INVESTIGATING THE SUITABILITY OF A TWO DIMENSIONAL SMALL SIZE VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE NUMERICAL MODEL
Abstract
This paper aims at the determination of the suitability of applying a numerical model of a VAWT for research purpose. A CFD two-dimensional model was created and simulated with fluent code software while the forces and flow field data were monitored and obtained. The data were compared with the experimental data obtained from a wind tunnel test. Data comprised forces and flow field velocity of a similar sized VAWT were experimental obtained in a wind tunnel, through suitable VAWT performance measurements and particle image velocimetry techniques. The suitability procedure was initiated with a static aerofoil study that reduced five fully turbulence models to one by the comparison of the fully turbulence models against experimental data at Reynolds number of 1.35x105. The Transition SST and SST k-w models data sets of VAWT model were thereafter compared to the force and PIV experimental data of similar scaled VAWT obtained in a wind tunnel. The force and flow physics verification and validation show the Transition SST turbulence model as the most appropriate model for CFD modelling at the Reynolds numbers of 1.27x103, thus confirming that numerical methods are valuable tools that can be used in conducting research in VAWT.
