Problem setup: 3-blade Darrieus VAWT in uniform inflow.
Snapshot
- Source basis: Cornell SimCafe VAWT Part 1 + AE 4801 lecture material
- Modeling style: Steady-state MRF approximation (rotor spun at fixed RPM)
- Turbine type: Lift-based Darrieus VAWT
- Primary objective: Build a stable rotating-frame setup and interpret wake behavior
Problem specification
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Inflow velocity | 10 m/s |
| Angular velocity | 40 RPM |
| Rotor diameter | 12 cm |
| Blade count | 3 equally spaced blades |
| Chord length | 2 cm |
| Blade center radius | 0.04 m from hub center |
Modeling approach
- Used a Moving Reference Frame (MRF) formulation to simplify transient rotor motion into a steady approximation.
- Defined rotating inner zone and stationary far-field zone with explicit angular velocity assignment.
- Used non-conformal mesh interfaces across zone boundaries and set Fluent interfaces for information transfer.
- Kept blade positions and hub-centered geometry consistent with lecture setup definitions.
Results and interpretation
- Velocity contours show clear rotor interaction and an organized downstream wake.
- Wake non-uniformity across azimuthal blade position appears in post-processed flow fields.
- Turbulent kinetic energy contours show increased eddy activity in wake-dominated regions.
- Outputs are consistent with expected behavior for a simplified steady MRF VAWT study.
Validation and reproducibility notes
- Validation focus was trend-level consistency (wake shape, velocity deficit, TKE distribution) under fixed setup.
- Setup assumptions are explicit: fixed RPM and frozen-flowframe approximation.
- Mesh-interface naming and zone definitions are documented to support repeat runs and peer review.
Reference links
- Cornell SimCafe tutorial: FLUENT - Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (Part 1)