Power Output Enhancement of a Ducted Wind Turbine by Stabilizing Vortices around the Duct

Koichi Watanabe, Yuji Ohya and Takanori Uchida
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Koichi Watanabe: Kyushu University Platform of Inter/Transdisciplinary Energy Research (Q-PIT), Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Kasuga 816-8580, Japan
Yuji Ohya: Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Kasuga 816-8580, Japan
Takanori Uchida: Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Kasuga 816-8580, Japan

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 16, 1-17

Abstract: A brimmed-diffuser augmented turbine (called a wind lens turbine: WLT) actively uses vortices around the brim to enhance its power output. However, the vortices are usually unstable and asymmetric. This study attempted to stabilize the vortices to enhance the power output of a WLT. Then, we investigated new approaches using vortex stabilization plates and polygonal brims in wind tunnel experiments and numerical simulations. Both approaches achieved a 1.5–3.8% increase in power output compared with a standard WLT. Our numerical simulations revealed a periodicity existing in a fluctuating vortex structure on the circular brim. Importantly, vortex stabilization plates and polygonal brims must be the same periodic scale to suppress the vortex fluctuation and stabilize the vortices effectively. In addition, a larger brim tended to enhance the stabilizing effects. We believe that this discovery provides an easy way to increase the power output of existing wind turbines. It is particularly important in light of advances in wind energy technology and the increasing wind energy market.

Keywords: brimmed-diffuser augmented wind turbine (B-DAWT); vortex stabilization plates; polygonal brim; power enhancement (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: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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