Practical Application of Numerical Methods to Vertical Axis Wind Turbines
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Fluids engineering for wind energy relies heavily on numerical methods. Particularly, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been established as a reliable tool for accurately reproducing flow physics and evaluating performance in wind turbines. Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) present numerous advantages for harnessing wind energy in urban environments and deep-water offshore applications. Despite its potential, VAWT technology has yet to achieve full-scale commercial adoption. In this context, academia plays a key role in providing the industry with the specialized tools to optimize turbine performance and accelerate design workflows. To this end, the present work establishes a practical methodology to comprehensively characterize the complex aerodynamics of VAWTs through a cost-effective numerical approach.