Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) of Wind Turbines

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) of Wind Turbines
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Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) of Wind Turbines
Wind energy is becoming more vital than ever with the increasing shortage of fossil fuels amidst multiple environmental concerns. Stakeholders in the energy sector understand the need to focus more on renewable sources of energy, which is vital at a time when sensitivity to energy conservation and preservation of the environment from greenhouse gas damages increases. To the effect of the changes above, the market for wind energy increases. As the market grows, concerns increase on how to harvest wind energy at cost-efficient limits. Multiple studies have been conducted to develop better turbines likely to match the increasing sizes of wind farms. Developing better ways of understanding farm flows has achieved a boost with the advancements in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) of wind turbines. CFD simulations have proven important in gaining greater knowledge of different flow designs, thereby allowing wind farm developers to plan better-performing, less maintenance-intensive wind farms.
The Concept of CFD
The growth of the market for wind energy has created a spontaneous growth in wind turbines and wind farms, leading to an urgent need for more research for the efficient harvesting of wind energy. CFD simulations have come at the right time in wind energy mechanisms to instill better outcomes. Utility-scale turbines currently extend a considerable distance into the air boundary layer (Kishore & Priya, 2015). As a result, a better understanding of the interaction between the atmospheric boundary layer and turbines and their wakes is required. Upstream turbines’ turbulent wakes affect the flow field of turbines behind them, reducing power output and increasing mechanical loading. Wind farm developers could plan better-performing, less-maintenance-intensive wind farms if they had a better understanding of this type of flow (Ferrer & Montlaur, 2019). CFD comes as a monumental step that could be used to steer accuracy and low-maintenance wind turbines.
CFD is a branch of fluid dynamics that has been used to solve issues involving fluid flows. CFD uses data structures and numerical analyses to analyze and solve fluid flow issues. Contemporarily, computers are employed to calculate and simulate the free-stream flow of fluids and boundary conditions that facilitate interactions between fluids and surfaces (Carrion, 2014). High-speed supercomputers can be used to solve the largest and most complex fluid flow issues. More advancements in CFD have increased accuracy during simulations, and outcomes in turbulent and transonic flows have as well improved in the margin of error terms.
The data retrieved from CFD simulations is considerably more accurate, bearing the multiple steps that it must undergo for approval. The initial software validation can be conducted using the wind tunnel data. The outcomes can be compared using empirical analyses. Eventually, the outcomes are subjected to full-scale tests such as flight tests to ascertain their reliability (Kishore & Priya, 2015). The efficiency by which CFD simulations deliver outcomes has triggered its applicat...