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Wind Tunnel Experiments on Interaction between Two Closely Spaced Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines in Side-by-Side Arrangement

Author

Listed:
  • Yoshifumi Jodai

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kagawa National Institute of Technology (KOSEN), Kagawa College, 355 Chokushi, Takamatsu 761-8058, Japan)

  • Yutaka Hara

    (Faculty of Engineering, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori 680-8552, Japan)

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the optimal rotor spacing of two vertical-axis wind turbines, which are simulated by miniature models arranged side-by-side with a relatively low aspect ratio. Wind tunnel experiments with a pair of 3-D printed model rotors were conducted at a uniform velocity. A series of experiments were conducted involving both incremental adjustments to the rotor gaps, g , and the rotational direction of each rotor. Increases in the power and the related flow patterns were observed in all three arrangements: Co-Rotating (CO), Counter-Up (CU), and Counter-Down (CD). The maximum phase-synchronized rotational speed occurs at the narrowest gap in the CD arrangement. Meanwhile, local maxima arise in the CO and CU arrangements at g / D < 1, where D is the rotor diameter. From an engineering perspective, the optimal rotor spacing is g / D = 0.2 with the CO arrangement, using the same two rotors rotating in the same direction. Based on flow visualization using a smoke-wire method at a narrower gap opening of 0.2 D , the wake width in the case of the CU arrangement was remarkably narrower than those obtained in the CO and CD arrangements. In the CU arrangement, a movement towards the center of the rotor pair of the nominal front-stagnation point of each rotor was confirmed via flow visualization. This finding explains a reduction tendency in the rotational speed of the rotors via a reduction in the lift in the CU arrangement.

Suggested Citation

  • Yoshifumi Jodai & Yutaka Hara, 2021. "Wind Tunnel Experiments on Interaction between Two Closely Spaced Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines in Side-by-Side Arrangement," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:23:p:7874-:d:686629
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zheng, H.-D. & Zheng, X.Y. & Zhao, S.X., 2020. "Arrangement of clustered straight-bladed wind turbines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
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    5. Yutaka Hara & Yoshifumi Jodai & Tomoyuki Okinaga & Masaru Furukawa, 2021. "Numerical Analysis of the Dynamic Interaction between Two Closely Spaced Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-23, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Masaru Furukawa & Yutaka Hara & Yoshifumi Jodai, 2022. "Analytical Model for Phase Synchronization of a Pair of Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-19, June.
    2. Jirarote Buranarote & Yutaka Hara & Masaru Furukawa & Yoshifumi Jodai, 2022. "Method to Predict Outputs of Two-Dimensional VAWT Rotors by Using Wake Model Mimicking the CFD-Created Flow Field," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-29, July.
    3. Yoshifumi Jodai & Yutaka Hara, 2023. "Wind-Tunnel Experiments on the Interactions among a Pair/Trio of Closely Spaced Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-27, January.
    4. Ji Hao Zhang & Fue-Sang Lien & Eugene Yee, 2022. "Investigations of Vertical-Axis Wind-Turbine Group Synergy Using an Actuator Line Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-22, August.

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