A Fast Two-Dimensional Numerical Method for the Wake Simulation of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

Abstract

In the array design of the vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT), the wake effect of the upstream VAWT on the downstream VAWT needs to be considered. In order to simulate the velocity distribution of a VAWT wake rapidly, a new two-dimensional numerical method is proposed, which can make the array design easier and faster. In this new approach, the finite vortex method and vortex particle method are combined to simulate the generation and evolution of the vortex, respectively, the fast multipole method (FMM) is used to accelerate the calculation. Based on a characteristic of the VAWT wake, that is, the velocity distribution can be fitted into a power-law function, a new correction model is introduced to correct the three-dimensional effect of the VAWT wake. Finally, the simulation results can be approximated to the published experimental results in the first-order. As a new numerical method to simulate the complex VAWT wake, this paper proves the feasibility of the method and makes a preliminary validation. This method is not used to simulate the complex three-dimensional turbulent evolution but to simulate the velocity distribution quickly and relatively accurately, which meets the requirement for rapid simulation in the preliminary array design.

Recent Development in the Design of Wind Deflectors for Vertical Axis Wind Turbine: A Review

“…Nevertheless, when an array of VAWTs is installed, then the main focus of optimization shifts to reducing the wake created by upstream turbines. The most common methods for wake improvement and array optimization are the vortex particle and finite vortex methods, or a combination of both [8].…”

Verification of Tilt Effect on the Performance and Wake of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine by Lifting Line Theory Simulation

“…This indicates that FAWTs can be deployed in high density at an offshore wind farm. As for constructing a wind farm, the wake behind the turbines is importa searchers have also concentrated on and studied it experimentally and numerica HAWTs [20,21] and for VAWTs [22,23]. However, most of the object rotors are u and there have been few studies on the wake behind tilted rotors.…”

Research on complex wake interference of aligned rotors considering the precone variation of the upstream wind turbine

“…The spacing between wind turbine rotors is the most direct factor affecting the overall output power. For example, the spacing tends to improve the wind farm's efficiency (Yu et al, 2018), although it lowers the power density (production per land area) (Zuo et al, 2016;Yuan et al, 2020;Yuan et al, 2021). However, the wind farm is limited by the site area, so it is impossible to increase or decrease the wind turbine rotors spacing indefinitely.…”