PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT OF A DARRIUS 3-BLADED WIND TURBINE USING CONVERGENT-DIVERGENT DUCTING SYSTEM

Abstract

Several studies on energy augmentation systems were achieved to improve the productivity of the wind turbines. The ducting system is one of the most important applications used for this purpose. The convergent -divergent vertical ducting system was used to enhance the performance of the turbine. The ducted wind turbine was analysed and simulated using MATLAB code built for this purpose and numerically employing ANSYS FLUENT 17.2. The performance and the airflow behaviour through the duct were presented and compared with those of the vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). The results of both approaches were presented and compared with the experimental results for the two cases considered in this work. They showed good agreement. The power coefficient enhanced by 39.024% at the opening angle of the 20 ° and exit angle 12° angle and, the power coefficient enhanced by 35.89% at opening angle by 12° and exit angle equal to 20°. Ducting system was experienced and possessed good augmentation tool of the wind turbine performance. Experimentation and analysis of this work can easily be reflected to other configurations of wind turbine rotors.

Keywords

• CDVAWT
• Coefficient of performance
• VAWT; Turbine blades
• TSR