A Numerical Study on a Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine with Inclined Arms
Figure 13
(a) Scalar fields of -velocity component, which has the same direction of the asymptotic wind velocity (wind blowing from left to right), taken at hub height. First row shows simulation results for one or multiple blades. Second row shows results for one or multiple arms. Third row shows results for one or multiple turbine elements. The blockage effect of the turbine is clearly seen, especially in the downwind zone, being enhanced as the number of elements grown. The local presence of reverse flow is also visible. (b) Velocity vector fields in a plane orthogonal to the turbine axis. (c) Streamlines (top) and vorticity magnitude maps in planes orthogonal to the turbine axis (middle) and in planes orthogonal to the free stream velocity, in the downwind zone (bottom).
