Vertical Axis Wind Turbine-Part 1

Nonrenewable energy resources are depleting, and renewable alternatives are gaining attention. One of the main renewable energy alternatives is wind energy. Wind turbines are used to capture the kinetic energy of the wind and convert it into electrical energy. Depending on the orientation of the rotor shaft, wind turbines are typically categorized as (1) vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT), and (2) horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT). To increase the efficiency of these turbines, a design engineer must consider the aerodynamic forces on blades and the flow behavior around these blades. Engineering simulations are commonly used to estimate these aerodynamic forces.

This SimCafe Course was developed by Dr. Rajesh Bhaskaran, Swanson Director of Engineering Simulation at Cornell University, and Julio Sampaio Gabriel de Pieri, in partnership with Ansys. It serves as an e-learning resource to integrate industry-standard simulation tools into courses and provides a resource for supplementary learning outside the classroom. In this course, we will use the Multiple Reference Frame (MRF) approach to model the Vertical axis wind turbine using Ansys Fluent and study the flow behavior around its blades.

For more ways to learn, check out the Cornell edX course, A Hands-on Introduction to Engineering Simulations at ansys.com/cornell.

Cornell University also offers a Fluid Dynamics Simulations Using Ansys online certificate authored by Dr. Rajesh Bhaskaran. Learn more here: https://ecornell.cornell.edu/fluiddynamics

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