Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Airfoil Leading Edge Radius on the Aerodynamic Performance of H-Rotor Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

This paper numerically investigates the effects of airfoil leading edge radius on the aerodynamic characteristics of H-rotor Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). 10 modified airfoils are generated by changing the leading edge radius of the base NACA 0015 airfoil from 1%<i>c</i> to...

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Main Authors: Chenguang Song, Guoqing Wu, Weinan Zhu, Xudong Zhang, Jicong Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-10-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/19/3794
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author Chenguang Song
Guoqing Wu
Weinan Zhu
Xudong Zhang
Jicong Zhao
author_facet Chenguang Song
Guoqing Wu
Weinan Zhu
Xudong Zhang
Jicong Zhao
author_sort Chenguang Song
collection DOAJ
description This paper numerically investigates the effects of airfoil leading edge radius on the aerodynamic characteristics of H-rotor Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). 10 modified airfoils are generated by changing the leading edge radius of the base NACA 0015 airfoil from 1%<i>c</i> to 9%<i>c</i>, respectively. A 2D unsteady Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model is established and validated with the previously published experimental data. The power, torque, and flow field characteristics of the rotors are analyzed. The results indicate that the maximum and minimum power coefficient at the optimum tip speed ratio (TSR) are obtained for the LE-5%<i>c</i> and LE-1%<i>c</i> model, respectively. The best aerodynamic characteristics are determined by the LE-5%<i>c</i> model below the optimum TSR and the LE-3%<i>c</i> model beyond the optimum TSR. The torque characteristics and pressure distribution for the single blades with different airfoil leading edge radius show an obvious difference in the upwind region and a very small difference in the downwind region. Moreover, the airfoil leading edge radius influences the strength, region, and diffusion rate of the vortices, being the main reason for the observed differences in instantaneous torque coefficient and power coefficient. The vortices of the LE-1%<i>c</i> model are stronger, larger, and diffuse slower than those of the LE-2%<i>c</i> and LE-5%<i>c</i> model at the optimum TSR.
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spelling doaj.art-81d70a2099e04d148659c5eb92951de42022-12-22T02:55:16ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732019-10-011219379410.3390/en12193794en12193794Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Airfoil Leading Edge Radius on the Aerodynamic Performance of H-Rotor Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind TurbineChenguang Song0Guoqing Wu1Weinan Zhu2Xudong Zhang3Jicong Zhao4School of Electrical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, ChinaSchool of Electrical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, ChinaSchool of Electrical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, ChinaSchool of Electrical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, ChinaSchool of Information Science and Technology, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, ChinaThis paper numerically investigates the effects of airfoil leading edge radius on the aerodynamic characteristics of H-rotor Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). 10 modified airfoils are generated by changing the leading edge radius of the base NACA 0015 airfoil from 1%<i>c</i> to 9%<i>c</i>, respectively. A 2D unsteady Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model is established and validated with the previously published experimental data. The power, torque, and flow field characteristics of the rotors are analyzed. The results indicate that the maximum and minimum power coefficient at the optimum tip speed ratio (TSR) are obtained for the LE-5%<i>c</i> and LE-1%<i>c</i> model, respectively. The best aerodynamic characteristics are determined by the LE-5%<i>c</i> model below the optimum TSR and the LE-3%<i>c</i> model beyond the optimum TSR. The torque characteristics and pressure distribution for the single blades with different airfoil leading edge radius show an obvious difference in the upwind region and a very small difference in the downwind region. Moreover, the airfoil leading edge radius influences the strength, region, and diffusion rate of the vortices, being the main reason for the observed differences in instantaneous torque coefficient and power coefficient. The vortices of the LE-1%<i>c</i> model are stronger, larger, and diffuse slower than those of the LE-2%<i>c</i> and LE-5%<i>c</i> model at the optimum TSR.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/19/3794vawtairfoil modificationleading edge radiusaerodynamic performancenumerical simulation
spellingShingle Chenguang Song
Guoqing Wu
Weinan Zhu
Xudong Zhang
Jicong Zhao
Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Airfoil Leading Edge Radius on the Aerodynamic Performance of H-Rotor Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
Energies
vawt
airfoil modification
leading edge radius
aerodynamic performance
numerical simulation
title Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Airfoil Leading Edge Radius on the Aerodynamic Performance of H-Rotor Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
title_full Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Airfoil Leading Edge Radius on the Aerodynamic Performance of H-Rotor Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
title_fullStr Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Airfoil Leading Edge Radius on the Aerodynamic Performance of H-Rotor Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
title_full_unstemmed Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Airfoil Leading Edge Radius on the Aerodynamic Performance of H-Rotor Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
title_short Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Airfoil Leading Edge Radius on the Aerodynamic Performance of H-Rotor Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
title_sort numerical investigation on the effects of airfoil leading edge radius on the aerodynamic performance of h rotor darrieus vertical axis wind turbine
topic vawt
airfoil modification
leading edge radius
aerodynamic performance
numerical simulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/19/3794
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