Experimental and Numerical Investigation on the Flow Characteristics around a Cross-Flow Wind Turbine

Abstract

This study investigated the flow characteristics around a cross-flow wind turbine. A wind tunnel experiment (WTE) was performed to measure the flow characteristics past the wind turbine when operating at the optimal tip-speed ratio of λ = 0.4. In addition, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed for the flow field around the wind turbine that was operating at tip-speed ratios of λ = 0.1, 0.4, and 0.7. The CFD approach was validated against the WTE measurements. CFD results confirmed that with an increase in λ , the velocity deficit was generally increased in the leeward of the return side of the wind turbine, while it was generally decreased in the leeward of the drive side of the wind turbine. It was also confirmed that with an increase in λ , the turbulence kinetic energy was generally increased in the leeward of the return side of the wind turbine, while it generally decreased in the leeward of the drive side of the wind turbine.