Experimental investigation of the flow kinematics in model vertical axis wind turbine arrays
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- Arrays of vertical axis wind turbines represent a potentially valuable approach to wind energy generation. To date, however, the majority of studies on the fluid mechanics of these arrays have focused on relatively small arrays or on the two-dimensional flows within the horizontal planes. The fluid mechanics of large arrays, in particular the three-dimensional interaction between the flow within the array and the flow around the array, have not previously been examined. Understanding these flows is critical to determining the fundamental scalability of the arrays and therefore in what contexts they might usefully be considered for energy generation. This dissertation reports the experimental examination of the fluid kinematics associated with aerodynamically long arrays of model vertical axis wind turbines. Ten arrays of rotating turbine models were considered, varying the spatial, rotational, and vertical configurations of the turbine models in the arrays. It was shown that there existed a developed flow region within the arrays and that within this region there could exist significant vertical flux of high streamwise momentum flow from above the array down into the array. Taken together, these results suggest that aerodynamically long arrays of vertical axis wind turbines may be physically feasible. Furthermore, the vertical fluxes of streamwise momentum were shown to be driven by complex three-dimensional patterns of both turbulent and mean flows, which in turn were strongly dependent on the spatial, rotational, and vertical configurations of the turbine models in the arrays. These results suggest the possibility for multi-objective optimization of the array, for example balancing the array power output against the turbulence intensity within the array.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Form | electronic; electronic resource; remote |
| Extent | 1 online resource. |
| Publication date | 2017 |
| Issuance | monographic |
| Language | English |
Creators/Contributors
| Associated with | Craig, Anna |
|---|---|
| Associated with | Stanford University, Department of Mechanical Engineering. |
| Primary advisor | Dabiri, John O. (John Oluseun) |
| Primary advisor | Koseff, Jeffrey Russell |
| Thesis advisor | Dabiri, John O. (John Oluseun) |
| Thesis advisor | Koseff, Jeffrey Russell |
| Thesis advisor | Eaton, John K |
| Advisor | Eaton, John K |
Subjects
| Genre | Theses |
|---|
Bibliographic information
| Statement of responsibility | Anna Craig. |
|---|---|
| Note | Submitted to the Department of Mechanical Engineering. |
| Thesis | Thesis (Ph.D.)--Stanford University, 2017. |
| Location | electronic resource |
Access conditions
- Copyright
- © 2017 by Anna Craig
- License
- This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).
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