Computational modeling of wind energy systems

Computational modeling of flow fields in the vicinity of the blades of the low cost horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) and vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) windmills are outlined in this paper. Computed pressure fields, wakes, vorticity structures for an assumed free stream velocity and as well as for a assumed atmospheric boundary layer profile are shown along with estimates of time variation of the torque generated by the windmill as it rotates in a time varying free stream velocity. These models form the basis for the design optimization of the blade profiles which would ensure as close to an uniform output of the torque around the axis of rotation in the presence of the temporal and spatially varying wind speeds that prevail over the area where the windmills are sited in order to improve the performance of the windmill by examining its performance metrics in the next phase of work.