3D-CFD flow driven performance analysis of new non-cylindrical helical vertical axis wind turbine for fluctuating urban wind conditions

Abstract

ABSTRACT Wind gusts are the serious parameters that need to be considered for the aerodynamic study of any wind turbine. This article investigates the performance of a new vertical axis wind turbine with non-cylindrical helical turbine blades for an unsteady gusty wind prevailing in urban and suburban environments. In this work, three-dimensional CFD analysis with dynamic mesh has been carried out for two gust velocities of 0.6 m/s and 2 m/s with a mean free stream velocity of 4 m/s. The behavior of the proposed helical turbine during start-up and steady operation was analyzed. The results show that the gust introduced during the start-up period aids in torque production, enabling it to reach the steady-state faster. The turbine reached the steady-state 54.71% earlier under gusty wind than under constant wind. However, on the scale of Cp, the turbine performed well under constant wind during the start-up period. The gust injection during the steady-state period showed a 1.97% increase in Cp of the turbine than under constant wind velocity.