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Article
Aerodynamic Simulation of Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines
Journal of Applied Mechanics (2013)
  • A. Korobenko, University of California, San Diego
  • Ming-Chen Hsu, University of Texas-Austin
  • I. Akkerman, Durham University
  • Y. Bazilevs, University of California, San Diego
Abstract

Full-scale, 3D, time-dependent aerodynamics modeling and simulation of a Darrieus-type vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) is presented. The simulations are performed using a moving-domain finite-element-based ALE-VMS technique augmented with a sliding-interface formulation to handle the rotor-stator interactions present. We simulate a single VAWT using a sequence of meshes with increased resolution to assess the computational requirements for this class of problems. The computational results are in good agreement with experimental data. We also perform a computation of two side-by-side counterrotating VAWTs to illustrate how the ALE-VMS technique may be used for the simulation of multiple turbines placed in arrays.

Publication Date
September 16, 2013
Publisher Statement
Copyright 2014 by ASME. Posted with permission.
Citation Information
A. Korobenko, Ming-Chen Hsu, I. Akkerman and Y. Bazilevs. "Aerodynamic Simulation of Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines" Journal of Applied Mechanics Vol. 81 Iss. 2 (2013)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/ming-chen_hsu/1/