Locating a small-scale wind turbine inside a diffuser of different configurations for output power maximization: A 2D and 3D comparative study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This paper explores the impact of a small-scale wind turbine’s axial location inside various diffuser configurations on its output power. The paper introduces a novel approach that combines both 2D and 3D simulations in comparing different axial locations and diffuser configurations. The study evaluated four diffuser configurations and investigated nine axial locations in both 2D and 3D models. In the 3D simulations, the small-scale wind turbine, adopted from existing literature, was placed within the diffusers at various axial locations, while in the 2D study, a uniform load was used to model the turbine's presence. The loaded diffusers' computational simulations were conducted by placing the load at the determined axial locations, and the extracted power was calculated using two equations. The first equation considered the change in static pressure, while the second equation accounted for the change in total pressure across the load. The axial locations investigated were determined based on these equations. The study's findings revealed that the best possible location for maximizing output power is at the diffuser's throat, as indicated by both the 3D and 2D study results that measured the change in the total pressure across the load. These findings are further supported by findings from existing literature. The study's approach provides valuable insights into the most suited axial location on the output power of small-scale wind turbines for different diffuser configurations with the aid of combined 2D and 3D analysis, which offers a comprehensive evaluation.
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,400
OpenAlex ID: W7083315102