Power prediction of a Savonius wind turbine cluster considering wind direction characteristics on three sites

Abstract

The Savonius wind turbine cluster installation significantly impacts its power output in real wind fields. This study aims to investigate the effect of wind conditions on the power output of a Savonius wind turbine cluster and obtain the optimal installation orientation of the cluster in three selected sites. Two-dimension simulations are conducted to evaluate the cluster performance, and a calculation method based on power curves is proposed to evaluate its annual power output. Results showed that the wake effect induced by wind direction is the primary factor leading to the performance decrease of wind turbines. Optimal installation orientations of the cluster at the three selected sites were obtained using the proposed method, and their corresponding power outputs are 1.25, 1.27, and 1.17 times that of the isolated turbine. The wind direction with high wind energy exerts greater effects than that with high wind frequency in determining the optimal installation orientation. The actual wind resource characteristics should be comprehensively considered in determining the optimal installation orientation in practice. This study provides guidance to the cluster installation in real wind conditions and contributes to the advancement of urban wind energy solutions.