Dimensionless Coefficients for Validation and Evaluation of a CFD Methodology Applied to a H-Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

Abstract

AbstractSmall-scale wind turbines can play an important role in the energy transition by providing distributed generation in urban and rural areas. They can help decrease the reliance on traditional forms of energy generation, such as fossil fuels, which can have negative environmental impacts. Thereby, this study aims to implement and complement a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methodology for predicting the aerodynamic performance of a H-Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT). The analysis of dimensionless numbers, such as Grid-reduced Vorticity (GRV) and Reference Courant Number (Co*), is used to indicate the suitability of spatial and temporal discretizations. Results for Power Coefficient (Cp) agreed with data from the literature and were associated with corresponding GRV and Co* values. It was also identified that incorporating the evaluation and analysis of dimensionless numbers as simulation parameters can guide methodology settings and significantly reduce simulation time compared to conventional methods such as mesh independence studies.