy (Aerospace Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2020 D. De Tavernier, Carlos Ferreira, U. Paulsen, H. Madsen
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1618/5/052040
More Info
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Published Date

22-09-2020

Language

English

Faculty

Aerospace Engineering

Department

Flow Physics and Technology

Research Group

Wind Energy

Abstract

This paper deals with the 3D effects of a vertical-axis wind turbine caused by the tip vortices. In this study, the VAWT rotor is simplified by the infinitely bladed actuator cylinder concept. The loads are prescribed to be uniform and normal to the surface and are distributed between the upwind and downwind half. Depending on the load configuration, the tip vortices are shed at different locations. This causes the wake induction field and the induction at the rotor to be significantly different. The 3D effects cause a power loss that may go up to 15% depending on the load configuration and aspect ratio. Starting from an aspect ratio of 5, the rotor induction and power is approaching 2D results.