Numerical investigation on the effect of blunt body deflector on darieus turbine performance

Abstract

One of the renewable energy source that is abundant but has not been used optimally is wind energy. Roads are currently the main transportation infrastructure along with the increasing number of motorized vehicles. Wind is one of the best renewable energy sources that can be utilized on the highway where it can be used as a power source to drive the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT). Darrieus type turbines can operate at low wind speeds and do not require a specific wind direction. However, the installation of this wind turbine on the highway can be hampered due to the presence of highway light poles. We simulate a light pole as a blunt object placed in front of the turbine which will then be observed for the ratio of torque produced to compare the performance of the turbine with a blunt body and without a blunt body. This study aims to determine the effect of the diameter ratio and distance between the turbine and the blunt object on the torque generated on the rotor. This research uses CFD simulation on NACA 4415 foil. The results showed that placing a blunt object in front of the Darrieus turbine increased the turbine torque. The most optimal increase in torque is obtained at a distance of 700 mm with a blunt body diameter of 0.6 DT or 0.3 DT which can increase the torque output of the turbine.