Designing a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Integrated

on Top of a Skyscraper

Prepared by: Harsh Shah

Prepared for: The 66th Annual

Jersey City Medical Center/RWJBarnabas
Health STEM Showcase

February 25, 2024

Abstract:

This study explores integration of a vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) into a skyscraper using

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools. The CAD

model, developed with Onshape, captures the building's basic architectural details taking

material into consideration while optimizing the VAWT design for both efficiency and

aesthetics. CFD simulations from SimScale assess the performance of the wind turbine, taking

the force acting on the building itself into consideration. The research contributes to sustainable

urban energy solutions, providing the base of wind energy into the city.

Introduction:

Wind energy, a key renewable source, offers uninterrupted power without refueling.

While homes can now harness solar energy, skyscrapers still lack self-sufficiency. This study

proposes leveraging skyscraper height for wind energy, potentially meeting their entire energy

needs. Skyscrapers' height provides a unique advantage for wind energy generation. By

Integrating turbines into their design, we can exploit higher wind speeds at altitude. Innovations

like vertical-axis turbines and smart grid technologies can enhance efficiency and reliability,

revolutionizing urban energy infrastructure.

Hypothesis:

The purpose of the research is to design a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine and integrate it onto a

basic skyscraper model. It is expected that VAWT will be a stable energy source on rooftop of a

skyscraper.
Procedure:

• Choose a design of a skyscraper, for this research the base model of 30 Hudson Street,

Jersey City, NJ was used.

• Choose a design for wind turbine, VAWT, and if possible, find a sample of it from

OnShape so that it can be modified based on the needs.

• Next is designing the skyscraper, when designing the skyscraper, sketch the model on the

front face, making it easier to extrude.

• Once the front face is sketched, extrude the design making it 3d

• Next, if you want to feature any curves use the Fillet feature.

• Once the design is ready add material composition to the design so that it provides

realistic details when tested using Computational Fluid Dynamics. For this specific

design Carbon Steel has been assigned as a material.

• Next use the Wind turbine design that you have chosen to use, and is publicly available,

make any changes that are needed to the design.

• Assign a material to the design, 300 series Stainless Steel

• Create a base that will be used to connect the Gears, turbine, and the building

• The base does not need to be really detailed; it just needs a rectangular prism and two

cylinder that would join the gears

• Next, design a gear, for this design use the top plane for sketching and Extrude to the top.

• Make a copy of the gear so that another gear does not have to be designed.

• Now start assembling the gears with the base.

• When assembling the gears and the base might be at different scale therefore measure the

diameter of the cylinder of the base and the diameter of the inner circle of the gear and

scale it accordingly

• Use the revolute feature to connect the gear with the cylinder

• Once the gears relate to the base, now use Gear feature to connect the gears with each

other

• Do not forget to remove all degrees of freedom from the base or else the gears won’t

rotate

• Next combine the wind turbine with one of the gears using fastened feature so that when

the turbines rotate the gears would rotate and theoretically, they would release energy for

the skyscraper.

• Once the assembly is ready, import that assembly to skyscraper and use Fastened feature

just the way it was used on the wind turbine to connect them together

• Now the design is ready to be tested.

• Pick a software that can simulate Computational Fluid Dynamics, for this research

SimScale has been been used but if there is access to a Windows or Mac then OpenFoam

is preferred for better results

• In SimScale, Import the design for Geometric and use the Boolean feature to combine it

as one model.

• The simulation tested for this model will be Incompressible fluid flow.

• In the simulation set the Air for Material and select the whole model to be tested

• Keep the initial conditions to default

• Now set the Boundary conditions

• Boundary Conditions 1: Velocity Inlet 1: Velocity type - Freestream, U sub x - 1m/s and

Turbulence - Automatic. Select one of the faces of wind turbine.

• Boundary Conditions 2: Velocity Outlet 2: Velocity type – Face normal value, select a

different face of wind turbine.

• Boundary Conditions 3: Pressure inlet 3: Pressure type – Total Pressure, Turbulence:

Automatic, Select the gear of the turbine for pressure.

• Boundary Condition 4: Pressure outlet 4: Pressure type – fixed value, Select face of a

turbine

• Boundary Condition 5: Wall 5: Velocity- Nonslip: Turbulence Wall – wall function.:

select the building as faces

• Boundary Condition 6: Wall 6: Velocity – Rotating Wall: Select center of the wind

turbine as point on axis: Rotational velocity; as 250 RPM: Select bottom of wind turbine

as face

• Keep the Numerics and Simulation control as default

• Next Simulate the mesh before running the whole program so that it is done in parts and

does not take all time at once

• Now run the simulation and check the results, it may take about 30 – 40 min to generate

depending on the compatibility of the device being used

• There should be 3 data sections as a result. 1. Convergence plot, 2. Force plot, 3. Moment

plot.

• Use those graphs to see the stability of the model and if it has the potential to be a source

of energy on city rooftops.

Design:
Results:
The graphs in the 1st row show the Force applied on the model which seems to be stable across

different intervals of time. The other 4 graphs are used to check the stability issues of the model.

The 1st graph in 2nd row is of Domain from convergence plot there is no stability issue seen

though Global velocity but in the other 3 graphs there are certain fluctuations that need to be

taken into consideration. Though the wall’s velocity fluctuates at first it is consistent throughout

the time but for other faces the velocity really fluctuates and provides inconsistency. The omega

in the last graph is what really proves inconsistency as its fluctuation means that there is

instability in the entire model, and it is max during the beginning.

Conclusion:

Based on the data graphs that were generated as a simulation of the model, it is concluded that

this specific design of wind turbine is not stable enough to generate energy for the skyscraper

while keeping it stable. Though this specific model does not work, changes to the model such as

changing the material of the blades or adding a base that could absorb the constraints of on the

turbine such as rubber or silicone might improve the results.

Bibliography:

1. https://www.cad-journal.net/files/vol_15/CAD_15(2)_2018_211-218.pdf
2. Vertical axis wind turbine – A review of various configurations and design techniques

3. http://www.30hudson.com/pdf-new/30-Hudson-Download-All-2022_V5.pdf

4. https://energy5.com/urban-wind-energy-revolution-the-rise-of-vertical-axis-wind-

turbines

5. https://wind.psu.edu/research/building-integrated-wind-energy/database