Numerical study of the 3D Savonius turbine under stationary conditions. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abdullah, M.S.; Ishak, M.H.H.; Ismail, F.
• Is Part Of: Engineering failure analysis. Volume 136(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: 3D CFD Savonius wind turbine -- FSI Savonius turbine -- Savonius fatigue analysis -- Savonius structure analysis; System failures (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Fracture mechanics -- Periodicals; Reliability (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Pannes -- Périodiques; Rupture, Mécanique de la -- Périodiques; Fiabilité -- Périodiques; Fracture mechanics; Reliability (Engineering); System failures (Engineering); Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.112
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2022.106199
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-6307

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: A 3D fluid-structure interaction (FSI ) study of a scaled-up Savonius turbine to predict the mechanical power generation via static torque performance of turbine blades and their structural deformations. The static torque significantly depends on the turbine position, use of endplates, and turbine rotor diameter. The fatigue failure of the Savonius turbine is also presented as a function of rotor diameter, where again, the use of endplates is crucial. Abstract: This paper investigates the influence of turbine size on the aerodynamics and the force-deflection behavior of the Savonius turbine blades built from aluminum alloy during high winds in static conditions. A one-way fluid-structure interaction (FSI ) simulation with the Ansys Workbench environment 2019 R3 is used to predict the flow structures and the force response of various turbine diameters (D) from size 1D until 5D at different wind speeds (8 m/s < v < 18 m/s) and bucket angles (0°–180°). The coefficient of static torque ( Cts ) from the fluid simulation is validated against experimental work in the literature with average errors of less than 9%. The static torque, blade deformation, stress-induced, and fatigue response are studied extensively herein. This investigation reveals that the induced stress and blade deformations increase proportionally with turbine size and wind speed but even in the worst case scenario the outcome is not even 40% of the failure limit. The existence of endplates reduces the deformation and the alternating stress of the blades (about five times) and also improve the static torque performance by about 30% on average.