Numerical Study on Wind Energy Utilization in Smart Cities for Optimizing Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs)

The aim of the work is to evaluation and analysis the potential of the modern small scale vertical wind turbine in urban area. This study utilizes the aerodynamic knowledge of converge/diverging ducts enforcing the wind velocity in context of modern urban area design. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used as the tool, studying wind profiles in Dubai, UAE, characterized by modern, high-rise buildings representative for many modern city nowadays. Two cases were studied using different wind directions to gain better understanding of the wind profile around typical buildings at three different elevation levels. A turbulent wind flow pattern was simulated to find the best locations for placing vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) based on increased wind speed profiles and practicability of installation. Special building geometries were of particular interest. They provide guidelines for future city design based on enforcing of wind velocity in the designated area. Therefore, the special building geometries simulated and analyzed in detailed. Results of the simulations prove the existence of the venturi effect by showing the increase in wind velocity at gaps in between two building near each other. Wind velocity profiles at predefined practical locations show promising results in both cases due to converged, undisturbed flow patterns. More interesting, some buildings are found to double the wind velocity due to special geometry. Thus, the architecture of buildings doesn’t only improve the esthetic appearance, but from energy point of view also enhances wind velocity and therefore the energy performance of the particular building.