Study on the Performance Analysis of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines for Marine Vehicle Applications
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Abstract
The escalating global energy demands have prompted a significant shift towards harnessing wind power as a sustainable alternative to conventional energy resources. This study explores the performance variations of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) with a specific focus on their application in marine vehicles. Various parameters, including blade design, were systematically varied to analyse their impact on turbine efficiency. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) models were generated using SOLIDEDGE V2019 and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted using ANSYS R21. The investigation identified several key factors influencing turbine performance, with aspect ratio, the number of blades and drag emerging as primary contributors. Notably, turbines with lower aspect ratios demonstrated enhanced power output, while those with higher aspect ratios exhibited the opposite trend. The number of blades, however, displayed a nuanced relationship with performance, as an increase did not uniformly guarantee improved efficiency. Blade profile was identified as a critical factor, influencing the overall impact of blade quantity on turbine performance. Furthermore, the study revealed that augmenting the number of blades led to an increase in overall drag, affecting performance adversely. Conversely, reducing the number of blades resulted in heightened power output fluctuations due to intermittent wind interaction. The findings underscore the intricate interplay between turbine design parameters and performance, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding when tailoring VAWTs for marine applications.
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