Effects of blade configuration on flow distribution and power output of a zephyr vertical axis wind turbine.

Worldwide interest in renewable energy systems has increased dramatically, due to environmental concerns like climate change and other factors. Wind power is a major source of sustainable energy, and can be harvested using both horizontal and vertical axis wind turbines. This thesis presents studies of a vertical axis wind turbine performance for applications in urban areas. Numerical simulations with FLUENT software are presented to predict the fluid flow through a novel Zephyr vertical axis wind turbine(VAWT). Simulations of air flow through the turbine rotor were performed to analyze the performance characteristics of the device. Major blade geometries were examined. A multiple reference frame (MRF) model capability of FLUENT was used to express the dimensionless form of power output of the wind turbine as a function of the wind freestream velocity and the rotor's rotational speed. The simulation results exhibit close agreement with a stream-tube momentum model.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Ajedegba, John Oviemuno

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Naterer, Greg F.
• Rosen, Marc

• advanced heat transfer
• advanced energy systems
• fuel cells and hydrogen systems
• wind power and small scale hydropower
• solar cells and solar collectors

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10155/11

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/11