Publication Date

2019

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Majumdar, Pradip

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Abstract

Renewable energy resources are likely to be a future energy solution. Among them, the wind has gained a lot of interest. Despite the theoretical limitation in wind energy harnessing efficiency, it is, still, one of the most promising renewable resources with utilizing turbines to extract this energy. Wind turbines, based on their axis of rotation are categorized into vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) and horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT), which HAWT’s have shown relatively higher efficiency than VAWT’s. The aim of this thesis is first to develop a scaled-down model of a wind turbine in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) environment with two varied blade angles of attack, and then carry out a comparison performance analysis of these two proposed designs. Angle of attack is one of the major blade geometrical parameters effective on the wind turbine performance characteristics such as flow dynamics, aerodynamic torque generation, wake formation, and turbine energy conversion efficiency. The three-dimensional analysis of the turbine aerodynamic and energy conversion behavior is software.

The aerodynamic performance of wind turbine airfoils is an important foundation for the aerodynamic design and the performance analysis of the wind turbine. Hence, the aerodynamic performance of wind turbine airfoil is analyzed in order to find lift and drag coefficient of the airfoil using Reynolds Average Navier-Stokes (RANS) Equations along with turbulence closure models. Based on airfoil lift and drag data, the performance of the wind turbine under designated characteristic parameters is determined in terms of output power and efficiency. The effect of each parameter is studied and discussed, focusing on design modification and efficiency improvement.

Extent

82 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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