Numerical investigation of aerodynamic performance of darrieus wind turbine based on the magnus effect

Abstract

The use of several developmental approaches is the researchers' major preoccupation with the DARRIEUS wind turbine. This paper presents the first approach and results of a wide computational investigation on the aerodynamics of a vertical axis DARRIEUS wind turbine based on the MAGNUS effect. Consequently, wind tunnel tests were carried out to ascertain overall performance of the turbine and two-dimensional unsteady computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models were generated to help understand the aerodynamics of this new performance. Accordingly, a moving mesh technique was used where the geometry of the turbine blade was cylinders. The turbine model was created in Gambit modeling software and then read into fluent software for fluid flow analysis. Flow field characteristics are investigated for several values of tip speed ratio (TSR), in this case we generated a new rotational speed ratio between the turbine and cylinder (δ = ωC/ωT). This new concept based on the MAGNUS approach provides the best configuration for better power coefficient values. The positive results of Cp obtained in this study are used to generate energy; on the other hand, the negative values of Cp could be used in order to supply the engines with energy.