Deep Learning-Based Prediction of Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes Solutions for Vertical-Axis Turbines

Chloë Dorge () and Eric Louis Bibeau
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Chloë Dorge: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Manitoba, 75 Chancellors Cir, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V6, Canada
Eric Louis Bibeau: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Manitoba, 75 Chancellors Cir, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V6, Canada

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 3, 1-33

Abstract: The following study investigates the effectiveness of a deep learning-based method for predicting the flow field and flow-driven rotation of a vertical-axis hydrokinetic turbine operating in previously unseen free-stream velocities. A Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is trained and tested using the solutions of five two-dimensional (2-D), foil-resolved Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) simulations, with free-stream velocities of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 m/s. Based on the boundary conditions of free-stream velocity and rotor position, the flow fields of x-velocity, y-velocity, pressure, and turbulent viscosity are inferred, in addition to the angular velocity of the rotor. Three trained CNN models are developed to evaluate the effects of (1) the dimensions of the training data, and (2) the number of simulations used as training cases. Reducing data dimensions was found to diminish mean relative error in predictions of velocity and turbulent viscosity, while increasing it in predictions of pressure and angular velocity. Increasing the number of training cases from two to three was found to reduce relative error for all predicted unknowns. With the best achieved CNN model, the variables of x-velocity, y-velocity, pressure, turbulent viscosity, and angular velocity were inferred with mean relative errors of 6.93%, 9.82%, 10.7%, 7.48%, and 0.817%, respectively.

Keywords: deep learning; vertical-axis turbine; turbine interaction; array optimization; URANS; CFD (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: 2023
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