Wind resource assessment and numerical simulation for wind turbine airfoils

This paper investigates a feasibility measurement study for wind resource and a numerical simulation for wind regimes of Marsabit and Garissa stations, both rural-urban towns in Eastern region of Kenya. The experimental wind speed measurement was done using optical anemometer sensors while the wind direction was detected by wind vane sensors. The data logging instrumentation with calibrated wind sensors recorded higher resolution wind data. Based on the wind regimes at the sites, an analysis of aerodynamic performance and flow physics of two-dimensional numerical simulations on a NACA0015 airfoil was done using CFD FLUENT software. The Meteorological wind speed measurement correlated with the calibrated cup anemometer sensors measurement with a correlation coefficient of 0.98. The strong correlation confirms that the experimental anemometer gave the correct readings and practical readings can be approximated to the data from the meteorological station. The wind regimes showed attached flow acceleration over the airfoil surface for various angles of attack. The results provide a reference to the research and development of vertical axis wind turbine for target markets.