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Alberto_MS_Thesis_v10.pdf (15.38 MB)

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Design and Experimentation of Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

Gonzalez Campos, Jose Alberto
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8035-2476
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1594690510943748

Abstract Details

2020, Master of Sciences (Engineering), Case Western Reserve University, EMC - Mechanical Engineering.
A comparative analysis has been performed for vertical-axis wind turbines, including the straight, troposkien, and helical-bladed Darrieus configurations, to assess their aerodynamic efficiency and real-power performance. The experimentation process included numerical modeling, CAD design, 3D printing-fabrication, and wind tunnel testing of lab-scale prototypes with a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control scheme under different wind velocities. Implementing a double multiple streamtube (DMST) model, aided in the delimitation of non-dimensional parameters, where the local Reynolds numbers are between Re_b = 32,000 and 190,000, finding the ideal solidity value to be σ < 1.7 for low tip-speed ratio conditions, λ < 2.5. The optimum rotor swept areas are S = 0.048 m2 and 0.093 m2 with a maximum rotational speed around ω ≅ 1100 RPMs. At the designed conditions, the best wind tunnel results are obtained from the troposkien configuration (T-v1), with a Cp_opt = 0.218 at λ_opt = 2.25, followed by the straight-bladed (SB-v2) with a Cp_opt = 0.118 at λ_opt = 1.31 and helical-bladed (H45-v3) with Cp_opt = 0.082 at λ_opt = 0.99. The implementation of a free-vortex wake (LLFVW) method demonstrated the artificial increases in Cp (13-17%) and TSR (4-6%) due to wind tunnel blockage ratios between BR = 18% and 26% with turbine curvature ratios c/R > 0.5. Nonetheless, the power predictions for the vortex model are not consistent with real experimental data varying around |∆Cp| ≥ 30%, while the DMST deviates on average by |∆Cp| ≥ 25%. As such, the best strategy for small-scale wind turbine experimentation resides on wind tunnel tests, whereas basic aerodynamic models are mainly taken as tools for parameter selection and wake-flow visualization in the downstream region.
Mario Garcia-Sanz, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Paul Barnhart, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Robert Gao, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Brian Maxwell, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
255 p.
Aerospace Engineering; Energy; Engineering; Fluid Dynamics; Mechanical Engineering
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines - VAWT; Straight-Bladed; Helical-Bladed; Troposkien-Bladed; Darrieus Wind Turbines; MPPT Control; Wind Tunnel Experimentation; Blade Element Theory - BEM; Double Multiple Streamtube Model - DMST; Free-Vortex Wake Model - LLFVW

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Gonzalez Campos, J. A. (2020). Design and Experimentation of Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbines [Master's thesis, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1594690510943748

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Gonzalez Campos, Jose. Design and Experimentation of Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbines. 2020. Case Western Reserve University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1594690510943748.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Gonzalez Campos, Jose. "Design and Experimentation of Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbines." Master's thesis, Case Western Reserve University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1594690510943748

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1594690510943748
297
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This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.