Numerical Study on the Physics of Fluid Flow About a Savonius Rotor
Abstract
This study reports the flow physics past a Savonious wind turbine rotor. It is based on the modeling and numerical simulation of a VAWT experiments. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques was used with a rigid-rotor system to model the coupling. The SST k-Ȧ model is the turbulence model taken into account in this dynamic study of a Savonious rotor. The rotor motion was governed by a 1-DOF method. The physics of the fluid flow in and around the Savonious rotor was analyzed by the velocity, pressure and vorticity fields induced by the rotor rotation. It is founded that the half-period of formation and destruction of vortices generated by the Savonious rotor is between 90 deg to 270 deg.