Aerodynamic analysis of plain flap integration in vertical axis wind turbines using CFD at different tip speed ratios

Zakaria, Mohamad Shukri and Zahari, Zulfaqar and Abdullah, Haslina and Basri, Adi Azriff and Abd. Latif, Mohd Juzaila (2025) Aerodynamic analysis of plain flap integration in vertical axis wind turbines using CFD at different tip speed ratios. Journal Of Engineering Science And Technology, 20 (4). pp. 1012-1025. ISSN 1823-4690

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Abstract

This study was aimed at enhancing the performance of a vertical axis wind turbine, by incorporating a plain flap at the trailing edge of a NACA 0015 aerofoil blade. The performance of the vertical axis wind turbine was analysed by solving the two-dimensional Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The effect of the plain flap on the performance of the vertical axis wind turbine was evaluated at Reynolds Number of 1.7×106 . Computational fluid dynamics simulations were used to compare the power coefficients and vorticity magnitudes of the aerofoil at various tip speed ratios of 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0, both with and without the plain flap. For each tip speed ratio, the observed pressure coefficient increment was 15.32%, 16.49%, 9.97%, and 19.42%. The results indicated a significant improvement of up to 20% in the pressure coefficient with the addition of the flap compared to the clean aerofoil, thereby suggesting its potential to enhance energy efficiency in vertical axis wind turbines. A Flow visualisation also demonstrated that the flap reduced vortex formation and improved flow attachment. The study concluded that the plain flap design significantly boosts aerodynamic efficiency, and further optimisation recommends exploiting its benefits fully. Future research could explore adaptive flap designs and real-world implementations under varying wind conditions to further enhance the wind turbine efficiency and stability.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Aerodynamics, Computational fluid dynamics, Tip speed ratio wind turbine
Divisions:	Faculty Of Mechanical Technology And Engineering
Depositing User:	Norfaradilla Idayu Ab. Ghafar
Date Deposited:	03 Feb 2026 06:58
Last Modified:	03 Feb 2026 06:58
URI:	http://eprints.utem.edu.my/id/eprint/29488
Statistic Details:	View Download Statistic

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