BAHIR DAR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

BAHIR DAR UNIVERSITY

Faculty of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Experimental and Numerical analysis Of Turbulence flow effect on the performance of H-type
VAWT
MSc. Thesis
By
Tadesse Jemal
Program: Thermal Engineering
1
Advisor: Dr. Shoeb S.
 Outlines
1. Introduction
1.1 background
1.2 Statement of the problem
1.3 significance of the study
1.4 Objective of research
1.4.1 General objective
1.4.2 Specific objective
1.5 Scope of research
2. Literature Review
3. Research methodology
4. Experimental analysis
5. Numerical analysis
6. Result and discussion
7. Conclusion and recommendations
2
8. References
 1.Introduction

1.1 background

 Wind turbine systems are among the most important renewable

energy resource in the world

 Two main types of wind turbines have been adopted which are

 Horizontal axis wind turbine

 Vertical axis wind turbine

 Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT) currently used in urban applications

3
 Cont…..
Working principle
When a Darrieus rotor spins, the airfoils move forward through the air in a
circular path. Relative to the blade, this oncoming airflow is added in vector to
the wind, so that the resultant airflow creates a varying small positive angle
(AoA) to the blade.

4
Figure 2-9 working principle [24]
 Cont…….
 In urban and built-up area, the atmospheric wind becomes highly turbulent
and exhibits significant fluctuations of gust speed and high variability of
wind direction caused by the urban structures and buildings[1].

Wind Flow Disturbance, Wake Interference and Turbulences[9] 5

 Cont…..
 Aerodynamic performance of a wind turbine can be significantly
affected

performance evaluation of small scale wind turbine[7]

6
1.2 Statement of the problem
 Energy is vital in our day to day activity. Wind energy is the most cost
effective and the power performance and efficiency decrease with different
parameters. Wind turbine installed in near buildings, trees subject to
turbulence intensity. there is no clear consensus on the effect of turbulence on
the flow of H-type VAWT wind turbine. So it’s crucial to study the effect of
turbulence on H-type VAWT .

7
1.3 Significance of the study
The main importance of this thesis paper is
 The designer can consider my thesis paper in their design process of a wind
turbine blade to ensure the lifetime and reliability of the wind turbine system.
 Fill the knowledge gap between the researcher and the readers on the
turbulence effect on the flow of H-TYPE VAWT.
1.4 Objective of research
1.4.1 General objective
The main objective of this research paper is to analyze the effect of turbulence
flow on the performance of H-type vertical axis wind turbine with variable wind
velocity by using experimental and as well as numerical method 8
1.4.2 Specific object

Create the 3-D model of the blade profile and blade for the simulation in
SOLID-WORK.

Create the mesh model of the blade

CFD analysis and simulation analysis the model.

Manufacture the prototype of the turbine with calculated profile parameter for
the experimental analysis

Carrying out experimental analysis for different turbulence intensities in the

wind tunnel
9
 Cont……..
 To investigate the turbulence flow effect on vertical axis wind turbine
performance in generating electricity
 To measure rotational speed in front of subsonic wind turbine for models at
different turbulence intensity with variable wind speed with the help of
tachometer.
 Comparison of the software simulation data and experimental analysis
result and
 Validated experimental results by CFD simulation
10
1.5 Scope of research

The goal of this paper is to study the effect of turbulence on a H-type vertical
axis wind turbine using NACA0021 shaped blades under variable wind speeds
and demonstrate using wind tunnel on subsonic flow for experimentally
analysis and simulation by using commercial software Ansys fluent.

The turbulence was generated inside the wind tunnel using with blockage
area at the inlet. The turbulence intensity is calculating in the wind tunnel
from the grid.

11
 2. Literature Review
Experimental performance prediction

Author Contribution
S.N
o
1 Ph.  have conducted experiments to study of wind turbine airfoil aerodynamics in high
Devinant*, T. turbulence horizontal Axis Wind Turbine. Reynold no between 100,000-700,000.
Laverne, J.  It was observed a high level of turbulence greatly affects the aerodynamic properties of
Hureau[6] the airfoil considered
2 Qing'an Li [7]  to investigate the effect of turbulence on the power performance at the yawed and no-
yawed flow conditions, focusing on the turbulence intensities and boundary layer in wind
tunnel experiments.
 In this study, UMY02-T01-26 airfoil was developed.it could be found that the power
coefficients decreased in the case of the extremely low turbulence intensity of TI=0.50%.

3 William  High resolution measurements of wind speed and energy generation from an
David Lubitz instrumented Bergey XL.1 small wind turbine was used to investigate the effect of
[8] ambient turbulence levels on wind turbine energy production.
 It was found that ambient turbulent intensity impacts energy production, but that the
impact is different at different wind speeds. At low wind speeds, increased turbulence
appeared to increase energy production from the turbine 12
 Cont…
Author Contribution
S.No
4 Chia-Ren Chu [10]  investigated the effects of ambient turbulence on the wake flows and
power production of a horizontal-axis wind turbine the high-digit
NACA00xx airfoil provided higher power coefficient at a low tip speed
ratio than the low-digit NACA00xx airfoil. Moreover, it was found that
an enhancement of the power production was observed with the increase
of the Reynolds number.

13
 Cont…
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD study)

Author Contribution
S.N
o
1 Sina Anbaei  conducted numerical simulation of turbulent flow through a three-blade vertical axis
[12] wind turbine of 2-D simulation of a 3-blade vertical axis wind turbine with straight
blades.
 It was observed 2D simulation has a discrepancy less than 15 percent relative to
available experimental data, confirming the accuracy and reliability of numerical results
2 Karbasian et  evaluated the turbulence effect on dynamic stall based on SST k-u model, and governing
al. [13] equations are discretized using finite volume method.
 showed that these effects of turbulence level do not have a significant influence on the
wind turbine power and thrust coefficients
3 Hamada et al.  conducted two and three-dimensional simulations on straight bladed VAWT by using the
[11] and three different subtypes of the k-ε turbulence model .
Howell et al.  The results show that the k-ε RNG model always tends to overestimate the value of the
[14 power coefficient in the 2D simulations whereas in the 3D simulation it always
underestimates it.

14
 Cont….
Experimental and Numerical study

Author Contribution
S.No

4. David Wafula  have performed experimental and numerical study of turbulence effect
Wekesa [9] on aerodynamic performance of Savonius turbine To carry out the
investigation, he developed and tested a small-scale Savonius turbine in
a wind tunnel the wind tunnel.
 Results revealed that the turbulence of the inflow impacted fluctuating
aerodynamic loads on the turbine blade and, ultimately, its
aerodynamic performance

5. Marco Recite  modeling strategy and numerical validation for a Darrieus vertical axis
Castelli [15] micro-wind turbine evaluation of optimal spatial grid node distribution.
 It has also been demonstrated that, through accurate numerical
analysis, it is possible to replicate the shape of the experimental rotor
power curve and that the numerical code is also able to capture the
maximum power coefficient tip speed ratio.
15
 Cont….
Knowledge Gap

The above work there is no clear consensus on the effect of turbulence flow
on the vertical axis wind turbine’s operation as variable wind velocity

different turbulent flow types studied by different researchers, complicated by

varying amounts of wind shear and unsteady wind

To achieve better experimental and numerical method use, it would be

advantageous to start with the simplest form of inflow turbulence.
16
 3.Research methodology Data collection

 In this research analysis, turbulent flow effect is

Experimental
studied experimentally and numerically. Experiment Analysis

analysis is done by using subsonic wind tunnel and

using Tachometer to be measure RPM of turbine Numerical
Analysis

numerically by using commercially available

software ANSYS FLUENT and solid work and Data
interpretation
Inventor to be draw the model
Interpret the data using excel
Conclusion
17
 Cont……
Fabrication of VAWT

The experimental prototype of h-type VAWT manufacturing depends on the cross-

section area of the experiment instrument (wind tunnel

Airfoils manufacturing

Radial arms installing

bonding process

Shaft purchasing

Figure 3-4 Assembling of VAWT (solidwork)

18
 Apparatus and instrumentation
Wind tunnel

Figure 4-5 wind tunnel(photo)

Lift and Drag force measuring instrument

Figure 4-6 lift and drag force measuring instrument(photo) 19

 Cont…
Tachometer

Figure 4-7 how to measure rotational speed of the turbine (photo)

U-tube manometer

20
Figure 4-8 inclined manometer wind velocity measurement instrument(photo)
 4.Experimental analysis
 Experiments help to determine the effects of turbulence flow with different grid sizes on
power coefficient of turbines.
 For the laboratory carried out in wind tunnels, the approaching flows were steady,
uniform flow with low turbulence intensity for laminar flow and turbulence intensity
increase when using different grids.
 The experiments were performed in It is a subsonic, open wind tunnel with a square
measurement-section profile. This type of wind tunnel is only suitable for relatively low
air velocities (0 < Mach< 0.2)

21
Figure 4-1 2D drawing wind tunnel with components(painting)
 Cont…..
Wind turbine set up in the wind tunnel
Three blade wind turbine models used in this the experiments should conduct.
For the laminar inflow case, wind turbines are installed immediately the wind
tunnel contraction with the active grid system remove
for the turbulent cases, the wind turbines were installed in the last sections of the
wind tunnel the AGS to allow big flow structures generated by the AGS to
dissipate

22
Figure 4-5 wind turbine setup in wind tunnel(photo)
 Cont….
Active grid system

To generate turbulence inside the wind tunnel wooden grids were placed at the
inlet of the tunnel with using 3 different grids as shown in Figure

a) b) c)
Figure 4-4 a) large grids with 100×100 mm2 mesh sizes b) medium grids 65×65 mm2 c) small grids 35×35mm2
23
mesh sizes(photo)
 Cont…
Procedures
The Wind Tunnel is turned on and set to a low RPM
The wind tunnel velocity is increased with the help of increase the fun speed
until the turbine starts to rotate on its own
The wind tunnel velocity is gradually increased in steps and the speed of the
turbine is measured with the help of a digital tachometer
For laminar flow we use the wind speed between 7 to 12 m/s and measured the
rotational speed of the turbine for each wind velocity and also measured the lift
and drag force
For turbulence flow cases attaching different grid sizes at the inlet of wind
tunnel and measured the rotational speed as well as measured lift and drag force.
24
 Cont…
Turbine specifications
S. No. Component Specification
1 Number of Blades 3
2 Turbine diameter 240mm
3 Blade height 235mm
4 Chord Length 80mm
5 Swept Area 56,4400mm2
Data collection
Table 4-11 calculated data of Without grid Table 4-12 calculated data of large grid
wind rotatio Rotor Coeffic Coeffici Power Powe Coeffici TSR Turbule
wind rotat Rotor Coeffic Coefficie Power Power Coefficie TSR Turbule
veloc nal veloci ient of ent of Of r ent nce
veloc ional velocit ient of nt of Of the Of the nt nce
ity speed ty Lift Drag wind(w) Of Of intensit
ity Spee y Lift (Cl) Drag wind(w) turbin Of Intensit
(m/s (rpm) (m/s) (Cl) (Cd) turbi power y
(m/s) d (m/s) (Cd) e(w) power y
) ne(w) (%)
(rpm (%)
7 147 1.85 0.48 1.14 11.85 3.13 0.21 0.26 11.6
)
8 211.7 2.65 0.55 1.11 17.69 5.2 0.29 0.33 11.1
7 220.3 2.77 0.68 1.6 11.85 4.74 0.4 0.41 6.65
9 289 3.62 0.58 1.01 25.2 9.75 0.39 0.4 10
8 310.8 3.9 0.75 0.14 17.69 8.845 0.5 0.51 5.2
10 354.7 4.45 0.72 1 34.55 16.18 0.44 0.44 9.6
9 393.3 4.94 0.82 1.35 25.2 13.86 0.55 0.57 4.45
5
10 468 5.88 0.83 1.3 34.55 20 0.58 0.59 4.42
11 417 5.24 0.73 0.96 45.98 22.11 0.48 0.47 9.5
11 543.5 6.8 0.83 1.25 45.98 26.3 0.573 0.6 4.03
625
12 576.7 7.3 0.85 1.23 59.7 33.73 0.565 0.62 3.75
12 453.7 5.73 0.73 0.94 59.7 28.1 0.47 0.49 9.36
 Cont……

Table 4-13 calculated data medium grid Table 4-14 calculated data of small grid
wind rotati Rotor Coeffi Coeffic Power Powe Coeffic TSR Turbul wind rotati Rotor Coeffic Coefficie Power Powe Coeffici TSR Turbul
veloci onal veloc cient ient of Of r ient ence velocit onal velocit ient of nt of r ent ence
Of
ty spee ity of Lift Drag wind(w Of Of intensi y speed y Lift (Cl) Drag intensi
wind(w Of Of
(m/s) d (m/s) (Cl) (Cd) ) turbi power ty (m/s) (rpm) (Cd) ty
(m/s) ) turbin power
(rpm) ne(w) (%) (%)
e(w)

7 43 0.54 0.34 0.55 11.85 0.26 0.022 0.08 18.74

7 80 1.01 0.51 0.86 11.85 0.81 0.068 0.14 16.14
8 82.67 1.04 0.4 0.60 17.69 1.04 0.059 0.13 18.7
4
9 124.3 1.56 0.43 0.57 25.2 2.17 0.084 0.17 18.64
8 169.3 2.13 0.52 0.87 17.69 2.83 0.21 0.27 13.56
10 169.8 2.13 0.43 0.58 34.55 4.84 0.14 0.23 18.4
9 240 3.01 0.54 0.84 25.2 7.51 0.30 0.33 12.56
11 225.3 2.83 0.45 0.56 45.98 9.1 0.20 0.26 17.8
10 316.3 3.9 0.54 0.8 34.55 12.8 0.37 0.39 11.72
12 279.6 3.5 0.48 0.54 59.7 14.5 0.24 0.29 17.3
11 381.3 4.7 0.55 0.78 45.98 18.85 0.43 0.42 11.3
7
12 433 5.5 0.56 0.74 59.7 26.28 0.44 0.46 10.4

26
 5. Numerical analysis
In the present study, Ansys Fluent 15.0 trade software has been used as one of
the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package programs. By using it, the
Darrieus wind rotor with and without grids has been analyzed from aerodynamic
aspects.
To do the numerical analysis to get more accurate result, the model has been
formed to have three dimensions.
The unsteady flow is solved by using the Sliding Mesh Model (SMM). the flow
properties (in particular the power coefficient Cp and the torque coefficient Cm)
are obtained by averaging the results

27
 Cont……
Governing Equations
Continuity equation

Navier-Stokes Equation for an incompressible flow

In Eq. (17), the convection terms are on the left. The terms on the right hand
side are the pressure gradient.
f represents "other" body forces (per unit volume), such as gravity or centrifugal
force and μ represents viscosity
28
 Cont……
CFD numerical model
The process of generating the 3D CFD model was done inside the ANSYS
Workbench multi-physics platform where it is possible to develop a workflow,
starting from CAD generation to post-processing of the results
Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) approaches
1 First Create model of the VAWT in Solid works
2 Import IGES model in ANSYS Workbench for Meshing
3 Create Volume Mesh.
4 Define Domain
5 Define Inlet and Outlet Condition
6 Go on Solver Option
7 Run Analysis 29
 Cont…..
Mesh Generation

Figure 5-3 3D Geometric configuration on Ansys Fluent [Ansys] Figure 5-4 meshing [Ansys]

Figure 5-5 airfoil meshing [Ansys] 30

 6.Result and Discussion
The effect of wind velocity on the performance of the wind turbine
700

600

500
ROTATIONAL SPEED

without grid
400
large grid
300 medium grid
small grid
200

100

0
7 8 9 10 11 12

Figure 6-1 rotational speed vs wind velocity graph

Small grid the worst self-starting characteristics in low wind speed conditions
compared to others since the incoming wind high chaotic the regime is high dust
and storm.
31
 Cont….
Effect of turbulence on the performance wind turbine
0.6 0.55

COEFFICIENT OF POWER
COEFFICIENT OF POWER

0.55 0.45
0.5
0.35
0.45
0.4 0.25
0.35 0.15
0.35 0.45 0.55 0.65 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
TIP SPEED RATIO TIP SPEED RATIO

0.5 0.3
COEFFICIENT OF POWER

COEFFICIENT OF POWER
0.4 0.25
0.3 0.2
0.15
0.2
0.1
0.1 0.05
0 0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
TIP SPEED RATIO TIP SPEED RATIO

Figure 6-3 CP curves a) without grid b) large grids c) medium grid d) small grid

Figure 6-3 a) illustrated that without grid power coefficient rapidly increase
with the tip speed ratio increase before reaching maximum and almost tend to
slightly decrease 32
 Cont…
This peak coefficient of power value without grid compared to others
different grids thus 58.6%,24.13% and 17.24% higher small grids, medium
grids and large grids respectively.
At the cut in speed without grids then the coefficient of performance decrease
94.5% ,83% and 47.5% reduced small, medium and large grids respectively.
Hence the coefficient of power percentage decrement in all grids at the cut in
speed much higher compared to at the peak power coefficient. The average
coefficient of power decrement is 29.8%,45% and 77.6% large, medium and
small grids respectively
Generally we can conclude that the turbulence effect higher at low tip speed
ratio for all grids and turbulence effect also increase when reduced the grid
mesh size.
33
 Cont..
Effect of turbine power output on the performance free flow and turbulence flow
40
0.7
35

TURBINE POWER OUTPUT(WATT)

0.6
30
COEFFICIENT OF POWER

0.5
25
0.4 without grid
without grid
20
large grid
0.3 large grid
15 medium grid
medium grid
0.2 10 small grid
small grid
0.1 5

0 0
11.85 17.69 25.2 34.55 45.98 59.7 11.85 17.69 25.2 34.55 45.98 59.7
WIND POWER(WATT) WIND POWER(WATT)

Figure 6-5 Coefficient of power vs Power graph Figure 6-6 turbine power output vs wind power graph

The output power directly proportional to coefficient of performance which is

The Figure 6-5 shows that with or without grids increase the generated power
from the wind turbine at the same time increase the performance of wind
turbine the average conversion of power of the turbine is 52.8%,38%,30.3%
and 2.4% for without grid, large, medium and small grids respectively.
34
 Cont…..
Lift and drag coefficient with variable wind velocity
Coefficient of Lift (Cl)
Coefficient of Drag (Cd) Coefficient of Lift (Cl)

2 Coefficient of Drag (Cd)

CL,CD

1 1

CL,CD
0 0.5
7 8 9 10 11 12 0
WIND VELOCITY(M/S) 7 8 9 10 11 12
WIND VELOCITY

Coefficient of Lift (Cl) Coefficient of Lift (Cl)

Coefficient of Drag (Cd) Coefficient of Drag (Cd)
2 1
CL,CD

CL,CD
1 0.5
0
0
7 8 9 10 11 12
7 8 9 10 11 12
WIND VELOCITY(M/S)
WIND VELOCITY(M/S)

Figure 6-7 coefficient of lift and drag a) without grid b) large grid sizes c) medium grid sizes d) small
grid sizes
35
 Cont..
Effect of turbulence intensity on the power performance
Turbulence Intensity(%) 7.5

6.5 12

5.5 11
10
4.5
9
3.5
8
2.5 7
0.35 0.45 0.55 0.65 0.75 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

a) Tip Speed Ratio(TSR)

b) 19.2

Turbulence Intensity(%)
18
Turbulence Intensity(%)

18.7
16
14 18.2
12 17.7
10
17.2
8 0.05 0.15 0.25 0.35
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Tip Speed Ratio(TSR)
Tip Speed Ratio(TSR)

c) d)
Figure 6-8 turbulence intensity vs tip speed ratio a) without grids b) large grids c) medium grids d) small
grids graph

Natural wind has a strong turbulence intensity that causes dynamic stall phenomena of
VAWTs 36
 Cont…
20

18

16

TURBULENCE INTENSITY(%)
14

12
Without grid
10
Large grid
8
Medium Grid
6 Small Grid
4

0
11.85 17.69 25.2 34.55 45.98 59.7
WIND POWER(WATT)

Figure 6-9 turbulence intensity vs wind power graph

Figure 6-8 d) small grid maximum turbulence intensity TI=18.74% , λ=0.08
Figure 6-8 c) medium grid maximum turbulence intensity TI=16.14% and
λ=0.144
Figure 6-8 b) large grid maximum turbulence intensity TI=11.6% and λ=0.26
and Figure a) without grids maximum turbulence intensity TI=6.65% and
λ=0.41. 37
 Cont…
From the value of turbulence intensity we can conclude that small grid
turbulence intensity 64.5%,38.1 % and 12.6% higher than without grid, large
grid and medium grid respectively beside that power coefficient lower than
94.5%,89.5% and 67.4 % lower than without grid ,large grid and medium
grid respectively on v=7m/s .

General speaking turbulence intensity inverse proportion to coefficient of

power

38
 Cont…
Numerical results
Analysis coefficient of power in Fluent
The NACA0021 used in the 3D models which have analyzed are in the
analysis of these models the operating conditions of them
are:
Operating pressure: 101325 Pa
 Velocity inlet: 7-12 m/s
Rotational speed: 43-580 rpm
The results of the moment coefficients of each model obtained iterating
in Fluent are the pictures shown below:
39
 Cont…

a) b)

c) d)
Figure 6-10 coefficient of torque curve a) without grid ,b) large grids c) medium grids and d)
small grids @7m/s wind velocity 40
 Cont…
Thus, graphs are oscillating due to rotation of the blades. Each maximum and
minimum appear when the airfoils are in the same position that other airfoil.

So, we should take as an average value of moment coefficient have to multiply

all values of the moment coefficient by tip speed ratio

Cp=Ct×λ

And follow the same procedures for different wind velocity and grid sizes then
the result obtained Coefficient of power (Cp) and coefficient of moment
average value
41
 Cont…
Coefficient of power (Cp) and coefficient of moment average value
summarized the following table.
Table 6:1 average value of coefficient of moment and
coefficient of power
Without Grid Large Grid Medium Grid Small Grids
wind Cmaverag Cpaverage Cmaverage Cpaverage Cmaverage Cpaverage Cmverage Cpaverage
velocit e

y
7 0.73 0.315 0.7 0.19 0.65 0.093 0.4 0.03
8 0.71 0.37 0.67 0.24 0.62 0.17 0.52 0.068
9 0.69 0.4 0.66 0.28 0.61 0.22 0.58 0.098
10 0.72 0.42 0.68 0.31 0.63 0.25 0.6 0.13
11 0.74 0.43 0.71 0.35 0.65 0.28 0.63 0.17
12 0.76 0.44 0.73 0.37 0.68 0.32 0.65 0.19

42
 Cont…
Pressure contours

a) c)

e) g)
Figure 6-14 pressure contour a)without grids c) large grids e) medium grids f) g) small grids sizes @7m/s 43
wind velocity
 Cont…
Pressure contours

a)

b)

Figure 6-14 pressure contour a)large grids blades b) large grids on blade 2 @7m/s wind velocity 44
 Cont…
Velocity contours

b) d)

f) g)
Figure 6-14 velocity contour of b) without grid d) large grid sizes f) medium grid sizes g) small
45
grid sizes @7m/s wind velocity
 Validation of CFD Simulation
The CFD simulation should be checked against experimental data to assess its
capability of correctly simulating VAWT aerodynamic performance.
The comparison between the CFD results and the experimental data of power
coefficient at the different grids is illustrated by Figure As shown in the figure,
simulation results are appeared to be comparatively well matched together
with the experimental data. However, some deviations are still observed.
Without grids 21 % and 25% minimum and max deviation respectively, Large
grids 34 % and 26% maximum and minimum deviation.
Small grids 26% and 7% of maximum and minimum deviation respectively.
finally, average deviation is 22%,25% and 12% of without ,large and small
grids respectively.

46
 Cont….
CFD experimental

COEFFICIENT OF POWER
CFD experimental
COEFFICIENT OF POWER 0.3
0.8
0.6 0.2
0.4
0.1
0.2
0 0
0.08 0.13 0.17 0.23 0.26 0.29
a) 0.41 0.51 0.57 0.59
TIP SPEED RATIO
0.6 0.62
b) TIP SPEED RATIO

CFD experimental
CFD experimental 0.5
COEFFICIENT OF POWER

COEFFICIENT OF POWER
0.6 0.4

0.4 0.3

0.2
0.2
0.1
0
c) 0.26 0.33 0 . 4 0 . 4 4 50 . 4 7 6 0 . 4 9
TIP SPEED RATIO
d) 0
0.144 0.27 0.33 0.39
TIP SPEED RATIO
0.42 0.46

Figure 6-15 Comparison of coefficient of power of experimental and numerical results a) without grids b)
large grid sizes c) medium grid sizes d) small grid sizes
47
 Conclusion
The effect of free-stream turbulence on VAWTs performance was studied
experimentally and numerically. Turbulent flows were generated in the wind
tunnel using wooden grids were placed at the inlet of the tunnel with using 3
different grids which are small, medium and large grid sizes. for a given
freestream velocity, with the wind turbine rotational speed, without grids has
high rotational speed relative to with grids.
At higher wind speeds, without grids achieves the fastest rotation and the
best self-starting characteristics in low wind speed conditions compared to all
other with grids.
Free stream turbulence has a negative effect on the power coefficient the
average coefficient of power decrement compared to without grids is
29.8%,45% and 77.6% of large, medium and small grids respectively

48
 Cont…….
Natural wind has a strong turbulence intensity that causes dynamic stall
phenomena of VAWTs.
small grid turbulence intensity 64.5%,38.1 % and 12.6% higher than without
grid, large grid and medium grid respectively
General speaking turbulence intensity inverse proportion to coefficient of
power.
For all cases with and without grids Considering the same tendency of two
power performance curves, the Experimental method conducted in this study
is capable to capture higher power performance.

49
 Recommendation
Based on the results of this thesis, it is recommended that
for experimental analysis, a dynamic torque sensor can be used to measure
torque while the turbine is in operation, allowing for RPM to be recorded
simultaneously.
Further investigation it will be desirable to conduct some wind tunnel
simulations on a specific field, such as the topography of an urban area
Finally, in my research I could conclude that turbulence flow has a negative
effect on the performance of wind turbine. So, I recommended that other
researcher better to do turbulence flow effect on different types of wind
turbines.

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Reference
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