Flow Analysis of Vortex Generators in the Shroud of a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine

Abstract

The abstract should summarize the contents of the paper in short terms, i.e., 150–250 words. Wind energy is one of the most widely available energy sources. It can be extracted using a wind turbine. Efficiency of a wind turbine depends on factors such as incoming air velocity and its geometric parameters. Wind velocity varies with respect to location and the seasons. A higher approaching velocity means higher power output. In this study, shroud of a wind turbine is introduced. Shroud is an enclosure over the wind turbine blades. In the existing work, when air passes over the shroud, the approaching wind velocity increases up to 1.8 times due to its geometrical configuration. In this work, the effect of diffuser shape shroud on the approaching wind velocity is studied with vortex generators inside, to enhance the mass flow rate of air with the aid of pressure drop. The obtained pressure drop along the flow direction is not sufficiently high to overcome the losses in mass flow due to the obstacle provided by the vortex generator’s body.