Electric Circuit Model for the Aerodynamic Performance Analysis of a Three-Blade Darrieus-Type Vertical Axis Wind Turbine: The Tchakoua Model

Pierre Tchakoua, René Wamkeue, Mohand Ouhrouche, Ernesto Benini and Gabriel Ekemb
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Pierre Tchakoua: Department of Applied Sciences, University of Québec at Chicoutimi, 555 Boulevard de l’Université, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, Canada
René Wamkeue: Department of Applied Sciences, University of Québec at Chicoutimi, 555 Boulevard de l’Université, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, Canada
Mohand Ouhrouche: Department of Applied Sciences, University of Québec at Chicoutimi, 555 Boulevard de l’Université, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, Canada
Ernesto Benini: Department of Industrial Engineering of the University of Padua, Via Venezia 1, Padua 35131, Italy
Gabriel Ekemb: Department of Applied Sciences, University of Québec at Chicoutimi, 555 Boulevard de l’Université, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, Canada

Energies, 2016, vol. 9, issue 10, 1-20

Abstract: The complex and unsteady aerodynamics of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) pose significant challenges for simulation tools. Recently, significant research efforts have focused on the development of new methods for analysing and optimising the aerodynamic performance of VAWTs. This paper presents an electric circuit model for Darrieus-type vertical axis wind turbine (DT-VAWT) rotors. The novel Tchakoua model is based on the mechanical description given by the Paraschivoiu double-multiple streamtube model using a mechanical?electrical analogy. Model simulations were conducted using MATLAB for a three-bladed rotor architecture, characterized by a NACA0012 profile, an average Reynolds number of 40,000 for the blade and a tip speed ratio of 5. The results obtained show strong agreement with findings from both aerodynamic and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models in the literature.

Keywords: wind energy; Darrieus turbines; vertical axis wind turbine; modelling; electric circuit model; aerodynamic characteristics; performance analysis; Tchakoua model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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