A Prescribed Wake Model for Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

[摘要] The development of a Prescribed Wake model for the prediction of the aerodynamic performance of a vertical axis wind turbine is described in this dissertation. Initially, current and projected trends in world energy demand are examined and the requirement for extensive exploitation of renewable energy resources is identified. The potential for wind energy is then discussed and the configurations of appropriate energy conversion devices are described. The particular aerodynamic features of the vertical axis wind turbine are then highlighted and possible modelling techniques assessed. The Free Wake vortex model is identified as the most comprehensive technique currently available for the analysis of such flows. This technique, together with momentum theory, is then used as the basis for the development of a Prescribed Wake model for straight bladed vertical axis wind turbines. The evolution of the Prescribed Wake model is described and the sensitivity of the resulting scheme to numerical inputs is then assessed. Finally, the method is applied to the Darrieus wind turbine and is found to agree well with field data. It is concluded that the Prescribed Wake model can accurately reproduce the results of the Free Wake method at a fraction of the computation time but that the result obtained is particularly sensitive to the vortex wake structure and the blade section aerofoil data used.

[发布机构] University:University of Glasgow

[关键词] Aerospace engineering, Mechanical engineering, Alternative Energy