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J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 1, 033110 (2009); doi:10.1063/1.3152431 (13 pages)

Computational fluid dynamics analysis of a combined three-bucket Savonius and three-bladed Darrieus rotor at various overlap conditions

Biplab Debnath ,
Agnimitra Biswas ,
and Rajat Gupta

Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Silchar, Silchar, Cachar, Assam 788010, India Map This map

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In this paper, a computational fluid dynamics analysis using the FLUENT package 6.2 was carried out to predict the performance characteristics such as power coefficient (Cp), torque coefficient (Ct), and tip speed ratio of a combined three-bucket Savonius and three-bladed Darrieus rotor for various overlap conditions, namely, 16.2%, 20%, 25%, 30%, and 35%. In the upper part of the rotor model, there was a three-bucket Savonius rotor of bucket diameter of 8 cm and height of 10 cm, whereas, in the lower part, there was a three-bladed Darrieus rotor of blade diameter of 8 cm and height of 10 cm. A two-dimensional unstructured computational grid was developed for the combined Savonius–Darrieus rotor model. A k-ε turbulence closure model with enhanced wall treatment function was chosen. A first-order upwind discretization scheme was adopted for pressure-velocity coupling of the flow. The values of Cp and Ct obtained computationally were then compared with those of the values of Cp and Ct obtained experimentally for all the overlap conditions. The experimental values of Cp and Ct for different overlap conditions were obtained from the tests conducted previously in an open-circuit subsonic wind tunnel available in the department. The comparison of experimental and computational studies is quite encouraging.

© 2009 American Institute of Physics

Article Outline

  1. INTRODUCTION
  2. PHYSICAL MODEL
  3. COMPUTATIONAL STUDY
    1. Background
    2. Physical model
    3. Solution specifications
  4. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
  5. CONCLUSION
  6. NOMENCLATURE

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KEYWORDS and PACS

Keywords

aerospace components, blades, computational fluid dynamics, rotors, turbulence, wind tunnels

PACS

ARTICLE DATA

History
Received 3 February 2009
Accepted 15 May 2009
Published 29 June 2009
Permalink
http://link.aip.org/link/JRSEBH/v1/i3/p033110/s1

PUBLICATION DATA

ISSN:

19417012 (print)  
19417012 (online)

Publisher:

$abstract.society.value is a Member of CrossRef American Institute of Physics

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  4. R. Gupta, A. Biswas, and K. K. Sharma, Renewable Energy 33, 1974 (2008). [Inspec]
  5. R. E. Sheldahl, and L. V. Feltz, and B. F. Blackwell, J. Energy 2, 160 (1978).
  6. B. C. Cochran, B. David, and S. J. Taylor, A Three-Tiered Approach for Designing and Evaluating Performance Characteristics of Novel WECS (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. and American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2004).
  7. B. D. Altan and M. Atilgan, Energy Convers. Manage. 32, 1673 (2008).
  8. FLUENT 6.2 user's guide, © Fluent Inc., 2005-01-04.
  9. A. Biswas, M.S. thesis, NIT, 2007.

Figures (click on thumbnails to view enlargements)

FIG. 1
Front view of the physical model (filled).
FIG. 1 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 2
Top view of the physical model (wire frame).
FIG. 2 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 3
Boundary conditions and computational domain of the rotor.
FIG. 3 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 4
Computational domain after discretization of Fig. 2.
FIG. 4 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 5
Variation of Cp with TSR at 16.2% overlap.
FIG. 5 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 6
Percentage deviation of computational Cp from the experimental Cp at 16.2% overlap.
FIG. 6 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 7
Variation of Cp with TSR at 20% overlap.
FIG. 7 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 8
Percentage deviation of computational Cp from the experimental Cp at 20% overlap.
FIG. 8 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 9
Variation of Cp with TSR at 25% overlap.
FIG. 9 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 10
Percentage deviation of computational Cp from the experimental Cp at 25% overlap.
FIG. 10 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 11
Variation of Cp with TSR at 30% overlap.
FIG. 11 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 12
Percentage deviation of computational Cp from the experimental Cp at 30% overlap.
FIG. 12 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 13
Variation of Cp with TSR at 35% overlap.
FIG. 13 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 14
Percentage deviation of computational Cp from the experimental Cp at 35% overlap.
FIG. 14 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 15
Variation of Ct with TSR at 16.2% overlap.
FIG. 15 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 16
Percentage deviation of computational Ct from the experimental Ct at 16.2% overlap.
FIG. 16 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 17
Variation of Ct with TSR at 20% overlap.
FIG. 17 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 18
Variation of Ct with TSR at 25% overlap.
FIG. 18 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 19
Variation of Ct with TSR at 30% overlap.
FIG. 19 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 20
Variation of Ct with TSR at 35% overlap.
FIG. 20 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 21
Percentage deviation of computational Ct from the experimental Ct at 35% overlap.
FIG. 21 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 22
Variation of maximum characteristic coefficients with overlap ratio.
FIG. 22 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 23
Magnitude of velocity of flow in the form of color coding.
FIG. 23 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 24
Magnitude of static pressure of flow in the form of color coding.
FIG. 24 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)

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