Aerodynamic and Aeroacoustic Analyses of Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines

In this thesis, aerodynamic and aeroacoustic analyses are performed for different configurations of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs). Aerodynamic characteristics of VAWTs (mainly power generation as a function of wind speed at a fixed turbine rpm, or rotations per minute) can be obtained by computing the torque on the blades using unsteady panel methods in combination with particle-vortex methods. Aeroacoustic noise is predicted using the Formulation 1C of Ffowcs Williams - Hawkings equation. Numerical simulation results of power coefficient for 2-m and 17-m Troposkien-Darrieus VAWTs were initially validated against experimental data obtained from the literature. Additional simulations were also performed for novel 50% STS-VAWT (Shifted Troposkien Shape - VAWT) and 100% STS-VAWT, confirming the attractive performance for the 50% STS-VAWT when power generation is concerned (due to reduction in blade-wake interactions), although with an increase in acoustic noise downstream of the turbine