Experimental improvements on a tornado-type wind turbine (TTWT) system
Date
Authors
Major Professor
Advisor
Committee Member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Altmetrics
Authors
Research Projects
Organizational Units
The Department of Aerospace Engineering seeks to instruct the design, analysis, testing, and operation of vehicles which operate in air, water, or space, including studies of aerodynamics, structure mechanics, propulsion, and the like.
History
The Department of Aerospace Engineering was organized as the Department of Aeronautical Engineering in 1942. Its name was changed to the Department of Aerospace Engineering in 1961. In 1990, the department absorbed the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics and became the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. In 2003 the name was changed back to the Department of Aerospace Engineering.
Dates of Existence
1942-present
Historical Names
- Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics (1990-2003)
Related Units
- College of Engineering (parent college)
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics (merged with, 1990)
Journal Issue
Is Version Of
Versions
Series
Department
Abstract
The Tornado-Type Wind Turbine (TTWT) is a novel design for a wind energy generator utilizing the properties of vortex flow. The TTWT diverts freestream wind into a spiral-shaped chamber, creating a vortex with a low-pressure region in the center. This pressure drop is used to draw ambient air captured below through to the vortex chamber. Energy is extracted with a turbine at this interface. A successful TTWT design will extract more energy at a given wind speed than a traditional horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT). The TTWT will be quieter, easier to maintain, and more robust with respect to wind gusts.
TTWT models were built and tested in the Wind Simulation and Testing (WiST) Lab at Iowa State. The pressure drop achieved by the basic TTWT design was determined. New modifications to increase the pressure drop were devised and tested. Design modifications were found that improve the performance of the TTWT. Analysis of testing results showed that compared to small HAWTs, cut-in speed is reduced and the TTWT can provide at least three times the power output for low (4 to 10 m/s) wind speeds. Important design elements and flow parameters were identified to direct additional work.