Effects of Bisymmetrical and Bilateral Symmetrical Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Designs
Start Date
15-4-2021 11:00 AM
End Date
15-4-2021 12:00 PM
Student's Major
Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Student's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Mentor's Name
Nazli Wodzinkski
Mentor's Department
Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Mentor's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Description
The hypothesized behavior of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) can be tested using miniature models of the design placed in a wind tunnel, providing information on the flow field and power curves without constructing a full-size model. However, several models used for this testing have been found to lack bisymmetric properties due to a protrusion of a rod coupler attaching the VAWT to the testing setup. Several of these bilateral symmetric characteristics also appear in full-size vertical axis wind turbines as well, resulting from the placement of the hub and generator for H-Darrieus type models. This research investigates the effect of the inconsistencies in symmetry on the VAWT model and further understand how it will alter the data. This experiment will be conducted by recording and graphing the rotational velocity outputs of both bisymmetric and bilaterally symmetric VAWT models. The output rotational velocity of the vertical axis wind turbine models of varying symmetry will be compared. It is expected that the bisymmetrical model will have a higher power output than the bilaterally symmetrical model; this research will provide insight into the true effect of these design changes.
Effects of Bisymmetrical and Bilateral Symmetrical Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Designs
The hypothesized behavior of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) can be tested using miniature models of the design placed in a wind tunnel, providing information on the flow field and power curves without constructing a full-size model. However, several models used for this testing have been found to lack bisymmetric properties due to a protrusion of a rod coupler attaching the VAWT to the testing setup. Several of these bilateral symmetric characteristics also appear in full-size vertical axis wind turbines as well, resulting from the placement of the hub and generator for H-Darrieus type models. This research investigates the effect of the inconsistencies in symmetry on the VAWT model and further understand how it will alter the data. This experiment will be conducted by recording and graphing the rotational velocity outputs of both bisymmetric and bilaterally symmetric VAWT models. The output rotational velocity of the vertical axis wind turbine models of varying symmetry will be compared. It is expected that the bisymmetrical model will have a higher power output than the bilaterally symmetrical model; this research will provide insight into the true effect of these design changes.
