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Effect of the NACA 2412 airfoil orientation on the performance of Darrieus

Type Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

Conference Paper · March 2018

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E.A.Dinesh Kumara Sanjaya Thilakarathne

University of Moratuwa University of Ruhuna
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 Abstract

15th Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna

Effect of the NACA 2412 airfoil orientation on the performance

of Darrieus Type Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT) play vital role in renewable energy at present. There are two distinct types of
VAWT. They are Savonius type VAWT which works on drag force and Darrieus type VAWT which works on lift
force. The use of the NACA airfoil has attracted researchers to design wind turbines. This paper focuses on the
selection of the best NACA 2412 airfoil orientation which gives the maximum performance of a Darrius type VAWT
by comparing the net moment coefficient acting on the turbine at various angles of attacks. As a prototype, 1.6 m
diameter wind turbine with three of blades which has NACA 2412 airfoil cross section was studied. The aim was to
design the turbine enabling the Darrius VAWT to operate with its maximum efficiency. For the analysis, number of
models with different NACA 2412 airfoil orientations were analysed from oncoming air velocity 1ms-1 to 10 ms-1.
Airfoil orientation was changed by 2.5 degree in the range of 0 degree to 30 degree. Above mentioned parameters
were analysed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software package and the ultimate design was obtained in
accordance with the results. Boundary layer & Rotating region were designed by using Solid Works and saved the
designed files as step files. After that, the selected step files imported to ANSYS 14.5 and generated the mesh files.
Hereafter, mesh files exported to FLUENT 14.5 for the simulations. Pressure based 2D planar space was used in the
analysis and K-epsilon viscos model was studied under transient time base. It was observed that 5 degree angle
orientation of the NACA 2412 airfoil blades with reference to the oncoming air flow line, gives the highest net moment
coefficient on the turbine with respect to the wind speeds. Net Moment Coefficient is a dimensionless value. So, study
about the dimensionless parameters gives us a universal solution. That means the results from this research addresses
all scales of Darrieus wind turbines which has NACA 2412 airfoil cross section.

Keywords: Darrieus Wind Turbine,VAWT , Wind Power ,CFD, NACA 2412 Airfoil
 Extended Abstract
15th Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna

Effect of the NACA 2412 airfoil orientation to the performance

of the Darrieus Type Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

1. Introduction and research problem/issue

Wind energy has great potential to lessen our dependence on traditional resources like oil, gas and coal and to do it
without as much damage to the environment. As per the wind mapping results in the National Renewable Energy
Laboratory (NREL), there are many areas that concentrated wind energy in Sri Lanka.[1] Therefore, it would be very
useful for the future to start many efforts in wind power generation that can benefit us greatly from the resources we
have in Sri Lanka. Not only Sri Lanka but also entire world will get advantage of using wind power.

A wind turbine converts the wind's kinetic energy into electrical power. Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT) and
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT) are the main types of wind turbines. HAWT gives high power output than
VAWT. But, HAWT needs high speed of air velocities (around Rating speeds) to give its maximum performances.
VAWT are suitable for harness wind energy in urban areas.Because of that, it is powered by all 360 degree wind
direction, structural simplicity, cost effectiveness, easier maintenance, and lower noise emissions.[2] There are two
distinct types of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines. They are Savonius type VAWT which based on drag force and Darrieus
type VAWT which based on lift force. This research focused on the Darrieus type wind turbine which has low staring
capabilities in low air speeds. Although Darrieus type gives considerable amount of energy in urban areas, it needs to
further development. A major concern was to create the design to enable the Darrius VAWT to operate with its
maximum efficiency. Several parameters were analysed in relation to the wind speed to determine the best value for
each parameter, which would provide the highest efficiency, thus guaranteeing the best maximum performance of the
Darrieus type VAWT. For the analysis, number of models which had different NACA 2412 airfoil orientations were
analysed from oncoming air velocity 1ms-1 to 10 ms-1. Above mentioned parameters were analysed using
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software package and the ultimate design was obtained in accordance with the
obtained results.
2. Materials and Methods
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) can yield more accurate flow patterns than the momentum and vortex based
models. [2] Therefore, this research is basically based on the CFD simulation results. As a prototype, 1.6 m diameter
wind turbine with three number of blades which has NACA 2412 airfoil cross section was studied. Airfoil orientation
was changed by 2.5 degree in the range of 0 degree to 30 degrees. The geometric parameters of the turbine are shown
in Table No.01

Boundary layer & Rotating region were designed by using Solid Works and saved the designed files as step files.
After that, the selected step files imported to ANSYS 14.5 and generated the mesh files. Hereafter, mesh files exported
to FLUENT 14.5 for the simulations. In this research, pressure based 2D planar space was used to analysing and K-
epsilon viscos model studied under transient time base. A time step was chosen small enough to reduce the number of
iterations by time and to properly model transient phenomena. [3] Below figure no. 01 shows the pressure coefficient
variation during the simulations.
3. Results and Discussion
By using the aerodynamic analysis theory and the simulated data obtained by CFD, The moment coefficients (CM) were obtained
and analysed with the different angle of attacks of the NACA 2412 airfoil. The graph no. 01 shows the net moment coefficients
variation with different angle of attacks. CM defined as follows.

CM = M / qSc ………………………Eq.01

Where M is the pitching moment, q is the dynamic pressure, S is the wing area, and c is the length of the chord of the airfoil.

Moment coefficient is a dimensionless value. So, study about the dimensionless parameters gives us a universal solution. That
means the results from this research address all scales of Darrieus wind turbines which has NACA 2412 airfoil cross sections.

The simulations were done according to the Airfoil orientation changed by 2.5 degree in the range of 0 degree to 30 degrees. As
this analysing based on the 2D geometric profile, plan view of the Darrieus type wind turbine was considered.

According to the simulated data, it was observed that 5-degree angle orientation of the NACA 2412 airfoil blades gives higher net
moment coefficient on the turbine with respected to the wind speeds.

4. Conclusions
To improve the performance of the Darrieus type vertical axis wind turbine which has NACA 2412 airfoil blades at low rotational
speeds, a small scale vertical axis wind turbine system model was optimized and analysed with CFD. Analyses were carried out on
the net moment coefficient values based on the simulation results. Present studies mainly focused on improve the performance of
wind turbines by changing the blades profile. But, this research focused on improve the performance by finding the best orientation
of the NACA 2412 airfoil blades. This research address all scales of Darrieus wind turbines which has NACA 2412 airfoil cross
sections.

If we can improve the performance of the VAWT, it’s huge advantage for the authorities. They can implement the Vertical Axis
Wind Turbines every possible places and generate the electricity. Then foreign exchange of the country could be saved.

References (Selected)
[01]. M. Young and R. Vilhauer, “Sri Lanka Wind Farm Analysis and Site Selection Assistance”, Global Energy
Concepts, LLC Kirkland, Washington, August 2003.

[2]. Masoud Ghasemian, Z. NajafianAshrafi, Ahmad Sedaghat, “A review on computational fluid dynamic simulation
techniques for Darrieus vertical axis wind turbines”, International Journal of Energy Conversion and
Management,Vol.149 , 01 October 2017, Pages 87-100

[3]. Hettiarachchi N.K., Jayathilake R.M., Sanath J.A. “Performance Simulation of a Small Scale Vertical Axis Wind
Turbine (VAWT) with the Integration of a Wind Deflector System”, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing
Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Mar 19, 2014

[4]. E.A.D. Kumara, N.K. Hettiarachchi and K.G.R.M. Jayathilake, ” Review Paper: Overview of the Vertical Axis
Wind Turbines” , International Journal of Scientific Research and Innovative Technology, Vol. 4 No. 8, August
2017, ISSN: 2313-3759

[5]. Hettiarachchi N.K., E.A.D. Kumara, Aravinda L.H.A.S, Kumara.D.M.R., 2015, January. Performance Simulation
of a Savonius Type Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) With Wind Deflectors. In Annual Research symposium
2015, Faculty of Engineering University of Ruhuna (Vol. 1, No. ARS 15/M/12, p. 29). Faculty of Engineering,
University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.
 Annex
Table N0.01: Geometry parameters of the turbine

Diameter of the turbine 160 cm

Blade Profile NACA 2412 airfoil
Number of turbine blades 3 blades
Max Camber (%) of the airfoil 2%
Max camber position (%) of the airfoil 40%

Figure No.01: Pressure coefficient variation during simulation

90
80
70
Net Moment coefficient

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
-10 0 2 4 6 8 10 12

-20
Wind Speeds /ms-1

0 deg. 2.5 deg. 5 deg. 7.5 deg. 10 deg.

12.5 deg. 15 deg. 17.5 deg. 20 deg. 25 deg.

Graph No. 01: Net moment coefficient variation with the NACA 2412 airfoil orientation

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