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Performance Analysis and Numerical Modeling of Mechanical and Electrical Components in a Rooftop Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine

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  • Sudip Basack

    (Principal, Regent Education and Research Foundation (Affiliated: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology), Kolkata 700121, West Bengal, India
    Department of Civil Engineering, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun 248002, Uttarakhand, India)

  • Satyabrata Podder

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Elitte College of Engineering (Affiliated: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology), Kolkata 700113, West Bengal, India)

  • Shantanu Dutta

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sanaka Educational Trust Group of Institutions (Affiliated: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology), Durgapur 713212, West Bengal, India)

  • Elena Lucchi

    (Dipartimento di Architettura, Ingegneria delle Costruzione e Ambiente Costruito (ABC), Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
    Getty Conservation Guest Scholar, Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90049, USA)

Abstract

This study explores the integration of wind power generation into urban infrastructure via a rooftop vertical-axis wind turbine. A rigorous experimental framework was established by installing a small-scale turbine on an urban building for performance assessment under controlled conditions. Simulated environmental conditions were created using a pedestal fan and blower to evaluate mechanical interactions between the components and electrical output efficiency of the turbine. Extensive numerical modeling was conducted to analyze turbine performance, by computational fluid dynamics using ANSYS FLUENT. The results reveal that the turbine operates efficiently even at low to moderate wind speeds (0.5–6 m/s), demonstrating its feasibility for urban deployment. Performance tests indicated that, as the shaft rotational speed increased from 55 rpm to 115 rpm, the output voltage, current and power varied nonlinearly in the ranges of 3–11.9 V, 20–130 mA and 0.05–2.7 W, respectively. Vibration measurement at specified turbine locations revealed nonlinear variation in displacement, velocity, acceleration and frequency without fixed patterns. Good agreement was observed between the experimental and numerical results. The numerical model yielded interesting profiles related to velocity and turbulence distributions, apart from torque, mechanical power and electrical voltage. Important conclusions were drawn from the entire work.

Suggested Citation

  • Sudip Basack & Satyabrata Podder & Shantanu Dutta & Elena Lucchi, 2025. "Performance Analysis and Numerical Modeling of Mechanical and Electrical Components in a Rooftop Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-29, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:7:p:1623-:d:1619283
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    References listed on IDEAS

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