Turbulence and energy assessment of a two bladed H-type vertical axis wind turbine between two high-rise buildings

Abstract

In the present study, the turbulence characteristics and efficiency of a two bladed H-type VAWT between two side-by-side high-rise buildings are evaluated numerically by means of fluid dynamics technique using the finite volume approach. The free-wind speeds of U=5 and 10 m/s, non-dimensional gap spaces of G/D=1.5 and 3.0, and tip speed ratios (TSR) of 3 and 5 are the parameters under consideration which are studied in detail. The obtained results for two side-by-side buildings in the absence of a VAWT and a VAWT without the buildings are validated against the available data in the open literature and found good agreements from both comparisons. Examination of obtained results reveals that, for gap spaces of G/D=1.5 and 3.0, 75% and 44%-45% augmentations in local wind speed on the center line between two highrise buildings can be observed, respectively. The maximum improvements of VAWT efficiency are achieved as 21.8% and 15.1% for “G/D=1.5, U=10 m/s, and TSR=3” and “G/D=3.0, U=5 m/s, and TSR=5”, respectively.