EVERGREEN

Joint Journal of Novel Carbon Resource Sciences and Green Asia Strategy

ISSN:2189-0420 (Print until Mar 2020)
ISSN:2432-5953 (Online)

SCImago Journal & Country Rank

Open Access
Scopus
Google Scholar
Crossref
SCImago Journal & Country Rank
4.3
2024CiteScore
 
69th percentile
Powered by Scopus
Metrics by SCOPUS 2024
CiteScore
4.3
SJR
0.391
SNIP
1.192


CFD Investigation of 3D Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Models: Insights from Blade Tip Effects

Taurista Perdana Syawitri1,*, Yufeng Yao2, Jun Yao2, Budi Chandra2, Amiral Aziz1, Didik Rostyono1, Rudi Purwo Wijayanto1, Arfie Ikhsan Firmansyah3, Agustina Putri Mayasari4, Ario Witjakso1
1Research Center for Energy Conversion Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Republic of Indonesia
2School of Engineering, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom
3Directorate of Policy Formulation for Research, Technology, and Innovation, National Research and Innovation Agency, Republic of Indonesia
4National Research and Innovation Agency, Republic of Indonesia
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
E-mail: taur003@brin.go.id (TPS)
Received: June 04, 2025 | Revised: September 29, 2025 | Accepted: December 15, 2025 | Published: December 2025
Abstract
This study presents a detailed three-dimensional (3D) numerical analysis of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) to investigate aerodynamic performance and 3D flow effects. Building upon a validated two-dimensional (2D) model, the 3D computational domain leverages symmetry boundary conditions to reduce computational costs, modelling only half of the rotor blades. The 3D domain's dimensions and grid resolutions are in alignment with previous 2D studies, with modifications for span-wise and blade tip regions. A hybrid turbulence model, SBES with Transition SST, is employed, yielding moment coefficient predictions within an acceptable discrepancy range compared to experimental data. Grid independence is established via systematic grid refinement in span-wise and far-field sub-domains, ensuring accurate representation of 3D flow characteristics. Results highlight significant deviations in aerodynamic performance along span-wise positions, particularly at azimuthal ranges of 45o-150o and 210o-270o respectively, attributed to dynamic stall, vortex interactions, and blade tip effects. While the 3D CFD model underpredicts power coefficients compared to experimental data, it captures three-dimensional flow phenomena absent in 2D simulations. Contour plots of span-wise vorticity reveal consistent blade tip vortex formation and dissipation across azimuthal positions, underscoring the reduced aerodynamic impact beyond the tip. The study confirms the need for refined turbulence models and additional experimental validation to enhance 3D VAWT performance prediction.
Keywords
blade tip effect; blade tip vortex; computational fluid dynamics; dynamic stall; three-dimensional flows; vertical axis wind turbines
Available Repositories
Share Article
Article Metrics
--
Views
--
Downloads
--
Citations
Full Text
Download PDF
References
  1. 1) R. Green, "Experimental methods for aerodynamics," Springer Aerospace Technology, 21-55 (2023) doi:10.1007/978-3-031-12437-2_2
  2. 2) A. E. Romero, A. P. Blasetti, Jansen Gabriel Acosta-López, Miguel-Ángel Gómez-García, and H. de Lasa, "Vorticity and its relationship to vortex separation, dynamic stall, and performance, in an H-Darrieus vertical-axis wind turbine using CFD simulations," Processes, 12 (8) 1556 (2024) doi:10.3390/pr12081556
  3. 3) D. Sharma and R. Goyal, "Methodologies to improve the performance of vertical axis wind turbine: A review on stall formation and mitigation," Sustainable Energy Technol. Assess., 60, 103561 (2023) doi:10.1016/j.seta.2023.103561
  4. 4) K. Venkatraman, S. Moreau, J. Christophe, and C. Schram, "Numerical investigation of h-Darrieus wind turbine aerodynamics at different tip speed ratios," International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, 33 (4) 1489-1512 (2023) doi:10.1108/hff-09-2022-0562
  5. 5) B. Abotaleb, M. M. Takeyeldein, O. Huzayyin, and B. Elhadidi, "Impact of Negative Camber for Performance of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine," Evergreen 11 (1) 286-294 (2024) doi:10.5109/7172281
  6. 6) A. Ashish and P. Suresh, "Design and analysis of the effect through different aspect ratio on performance of VAWT," Lecture notes in mechanical engineering 333-340 (2022) doi:10.1007/978-981-19-1618-2_32
  7. 7) N. Franchina, O. Kouaissah, G. Persico, and M. Savini, "Three-dimensional CFD simulation and experimental assessment of the performance of a H-Shape vertical-axis wind turbine at design and off-design conditions," International Journal of Turbomachinery, Propulsion and Power 4 3 30 (2019) doi:10.3390/ijtpp4030030
  8. 8) D. M. Prabowoputra, A. R. Prabowo, I. Yaningsih, D. D. D. P. Tjahjana, F. B. Laksono, R. Adiputra, and H. Suryanto, "Effect of Blade Angle and Number on the Performance of Bánki Hydro-Turbines: Assessment using CFD and FDA Approaches," Evergreen 10 (1) 519-530 (2023) doi:10.5109/6782156
  9. 9) I. Yaningsih, D. D. D. P. Tjahjana, E. P. Budiana, M. Muqoffa, Z. Arifin, S. Suyitno, K. Enoki, dan T. Miyazaki, "Numerical study on the Effect of Rectangular and Triangular Counter-Rotating Vortex Generators on the H-Rotor Wind Turbine Performance," Evergreen 10 (1) 230-241 (2023) doi:10.5109/6781073
  10. 10) O. M. A. M. Ibrahim and S. Yoshida, "Experimental and Numerical Studies of a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Performance over a Steep 2D Hill," Evergreen 5 (3) 12-21 (2018) doi:10.5109/1957496
  11. 11) A. Hijazi, A. ElCheikh, and M. Elkhoury, "Numerical investigation of the use of flexible blades for vertical axis wind turbines," Energy Convers. Manage., 299 117867 (2024) doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2023.117867
  12. 12) S. ed-Dîn Fertahi, T. Belhadad, A. Kanna, A. Samaouali, I. Kadiri, and E. Benini, "A Critical Review of CFD Modeling Approaches for Darrieus Turbines: Assessing Discrepancies in Power Coefficient Estimation and Wake Vortex Development," Fluids 8 (9) 242 (2023) doi:10.3390/fluids8090242
  13. 13) B. Anggara, E. P. Budiana, C. Harsito, K. Enoki, K.-S. Kim, I. Yaningsih, D. D. D. P. Tjahjana, "Performance Improvement of H-Darrieus Wind Turbine with High Efficiency Vortex Structure Attachment," Evergreen 10 (1) 496-503 (2023) doi:10.5109/6782153
  14. 14) O. Eboibi, B. E. Eboibi, and L. A. M. Danao, "Solidity effects and azimuth angles on flow field aerodynamics and performance of vertical axis wind turbines at low Reynolds number," Scientific African, 24 e02215 (2024) doi:10.1016/j.sciaf.2024.e02215
  15. 15) T. P. Syawitri, Y. Yao, J. Yao, and B. Chandra, "Geometry optimisation of vertical axis wind turbine with Gurney flap for performance enhancement at low, medium and high ranges of tip speed ratios," Sustainable Energy Technol. Assess.,, 49 101779 (2022) doi:10.1016/j.seta.2021.101779
  16. 16) N. Franchina, G. Persico, and M. Savini, "2D-3D Computations of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Flow Field: Modeling Issues and Physical Interpretations," Renewable Energy, 136 1170-1189 (2019) doi:10.1016/j.renene.2018.09.086
  17. 17) S. Sanaye and A. Farvizi, "Optimizing a vertical axis wind turbine with helical blades: Application of 3D CFD and Taguchi method," Energy Reports 12 2547 (2024) doi:10.1016/j.egyr.2024.08.059
  18. 18) N. Franchina, O. Kouaissah, G. Persico, and M. Savini, "Three-dimensional modeling and investigation of the flow around a troposkein vertical axis wind turbine at different operating conditions," Renewable Energy, 199 368-38 (2022) doi:10.1016/j.renene.2022.08.130
  19. 19) B. Hand, G. Kelly, and A. Cashman, "Numerical simulation of a vertical axis wind turbine airfoil experiencing dynamic stall at high Reynolds numbers," Computers & Fluids, 149 12-30 (2017) doi:10.1016/j.compfluid.2017.02.021
  20. 20) A.-J. Buchner, M. W. Lohry, L. Martinelli, J. Soria, and A. Smits, "Dynamic stall in vertical axis wind turbines: Comparing experiments and computations," J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 146 163-171 (2015) doi:10.1016/j.jweia.2015.09.001
  21. 21) A. Aulia, A. S. Rofi’i, M. F. Fadri, M. H. Syarif, G. D. Haryadi, E. Susanto, "Numerical Investigation on the Torque Yields of the Darrieus Turbine with Various Deflectors Shape and Distance," Evergreen, 11 (4) 3290-3298 (2024) doi:10.5109/7326963
  22. 22) D. D. D. P. Tjahjana, M. J. H. As-Sidqi, E. P. Budiana, K. Enoki, and I. Yaningsih, "Rectangular Straight Vortex Generator Performance Analysis for H Rotor Darrieus Turbine," Evergreen, 11 (3) 2332-2341 (2024) doi:10.5109/7236876
  23. 23) H. Y. Peng, X. R. Yang, H. J. Liu, and S. Y. Sun, "Aerodynamic analysis of vertical axis wind turbines at various turbulent levels: Insights from 3D LES simulations," Journal of Building Engineering, 94 109899 (2024) doi:10.1016/j.jobe.2024.109899
  24. 24) R. Farzadi, A. Zanj, and M. Bazargan, "Effect of baffles on efficiency of darrieus vertical axis wind turbines equipped with J-type blades," Energy, 305 132305 (2024) doi:10.1016/j.energy.2024.132305
  25. 25) G. M. Avalos, N. R. Hau, R. Quintal-Palomo, E.E. Ordóñez López, M. Gamboa-Marrufo, and M. A. E. Soberanis, "Aerodynamic techniques to mitigate the 3D loss in the power coefficient of vertical axis wind turbines," Energy Convers. Manage., 311 118507 (2024) doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2024.118507
  26. 26) A. Sheidani, S. Salavatidezfouli, G. Stabile, and G. Rozza, "Assessment of URANS and LES methods in predicting wake shed behind a vertical axis wind turbine," J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 232 105285 (2023) doi:10.1016/j.jweia.2022.105285
  27. 27) J. T. Hansen, M. Mahak, and I. Tzanakis, "Numerical modelling and optimization of vertical axis wind turbine pairs: A scale up approach," Renewable Energy, 171 1371-1381 (2021) doi:10.1016/j.renene.2021.03.001
  28. 28) P. Zheng, H. Zhang, Z. Zhang, W. Salman, and M. Abdelrahman, "Parameter optimization method of contra-rotating vertical axis wind turbine: Based on numerical simulation and response surface," J. Cleaner Prod., 435 140475 (2023) doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.140475
  29. 29) R. Zhao, Angus, Y. Li, V. Venugopal, and L. Borthwick, "Numerical analysis of the performance of a three-bladed vertical-axis turbine with active pitch control using a coupled unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes and actuator line model," Journal of hydrodynamics/Journal of Hydrodynamics. Ser. B, 35 (3) 516-532 (2023) doi:10.1007/s42241-023-0035-x
  30. 30) B. Abotaleb, M. M. Takeyeldein, O. Huzayyin, and B. Elhadidi, "Impact of Negative Camber for Performance of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine," Evergreen, 11 (1) 286-294 (2024) doi:10.5109/7172281
  31. 31) A. Aihara, K. Bolin, A. Goude, and H. Bernhoff, "Aeroacoustic noise prediction of a vertical axis wind turbine using large eddy simulation," International Journal of Aeroacoustics, 20 8 959-978 (2021) doi:10.1177/1475472x211055179
  32. 32) A. Posa, "Dependence of the wake recovery downstream of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine on its dynamic solidity," J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerodyn.,, 202 104212 (2020) doi:10.1016/j.jweia.2020.104212
  33. 33) J. Su, H. Lei, D. Zhou, Z. Han, Y. Bao, H. Zhu, and L. Zhou, "Aerodynamic noise assessment for a vertical axis wind turbine using Improved Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation," Renewable Energy 141 559-569 (2019) doi:10.1016/j.renene.2019.04.038
  34. 34) W. Xu, G. Li, X. Zheng, Y. Li, S. Li, C. Zhang, and F. Wang, "High-resolution numerical simulation of the performance of vertical axis wind turbines in urban area: Part I, wind turbines on the side of single building," Renewable Energy, 177 461-474 (2021) doi:10.1016/j.renene.2021.04.071
  35. 35) W. Xu, Y. Li, G. Li, S. Li, C. Zhang, and F. Wang, "High-resolution numerical simulation of the performance of vertical axis wind turbines in urban area: Part II, array of vertical axis wind turbines between buildings," Renewable Energy, 176 25-39 (2021) doi:10.1016/j.renene.2021.05.011
  36. 36) W. Miao, Q. Liu, Z. Xu, M. Yue, C. Li, and W. Zhang, "A comprehensive analysis of blade tip for vertical axis wind turbine: Aerodynamics and the tip loss effect," Energy Convers. Manage., 253 115140 (2022) doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2021.115140
  37. 37) B. Hand, "Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic analysis of a large-scale vertical axis wind turbine," Wind Engineering, 42 2, 0309524X2110379 (2021) doi:10.1177/0309524x211037911
  38. 38) Q. Tang, Y. Wu, A. Yu, B. Peng, Y. Wang, and J. Lyu, "Investigation of energy dissipation of an H-type vertical axis wind turbine based on entropy production theory," Energy Conversion and Management, 283 116953 (2023) doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2023.116953
  39. 39) T. Zhang, M. Elsakka, W. Huang, Z. Wang, D. B. Ingham, L. Ma, and M. Pourkashanian, "Winglet design for vertical axis wind turbines based on a design of experiment and CFD approach," Energy Convers. Manage., 195 712-726 (2019) doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2019.05.055
  40. 40) J. Radhakrishnan, S. Sridhar, M. Zuber, E. Y. K. Ng, and S. S. B., "Design optimization of a Contra-Rotating VAWT: A comprehensive study using Taguchi method and CFD," Energy Convers. Manage., 298 117766 (2023) doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2023.117766
  41. 41) T. P. Syawitri, Y. F. Yao, B. Chandra, and J. Yao, "Comparison study of URANS and hybrid RANS-LES models on predicting vertical axis wind turbine performance at low, medium and high tip speed ratio ranges," Renewable Energy, 168 247-269 (2021) doi:10.1016/j.renene.2020.12.045
  42. 42) T. P. Syawitri, Y. Yao, J. Yao, and B. Chandra, "Assessment of stress-blended eddy simulation model for accurate performance prediction of vertical axis wind turbine," International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, 31 2 655-673 (2020) doi:10.1108/hff-09-2019-0689
  43. 43) R. Howell, N. Qin, J. Edwards, and N. Durrani, "Wind tunnel and numerical study of a small vertical axis wind turbine," Renewable Energy, 35 (2) 412-422 (2010) doi:10.1016/j.renene.2009.07.025
  44. 44) M. R. Castelli, A. Englaro, and E. Benini, "The Darrieus wind turbine: Proposal for a new performance prediction model based on CFD," Energy, 36 8 4919-4934 (2011) doi:10.1016/j.energy.2011.05.036
  45. 45) M. Elsakka, "The aerodynamics of fixed and variable pitch vertical axis wind turbine," Ph.D thesis. University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom, 2020
  46. 46) C. Hofemann, C. S. Ferreira, K. Dixon, G. van Bussel, G. van Kuik, and F. Scarano, "3D stereo PIV study of tip vortex evolution on a VAWT," Proceedings of 2008 European Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition European Wind Energy Association, 1-8 (2008)
  47. 47) ANSYS Inc., "ANSYS Meshing User's Guide," Canonsburg, 2010
  48. 48) M. R. Castelli, G. Ardizzon, L. Battisti, E. Benini, and G. Pavesi, "Modeling strategy and numericalvalidation for a Darrieus vertical axis micro-wind turbine," ASME Proceedings of ASME 2010 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, 409-418 (2010)
  49. 49) Y. Wang, S. Shen, G. Li, D. Huang, and Zhongquan Charlie Zheng, "Investigation on aerodynamic performance of vertical axis wind turbine with different series airfoil shapes," Renewable Energy, 126 801-818 (2018) doi:10.1016/j.renene.2018.02.095
  50. 50) M. F. Alam, D. Thompson, and D. K. Walters, "Critical assessment of hybrid RANS-LES modeling for attached and separated flows," in Turbulence Modelling Approaches - Current State, Development Prospects, Applications. IntechOpen, 2017. https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/56282 [Accessed 02 November 2021]
  51. 51) H. Lei, D. Zhou, Y. Bao, Y. Li, and Z. Han, "Three-dimensional Improved Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation of a two-bladed vertical axis wind turbine," Energy Convers. Manage., 133 235-248 (2017) doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2016.11.067
  52. 52) A. Rezaeiha, H. Montazeri, and B. Blocken, "On the accuracy of turbulence models for CFD simulations of vertical axis wind turbines," Energy, 180 838-857 (2019) doi:10.1016/j.energy.2019.05.053
Other Papers in This Issue