Optimization of the Eolic Cell to improve the wind velocity augmentation effect through the metamodel of optimal prognosis

Abstract

• Wind velocity augmentation effect is sensitive to the Eolic Cell’s internal shape. • A narrow region from the workspace circumscribes all individual optimal profiles. • Averaged optimal profile application does not compromise the augmentation effect. • Averaged optimal profile becomes suitable for distributed generation purposes. • Eolic Cell presents a material potential to become a highly efficient energy system. Currently, most of all wind energy installed capacity in the world is located in wind farms and the reason behind that is related to the fact that conventional horizontal-axis wind turbines are highly efficient only at large scales, thus posing a concentration problem to the progress of energy transition and wind distributed generation. To address that problem, the present paper explores the utilization of a novel modular augmented wind turbine, based on Eolic Cells, to increase wind speed in order to harvest more power from the same wind resource as means to decentralize wind-energy generation around a wider range of wind sites suitable for distributed generation. The Eolic Cell’s wind velocity augmentation effect was simulated numerically by using computational fluid dynamics and optimized through a metamodel of optimal prognosis, which geometries were parameterized by using Bezier Curves and calibrated against field experiments. Results confirm the ability of this new device to substantially increase wind velocity and potentially achieve high levels of efficiency at a distributed-generation scale. The present work is the first release of a broader and more comprehensive research project on Eolic Cells as an alternative wind energy system for distributed generation. The whole research project involves studies on power augmentation curves, multivariable prognosis surfaces, optimum spacing layout, peripherally-supported wind turbine, power curves, prototype testing, as well as exhaustive wind-tunnel and field experiments, which are expected to be included in future releases of the present research project.