AERODYNAMIC STUDY OF VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE USING COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS - CFD

• Grant number: 17/16766-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2018
• End date: January 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Transport Phenomena
• Principal Investigator: João Vicente Akwa
• Grantee: João Vicente Akwa
• Host Institution: Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas (CECS). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Julio Carlos Teixeira

Abstract

In this text, a research project proposal is presented in the area of small wind turbines, to be executed at the Federal University of ABC - UFABC. The aim of this work is to study a micro-turbine with vertical axis of the Savonius type, since it is considered as a turbine that has constructive simplicity and some advantages in its use, within the application range of small wind turbines, operating in urban environments, as it is the area where the university is located. If improvements in its performance are obtained, its use may be preferred in relation to the other types of turbines, considering that its cost of manufacture is low. The experimental and numerical methods (by computational fluid dynamics - CFD) are among the possible ways of predicting its performance, to perform studies of improvements. Numerical studies can provide a wide range of results and analyzes on the operation of the turbine, but in the literature on the theme are few the works that provide all conditions for comparison between studies and reproduction of results. Among the numerical works found in the literature, most only evaluate flow with 2D simplifications on the mathematical domain geometry. In view of this lack of works, this paper proposes a project that aims to obtain experimental results of the flow on a Savonius rotor in a small aerodynamic channel and to make use of these results in tridimensional and transients numerical simulations that use the Finite Volumes Method, with the purpose of validating results. The general results will be useful in the continuity of the studies, and can be used in future development projects of a small wind turbine. The results will also contribute to the growth of wind energy research at the university, in the Energy Engineering course. (AU)