Numerical Analysis on the Performance of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Affected by the Configuration of the Wind Power Tower

초록

A wind power tower can be applied to enhance the output power on the vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). Usually, the wind power tower can be constructed as a multi-story building to increase the frontal area of wind stream. Hence, multiple sets of the VAWT can be installed within the wind power tower, and also they can be operated at high elevation. Many different types of wind power tower can be used in the field. In this study, a wind power tower with circular column shape was applied, and the VAWT was installed at the center of the wind power tower. Seven guide walls were used as a strut between the floors of the wind power tower. These guide walls were utilized not only to increase the wind velocity within the wind power tower but also to adjust the wind direction for making better working condition on the VAWT. Hence, some important design variables, such as the distance between the wind turbine and the guide wall, the outer diameter of the wind power tower, the direction of the guide wall against the wind direction, were studied to find optimum dimension by the numerical analysis obtained at the transient state. The results showed that the output power of the VAWT obtained using the wind power tower was increased compared to them obtained without the wind power tower. In addition, they showed that the increased output power on the wind turbine was greatly depended on the dimension of the guide wall.

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