Performance analysis of the concentrator with flap-wind turbine combination

Wind energy is a renewable energy resource that can be used to ensure energy sustainability without causing environmental pollution. In this context, many studies have been conducted on how to acquire more energy from the wind. One of the approaches to maximise the wind turbine is to increase the wind speed at the turbine. In order to achieve this, a concentrator is added around the turbine, called the turbine-concentrator system. The concentrator creates a low pressure zone behind the turbine and consequently increases wind speed at the wind turbine zone in the concentrator. Optimization analysis of the combinations of the wind turbine and concentrator leading to the maximum free wind speed increase has been carried out. In the optimization analysis, the Response Surface Method with 2D CFD analysis is applied. Using optimum geometric parameters, the performance analysis of the wind turbine-concentrator combinations is determined by the 3D CFD analysis. It is seen that turbine performance can be significantly improved by using a concentrator. The concentrator increases the power output by a factor of about 2.5. Thus, the concentrator provides more power generation from the wind turbine and also can be used to generate energy in regions with poor wind statistics.