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Optimisation of a Kind of Vertical Axis Darrieus Turbine—Davidson Hill Venturi Cross-Flow Turbines

Author

Listed:
  • Han Wang

    (School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK)

  • Mark Hill

    (DHV Turbines Ltd., Glasgow G2 4JR, UK)

  • Joseph Burchell

    (DHV Turbines Ltd., Glasgow G2 4JR, UK
    Institute for Energy Systems (IES), School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK)

Abstract

Vertical axis turbines (VATs) have grown in popularity over the past decade, owing to their lower cost of energy (CoE) when installed in remote offshore locations. The Davidson Hill Venturi system, as a kind of vertical axis tidal turbine technology, has been tested and proved to increase the power generation by the effect from the venturi structure. Based on the Computational Fluid Dynamic simulation (Ansys 2021R1) software, the present project develops a complete and improved 3D model to calculate the influence from different parameter adjustments on the turbine. The angle of the hydrofoil on the side panel was investigated in a previous study, while the new hydrofoil and different number of blades on the centre rotor can also affect the power generation of the tidal turbines. With this accurately created design, a sizing procedure is developed, and several 3D turbine models with a new hydrofoil or different number of blades are established. Both three-dimensional and two-dimensional section results are compared with the model with adjusting parameters. The 2D section view obtained from a static 3D model without a centre rotor is used to compare with the previous research, while the different number of blades is simulated by the dynamic 3D model without the hydrofoil. An analytical optimisation demonstrates that the new hydrofoil GOE-222 performed better than the material used in a previous study. The optimal number of blades between four blades and eight blades for use in the DHV turbine is also confirmed to be four.

Suggested Citation

  • Han Wang & Mark Hill & Joseph Burchell, 2025. "Optimisation of a Kind of Vertical Axis Darrieus Turbine—Davidson Hill Venturi Cross-Flow Turbines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-24, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:17:p:4763-:d:1744326
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    References listed on IDEAS

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