Numerical Evaluation of the Aerodynamic Efficiency of the Stevens and Jolly Vertical- Axis Windmill (1895)

Authors: M. Raciti Castelli, E. Benini

Abstract:

This paper presents a numerical investigation of the unsteady flow around an American 19th century vertical-axis windmill: the Stevens & Jolly rotor, patented on April 16, 1895. The computational approach used is based on solving the complete transient Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (t-RANS) equations: a full campaign of numerical simulation has been performed using the k-ω SST turbulence model. Flow field characteristics have been investigated for several values of tip speed ratio and for a constant unperturbed free-stream wind velocity of 6 m/s, enabling the study of some unsteady flow phenomena in the rotor wake. Finally, the global power generated from the windmill has been determined for each simulated angular velocity, allowing the calculation of the rotor power-curve.

Keywords: CFD, vertical-axis rotor, windmill.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1060769

References:

[1] L. White Jr., Medieval technology and social change, Oxford, 1962, p. 87.
[2] J. C. Vassberg, A. K. Gopinath and A. Jameson, "Revisiting the Vertical-Axis Wind-Turbine Design using Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics", AIAA Paper 2005-0047, 43rd AIAA ASM, Reno, NV.
[3] M. Raciti Castelli, G. Ardizzon, L. Battisti, E. Benini, G. Pavesi, "Modeling Strategy and Numerical Validation for a Darrieus Vertical Axis Micro-Wind Turbine", ASME 2010 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, November 12-18, 2010, Vancouver (British Columbia), IMECE2010-39548.
[4] C. J. Simao Ferreira, H. Bijl, G. van Bussel and G. van Kuik, "Simulating Dynamic Stall in a 2D VAWT: Modeling Strategy, Verification and Validation with Particle Image Velocimetry Data", The Science of Making Torque from Wind, Journal of Physics: Conference Series 75, 2007.
[5] C. Simao Ferreira, G. van Kuik, G. van Bussel and F. Scarano, "Visualization by PIV of dynamic stall on a vertical axis wind turbine", Experiments in Fluids, Vol. 46, No. 1, pp. 97-108.
[6] V. Kumar, M. Paraschivoiu and I. Paraschivoiu, "Low Reynolds Number Vertical Axis Wind Turbine for Mars", Wind Engineering, Vol. 34, No. 4, June 2010.
[7] M. Raciti Castelli, E. Benini, "Effect of Blade Inclination Angle on a Darrieus Wind Turbine", ASME Turbo Expo 2010 Gas Turbine Technical Conference, June 14-18, 2010, Glasgow (Scotland), GT2010- 23332
[8] M. Raciti Castelli, E. Benini, "Effect of Blade Thickness on Darrieus Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine Performance", CSSim 2011 - 2nd International Conference on Computer Modelling and Simulation, 5-7 September 2011, Brno (Czech Republic).
[9] M. Raciti Castelli, E. Benini, Effect of Negative Pitch Angle on Darrieus Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine Performance, World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, Issue 59-2011, pp. 3372-3376.
[10] J. H Stevens and J. L. Jolly, "Windmill", U.S. Patent No. 537,494, issued on April 16, 1895.
[11] Fluent Inc., Fluent User-s Manual, pp. 52, 54, 59, 71, 143.
[12] R. M. Cummings, J. R. Forsythe, S. A. Morton and K. D. Squires, "Computational Challenges in High Angle of Attack Flow Prediction", 2003, Progr. Aerosp. Sci. 39(5):369-384.
[13] J. L. Menet, "A double-step Savonius rotor for local production of electricity: a design study", Renewable Energy, Volume 29, Issue 11, September 2004, pp. 1843-1862.
[14] J. F. Manwell, J. G. McGowan and A. L. Rogers, Wind Energy Explained: Theory, Design and Application, John Wiley and Sons, 2010, p. 146.