Simulating VAWT Startup

This video shows a new software tool I wrote that lets me simulate and check for VAWT startup problems.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Sience
• Free
• Energy
• VAWT
• turbine
• wind
• startup
• power
• NACA0020
• S1223

[nrodge1]

I like this, please design a kick ass simple to build DIY VAWT for all of us! Green energy forums techluck DOT com

[sjh7132]

@nrodge1 You should also check out vawts DOT net, I've posted lost of blade tests there under 'spinoff-results'

[overunitydotcom]

Well done simulation, but why are you using such poor blades and not quarter circle blades or something simular ?

[sjh7132]

@overunitydotcom

There are two types of VAWTs, lift type and drag type. I think you are thinking of a drag type which moves slower, but has more torque. The lift type spins faster with less torque which is usually better for getting power out of alternators.

[Guru1ofatl]

Great vid, informative and interesting.

Have you thought of adding a fourth blade to your current design?

[sjh7132]

@Guru1ofatl

No it turns out that 3 is a nice number from a mechanical support and resonance point of view.

[hmortensen2907]

I've been looking for a CFD application to be able to use my GA to do some wing design. So I was glad to find OpenFoam, but talking about a steep learning curve! And now I find that, you have already done lot of the work.. and even created Spinner to do the dynamic testing..

Would it be possible to acquire the Spinner software? Would love to be able to concentrate on the wind design (GA) and not having to start from scratch on the simulation.

Thanks.

[Guru1ofatl]

Great vids, very interesting and informative.

Just curious, have you thought of adding a fourth blade to your current design?

[sjh7132]

@lordvon64

I'm running a laminar flow simulation and I should really be modeling turbulent flow. So my upwind drag isn't as high as it should be, making the power numbers kind of high. The general behavior of the turbine and relative powers to other turbines seems to be pretty good.  I'm using OF1.5-dev with GGI.

[lordvon64]

I am an aspiring OpenFOAMer, and this video is inspiring. What version are you using? Are you using either ggi or sliding interface? Do you have any validation data?