Numerical workflow for 3D shape optimization and synthesis of vertical-axis wind turbines for specified operating regimes

Ivo Marinić-Kragić, Damir Vučina and Zoran Milas

Renewable Energy, 2018, vol. 115, issue C, 113-127

Abstract: This paper presents a numerical workflow designed and developed for autonomous synthesis of vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) blades for maximum annual energy production at a specified location given by specified wind speed distribution and prescribed tip speed ratio. The workflow can synthesize shapes of both classical VAWT designs: Darrieus and Savonius rotors. This is achieved using a novel shape parameterization scheme based on B-splines which represents a compromise between shape generality and the multitude of shape variables. The developed computational framework enables the optimizer to synthesize and evaluate a variety of geometrically and even topologically different shapes such as the Darrieus and Savonius types. Moreover, the workflow can invent (i.e. numerically generate without a resembling initial shape) new generic shapes for custom operating conditions. Both single wind-speed and systems related to real-site operating conditions specified by a given distribution of wind speeds are considered. The developed workflow consists of efficient geometry parameterization, a genetic algorithm based optimizer and a computational fluid dynamics based simulator. The rather promising results of custom-shaped vertical axis wind turbines for maximum annual energy production at a given specific site are presented using a set of case studies.

Keywords: Parametric 3D shape optimization; Annual energy production; Vertical-axis wind turbine; CFD (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:115:y:2018:i:c:p:113-127

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.08.030

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