Session: 41-04 Offshore Wind Energy

Paper Number: 153668

Optimized H-Shaped VAWT for Tilted Operation: CFD Evaluation of Design and Off-Design Conditions 

Offshore wind power is increasingly recognized as a pivotal solution for renewable energy,
with wind turbines located far from the coast offering unique advantages. These instal-
lations tap into stronger, more consistent wind currents, minimize the impact on human
populations, reduce land usage, and lower both noise and visual pollution. As the wind
energy sector evolves, vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) are emerging as a promising
technology, particularly for deep offshore applications where floating platforms are both
feasible and economically attractive.
High-fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations have become an essential
tool for accurately evaluating the aerodynamic performance of wind turbines. These sim-
ulations enable detailed analysis of aerodynamic loads and performance over extended
periods under varying operational conditions, serving as a cornerstone for optimizing
turbine efficiency and reducing the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE).
This paper builds on a 3D CFD investigation, previously presented at the ASME Turbo
Expo, by exploring the aerodynamics and near-wake characteristics of an optimized H-
shaped VAWT designed for operation in tilted conditions, typical of spar-buoy platforms.
The study provides an in-depth spanwise analysis of large-scale models under various
operational conditions. Additionally, near-wake evolution is analyzed for both design and
off-design conditions. The findings contribute valuable insights for the ongoing develop-
ment of Floating-VAWT technology, with the potential to significantly advance offshore
wind energy systems.

Presenting Author: Nicoletta Franchina University of Bergamo

Presenting Author Biography: Nicoletta is associate professor at the University of Bergamo. She graduated in Mechanical Engineering and took her PhD in “Technology for Energy and environment” at the University of Bergamo.
Her research activity is focused on the development of innovative solutions based on numerical investigation of flow field of engineering interest. High-resolution CFD computations of turbomachinery flows, combustion, wind turbines

Authors:

Otman Kouaissah University of Bergamo
Nicoletta Franchina University of Bergamo
Giacomo Persico Politecnico of Milan
M. Salman Siddiqui Norwegian University of Life Sciences