Numerical Investigation of the Aerodynamic Performance of a Triple Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Configuration

Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) have gained significant attention for decentralized energy harvesting due to their capability to operate in complex wind environments and their suitability for compact installations. While the aerodynamic behavior of a single rotor has been widely investigated, the interaction between multiple rotors placed in close proximity introduces additional flow complexity that is not yet fully understood. In this study, the fluid dynamic behavior of a Triple-VAWT configuration is numerically investigated with the aim of examining the aerodynamic interaction mechanisms between adjacent turbines and their influence on the overall flow structure. A high-quality structured mesh is generated using ICEM CFD to accurately represent the blade geometry and near-wall flow features. The numerical simulations are performed in ANSYS CFX by solving the unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations coupled with a rotating reference frame formulation. Particular attention is devoted to the definition of rotating and stationary regions and their interfaces to ensure a consistent representation of the interaction between moving and non-moving domains. The numerical methodology is first applied to a single VAWT and validated against reliable reference data reported in the literature in order to establish confidence in the computational approach. The validated numerical framework is then extended to the Triple-VAWT configuration to investigate the flow interaction patterns and wake development in a closely spaced multi-rotor arrangement. The proposed approach provides a practical basis for further studies on the aerodynamic behavior and layout considerations of VAWT systems operating in close proximity.

کلیدواژه ها:

VAWT ، CFD ، Aerodynamic Interaction ، Power Coefficient