Computational Analysis of High Lift Generating Airfoils for Diffuser Augmented Wind Turbines

Abstract

The present study aims to asses the aerodynamic performance of Diffuser Augmented Wind Turbine (DAWT) using high lift generating airfoils in the construction of the shroud/diffuser. The study is a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis which is carried out using Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations. The flow across the duct and rotor blades, which are modeled as an actuator disk (AD), is analyzed. Various High-Lift generating airfoils and their geometries were taken into consideration and analyzed with additional geometric modifications, such as a flange, to improve flow through the AD and increase the augmentation factor