Simulation Study on the Performance of a Counter-rotating Savonius Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

Djamal Hissein  Didane; Muhammad Amir Zafran  Saipul Anuar; Mohd Faizal  Mohideen Batcha; Kamil  Abdullah; Mas Fawzi  Mohd Ali; Akmal Nizam  Mohammed

Authors

Djamal Hissein Didane Department of Energy and Thermofluid Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Muhammad Amir Zafran Saipul Anuar Department of Energy and Thermofluid Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Mohd Faizal Mohideen Batcha Department of Energy and Thermofluid Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Kamil Abdullah Department of Energy and Thermofluid Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Mas Fawzi Mohd Ali Department of Energy and Thermofluid Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Akmal Nizam Mohammed Department of Energy and Thermofluid Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia

Keywords:

CFD simulation, savonius rotor, vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT), counterrotating wind turbine, low-speed wind

Abstract

Wind power is an energy source that is becoming an alternative to burning fossil fuels that may harm the environment during operations due to the emission of harmful gases. In this study, simulation and performance investigations of a counter-rotating vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) based on the Savonius S-type rotor have been analysed through a computational simulation approach. The foremost motive of this study is to widen the operating wind speed range of the counter-rotating concept in a VAWT while enhancing the conversion efficiency of a single-rotor VAWT system. The 3D simulations were performed based on the K-omega shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model. The results have shown that the counter-rotating model possesses better performance characteristics in terms of torque, power and their corresponding coefficients compared to a single-rotor design of a wind turbine. A maximum output of more than two times was obtained from the new CRWT system compared to that of a single-rotor wind turbine (SRWT). Moreover, the output of the top rotor was higher than the bottom rotor due to the increased higher rotational speed of the top rotor.