Simulation of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines With Variable Pitch Foils

L. Damon Woods; John F. Gardner; Kurt S. Myers; L. Shelton Woods

doi:10.1115/IMECE2013-65694

Simulation of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines With Variable Pitch Foils

L. Damon Woods
, John F. Gardner
, Kurt S. Myers
, L. Shelton Woods

Boise State University
Idaho National Laboratory

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

A dynamic computer model of a turbine was developed in MATLAB in order to study the behavior of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) with variable pitch (articulating) foils. The simulation results corroborated the findings of several empirical studies on VAWTs. The model was used to analyze theories of pitch articulation and to inform the discussion on turbine design. Simulations of various models showed that pitch articulation allowed Darrieus-style vertical axis wind turbines to start from rest. Once in motion, the rotor was found to accelerate rapidly to very high rotational velocities. The simulations revealed a plateau region of high efficiency for small-scale Darrieus-style VAWTs with symmetric airfoils at tip speed ratios in the range of 3 to 4 and demonstrated the advantages of using a dynamic generator load.

Original language	American English
Journal	ASME 2013 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2013-65694
State	Published - 15 Nov 2013

Keywords

simulation
vertical axis wind turbines

EGS Disciplines

Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering
Mechanical Engineering

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2013-65694

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title = "Simulation of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines With Variable Pitch Foils",

abstract = "A dynamic computer model of a turbine was developed in MATLAB in order to study the behavior of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) with variable pitch (articulating) foils. The simulation results corroborated the findings of several empirical studies on VAWTs. The model was used to analyze theories of pitch articulation and to inform the discussion on turbine design. Simulations of various models showed that pitch articulation allowed Darrieus-style vertical axis wind turbines to start from rest. Once in motion, the rotor was found to accelerate rapidly to very high rotational velocities. The simulations revealed a plateau region of high efficiency for small-scale Darrieus-style VAWTs with symmetric airfoils at tip speed ratios in the range of 3 to 4 and demonstrated the advantages of using a dynamic generator load.",

keywords = "simulation, vertical axis wind turbines",

author = "Woods, \{L. Damon\} and Gardner, \{John F.\} and Myers, \{Kurt S.\} and Woods, \{L. Shelton\}",

year = "2013",

month = nov,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1115/IMECE2013-65694",

language = "American English",

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T1 - Simulation of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines With Variable Pitch Foils

AU - Woods, L. Damon

AU - Gardner, John F.

AU - Myers, Kurt S.

AU - Woods, L. Shelton

PY - 2013/11/15

Y1 - 2013/11/15

N2 - A dynamic computer model of a turbine was developed in MATLAB in order to study the behavior of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) with variable pitch (articulating) foils. The simulation results corroborated the findings of several empirical studies on VAWTs. The model was used to analyze theories of pitch articulation and to inform the discussion on turbine design. Simulations of various models showed that pitch articulation allowed Darrieus-style vertical axis wind turbines to start from rest. Once in motion, the rotor was found to accelerate rapidly to very high rotational velocities. The simulations revealed a plateau region of high efficiency for small-scale Darrieus-style VAWTs with symmetric airfoils at tip speed ratios in the range of 3 to 4 and demonstrated the advantages of using a dynamic generator load.

AB - A dynamic computer model of a turbine was developed in MATLAB in order to study the behavior of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) with variable pitch (articulating) foils. The simulation results corroborated the findings of several empirical studies on VAWTs. The model was used to analyze theories of pitch articulation and to inform the discussion on turbine design. Simulations of various models showed that pitch articulation allowed Darrieus-style vertical axis wind turbines to start from rest. Once in motion, the rotor was found to accelerate rapidly to very high rotational velocities. The simulations revealed a plateau region of high efficiency for small-scale Darrieus-style VAWTs with symmetric airfoils at tip speed ratios in the range of 3 to 4 and demonstrated the advantages of using a dynamic generator load.

KW - simulation

KW - vertical axis wind turbines

UR - https://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/mecheng_facpubs/53

U2 - 10.1115/IMECE2013-65694

DO - 10.1115/IMECE2013-65694

M3 - Article

JO - ASME 2013 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition

JF - ASME 2013 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition

ER -

Simulation of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines With Variable Pitch Foils

Abstract

Keywords

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