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An analytical model for two-dimensional aerodynamic predictions of vertical axis wind turbines

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  • Suresh Babu, Arun Vishnu
  • Narsipur, Shreyas
  • Gopalarathnam, Ashok

Abstract

Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) have been suggested as excellent candidates for distributed wind energy systems and for complementing horizontal axis wind turbines. Despite several attractive advantages, the complex aerodynamics and susceptibility to dynamic stall pose challenges to the design and development of VAWTs. Dynamic stall often causes vortex shedding and results in large, undesirable fluctuations in the loads experienced by the blade, leading to a decline in aerodynamic efficiency and structural fatigue. While experimental and high-fidelity computations reveal the intricate details of the dynamic stall phenomena, theoretical modeling approaches complement them by enabling fast prediction for broad parametric studies and enhancing the fundamental intuition about the flow physics. In this work, we present a phenomenologically augmented low-order modeling approach for a VAWT blade undergoing dynamic stall with particular emphasis on predicting the leading-edge vortex shedding phenomena. A large-angle extension of the classical thin-airfoil theory is combined with a discrete vortex method for simulating the flowfield. The leading-edge suction parameter (LESP), derived in previous research, is extended for the scenario of a VAWT blade. The flowfield and load predictions of the model are validated using data available in the literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Suresh Babu, Arun Vishnu & Narsipur, Shreyas & Gopalarathnam, Ashok, 2026. "An analytical model for two-dimensional aerodynamic predictions of vertical axis wind turbines," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PG).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:pg:s0960148125020932
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.124429
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    References listed on IDEAS

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