Aerodynamics of wind turbines
The unsteady aerodynamics of wind turbines can easily be
analyzed in XFlow’s virtual wind tunnel. The rotor can either
spin freely due to the torque exerted by the wind or enforced
motion can be applied . The simulation can assess the efficiency
of the turbine and predict loads on blades, wake turbulence
intensity, or interference effects in wind farms.
Free surface
Multi body dynamics can be coupled to free surface analysis.
For example devices that extract energy from sea waves are
allowed to move, and the constraints between the different
bodies can be virtual joints or forced by the contact between the
real geometries.
Natural convection
The thermal solver allows you to simulate flows driven by
natural or forced convection for energy transformation devices,
such as a solar tower. In this case the air contained in a collector
is heated by the sun, and the resulting natural convection causes
air to rise up the tower and to move a turbine, which produces
electricity.
Solar power
The loads over parabolic collectors can easily be simulated.
XFlow can provide averaged pressure distributions and
transient data of maximum and minimum peaks.