IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2023i13p4912-d1178044.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

CFD Prediction for Wind Power Generation by a Small Vertical Axis Wind Turbine: A Case Study for a University Campus

Author

Listed:
  • Yoshihide Tominaga

    (Wind and Fluid Engineering Research Center, Niigata Institute of Technology, Kashiwazaki 945-1195, Japan)

Abstract

The accuracy of wind power generation predicted by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations combined with meteorological wind data was validated based on comparisons with directly measured data for a small vertical axis wind turbine system installed on a university campus. The CFD simulations were performed in accordance with established guidelines and frameworks for the prediction of urban wind environments. At the rooftop location, where small wind turbines are typically installed, the deviations in wind velocity from the measurements are quite large. However, in the present study, the prediction accuracy for the wind turbine site, which was 4 m above the ground, was acceptable. The total power generation estimated using the assumed power curve based on the rated output of the turbine was 56% larger than that directly measured by the power generator. However, using the power curves obtained from the measurements, the total power generation could be predicted with a high degree of accuracy and with an error of approximately 3%. It is suggested that not only the accuracy of the wind velocity but also that of the power curve is very important because they are directly related to that of the predicted power generation.

Suggested Citation

  • Yoshihide Tominaga, 2023. "CFD Prediction for Wind Power Generation by a Small Vertical Axis Wind Turbine: A Case Study for a University Campus," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-19, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:13:p:4912-:d:1178044
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/13/4912/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/13/4912/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zanforlin, Stefania & Nishino, Takafumi, 2016. "Fluid dynamic mechanisms of enhanced power generation by closely spaced vertical axis wind turbines," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 1213-1226.
    2. KC, Anup & Whale, Jonathan & Urmee, Tania, 2019. "Urban wind conditions and small wind turbines in the built environment: A review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 268-283.
    3. Daniel Micallef & Gerard Van Bussel, 2018. "A Review of Urban Wind Energy Research: Aerodynamics and Other Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-27, August.
    4. Nidhal Hnaien & Walid Hassen & Lioua Kolsi & Abdelhakim Mesloub & Mohammed A. Alghaseb & Khaled Elkhayat & Mohamed Hssan Hassan Abdelhafez, 2022. "CFD Analysis of Wind Distribution around Buildings in Low-Density Urban Community," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Mohammad Barooni & Turaj Ashuri & Deniz Velioglu Sogut & Stephen Wood & Shiva Ghaderpour Taleghani, 2022. "Floating Offshore Wind Turbines: Current Status and Future Prospects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-28, December.
    6. Gaurav Chaudhary & Jacob J. Lamb & Odne S. Burheim & Bjørn Austbø, 2021. "Review of Energy Storage and Energy Management System Control Strategies in Microgrids," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-26, August.
    7. Yang, An-Shik & Su, Ying-Ming & Wen, Chih-Yung & Juan, Yu-Hsuan & Wang, Wei-Siang & Cheng, Chiang-Ho, 2016. "Estimation of wind power generation in dense urban area," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 213-230.
    8. Fan, Zhixin & Zhu, Caichao, 2019. "The optimization and the application for the wind turbine power-wind speed curve," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 52-61.
    9. Juan, Yu-Hsuan & Rezaeiha, Abdolrahim & Montazeri, Hamid & Blocken, Bert & Wen, Chih-Yung & Yang, An-Shik, 2022. "CFD assessment of wind energy potential for generic high-rise buildings in close proximity: Impact of building arrangement and height," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. N. Aravindhan & M. P. Natarajan & S. Ponnuvel & P.K. Devan, 2023. "Recent developments and issues of small-scale wind turbines in urban residential buildings- A review," Energy & Environment, , vol. 34(4), pages 1142-1169, June.
    2. José Luis Torres-Madroñero & Joham Alvarez-Montoya & Daniel Restrepo-Montoya & Jorge Mario Tamayo-Avendaño & César Nieto-Londoño & Julián Sierra-Pérez, 2020. "Technological and Operational Aspects That Limit Small Wind Turbines Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-39, November.
    3. Yi Song Liu & Tan Yigitcanlar & Mirko Guaralda & Kenan Degirmenci & Aaron Liu & Michael Kane, 2022. "Leveraging the Opportunities of Wind for Cities through Urban Planning and Design: A PRISMA Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-78, September.
    4. Isabel Cristina Gil-García & María Socorro García-Cascales & Angel Molina-García, 2022. "Urban Wind: An Alternative for Sustainable Cities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, June.
    5. Giulio Vita & Anina Šarkić-Glumac & Hassan Hemida & Simone Salvadori & Charalampos Baniotopoulos, 2020. "On the Wind Energy Resource above High-Rise Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-23, July.
    6. Juan, Yu-Hsuan & Wen, Chih-Yung & Li, Zhengtong & Yang, An-Shik, 2021. "Impacts of urban morphology on improving urban wind energy potential for generic high-rise building arrays," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    7. Xu, Wenhao & Li, Gaohua & Zheng, Xiaobo & Li, Ye & Li, Shoutu & Zhang, Chen & Wang, Fuxin, 2021. "High-resolution numerical simulation of the performance of vertical axis wind turbines in urban area: Part I, wind turbines on the side of single building," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 461-474.
    8. Kun Wang & Li Zou & Aimin Wang & Peidong Zhao & Yichen Jiang, 2020. "Wind Tunnel Study on Wake Instability of Twin H-Rotor Vertical-Axis Turbines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-18, August.
    9. Busiswe Skosana & Mukwanga W. Siti & Nsilulu T. Mbungu & Sonu Kumar & Willy Mulumba, 2023. "An Evaluation of Potential Strategies in Renewable Energy Systems and Their Importance for South Africa—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-27, November.
    10. Dar, Arslan Salim & Armengol Barcos, Guillem & Porté-Agel, Fernando, 2022. "An experimental investigation of a roof-mounted horizontal-axis wind turbine in an idealized urban environment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 1049-1061.
    11. Lakshmi Srinivasan & Nishanth Ram & Sudharshan Bharatwaj Rengarajan & Unnikrishnan Divakaran & Akram Mohammad & Ratna Kishore Velamati, 2023. "Effect of Macroscopic Turbulent Gust on the Aerodynamic Performance of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-24, February.
    12. Rezaeiha, Abdolrahim & Micallef, Daniel, 2021. "Wake interactions of two tandem floating offshore wind turbines: CFD analysis using actuator disc model," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 859-876.
    13. Ahmad I. Elshamy & Engy Elshazly & Olugbenga Timo Oladinrin & Muhammad Qasim Rana & Rasha Said Abd el-Lateef & Seif Tarek El-Badry & Mahmoud Elthakaby & Ahmed M. R. Elbaz & Khaled Dewidar & Iman El-Ma, 2022. "Challenges and Opportunities for Integrating RE Systems in Egyptian Building Stocks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-23, November.
    14. Zhang, Xiaochun & Ma, Chun & Song, Xia & Zhou, Yuyu & Chen, Weiping, 2016. "The impacts of wind technology advancement on future global energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 1033-1037.
    15. Ziqi Liu & Tingting Su & Zhiying Quan & Quanli Wu & Yu Wang, 2023. "Review on the Optimal Configuration of Distributed Energy Storage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-17, July.
    16. Mousa Mohammed Khubrani & Shadab Alam, 2023. "Blockchain-Based Microgrid for Safe and Reliable Power Generation and Distribution: A Case Study of Saudi Arabia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-34, August.
    17. Tingey, Eric B. & Ning, Andrew, 2017. "Trading off sound pressure level and average power production for wind farm layout optimization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(PB), pages 547-555.
    18. Stefania Zanforlin & Fulvio Buzzi & Marika Francesconi, 2019. "Performance Analysis of Hydrofoil Shaped and Bi-Directional Diffusers for Cross Flow Tidal Turbines in Single and Double-Rotor Configurations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-25, January.
    19. Shubham, Shubham & Naik, Kevin & Sachar, Shivangi & Ianakiev, Anton, 2023. "Performance analysis of low Reynolds number vertical axis wind turbines using low-fidelity and mid-fidelity methods and wind conditions in the city of Nottingham," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    20. Zanforlin, Stefania & Deluca, Stefano, 2018. "Effects of the Reynolds number and the tip losses on the optimal aspect ratio of straight-bladed Vertical Axis Wind Turbines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 179-195.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:13:p:4912-:d:1178044. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.