Abstract
When compared with horizontal-axis wind turbines, vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) have the primary advantages of insensitivity to wind direction and turbulent wind, simple structural configuration, less fatigue loading, and easy maintenance. In recent years, large-scale VAWTs have attracted considerable attention. Wind loads on a VAWT must be determined prior to structural analyses. However, traditional blade element momentum theory cannot consider the effects of turbulence and other structural components. Moreover, a large VAWT cannot simply be regarded as a planar structure, and 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation is computationally prohibitive. In this regard, a practical wind load simulation method for VAWTs based on the strip analysis method and 2D shear stress transport (SST) k-ω model is proposed. A comparison shows that the wind pressure and aerodynamic forces simulated by the 2D SST k-ω model match well with those obtained by 2.5D large eddy simulation (LES). The influences of mean wind speed profile, turbulence, and interaction of all structural components are considered. A large straight-bladed VAWT is taken as a case study. Wind loads obtained in this study will be applied to the fatigue and ultimate strength analyses of the VAWT in the companion paper.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 2573 |
Journal | Energies |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 13 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 2019 |
Keywords
- CFD simulation
- Strip analysis
- Turbulent wind
- Vertical-axis wind turbines
- Wind load simulation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- Energy (miscellaneous)
- Control and Optimization
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering