Performance evaluation of small wind turbine diffusers with different diameters

Abstract

Use of diffusers for increasing wind velocity is not a new concept. It is proven system through computational and experimental analysis carried out few researchers. Still, it is not well accepted technology and very few researchers are engaged in this research. Between computational and experimental analysis, researchers always prefer the computational flow analysis for evaluation of wind flow. The effect of diffuser diameter is an important aspect and this research paper is formulated on the same basis. In this research work straight conical converging-diverging vertical flanged diffusers are analyzed to study the performance. Ten different diffusers from 0.6 m to 6.0 m diameter are considered with the incremental step of 0.6 m. For all diffusers same geometry is used and simulated at the wind velocity 6.5 m/s. All dimensions of these diffuser models are considered with the same proportional by taking the rotor diameter as a reference. The velocity counters are studied and plotted. The velocity values measured in throat plane are plotted for all diffusers. Also, the multiple increase in velocity, power and coefficient of performance is plotted and discussed.