Development of a Geometry Optimization Platform using an In-House Developed Genetic Algorithm: Case of a Bladeless Wind Turbine

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Development of a Geometry Optimization Platform using an In-House Developed Genetic Algorithm: Case of a Bladeless Wind Turbine

Identifying the optimal geometry that would lead to maximized aerodynamic performance is an essential part of engineering design. There are well established commercial software packages that are widely used for engineering design and analysis, such as ANSYS and SolidWorks; however, there is no smart platform that can take advantage of these highly verified/validated packages for optimization purposes. Optimization via computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is an expensive process. Hence, developing an optimization platform that employs highly efficient commercial codes such as ANSYS-Fluent is of essence. This research was focused on developing such platform based on the genetic algorithm (GA) logic, where an in-house developed python script communicates with SolidWorks and ANSYS through a fully automated process until the optimal geometry is identified. Development of a bladeless wind turbine was considered to test functionality and performance of this optimization platform. This case was selected due to the complex geometry that will ensure a robust optimization platform. Additionally, developing an efficient bladeless turbine can address many of the challenges that wind power industry faces. Contemporary wind turbine systems rely on blades which operate on the principle of the airfoil. Designing such bladed turbines to operate in low wind speed environments is a major challenge as low wind speeds produce a lift on the blades which is insufficient to run the rotor. This means those designs suffer from high "cut-in wind speeds". A bladeless wind turbine is presented which converts low speed wind energy into a high velocity, rotational jet output through convergent nozzles. Wind energy is extracted by directing a portion of the stream through the proposed structure. Initially, a prototype was 3D printed and tested and it was found that most of the air was diverting around the object instead of passing through the funnel. In order to find a more effective geometry for the funnel without the time and cost of 3D printing many additional designs, the above-described optimization platform was applied to the geometry of this bladeless wind turbine.

title: Development of a Geometry Optimization Platform using an In-House Developed Genetic Algorithm: Case of a Bladeless Wind Turbine

creator: Madison Dittner

subject: Mechanical engineering [0548] - primary

subject: Fluid mechanics [0204]

subject: Computer science [0984]

description: Identifying the optimal geometry that would lead to maximized aerodynamic performance is an essential part of engineering design. There are well established commercial software packages that are widely used for engineering design and analysis, such as ANSYS and SolidWorks; however, there is no smart platform that can take advantage of these highly verified/validated packages for optimization purposes. Optimization via computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is an expensive process. Hence, developing an optimization platform that employs highly efficient commercial codes such as ANSYS-Fluent is of essence. This research was focused on developing such platform based on the genetic algorithm (GA) logic, where an in-house developed python script communicates with SolidWorks and ANSYS through a fully automated process until the optimal geometry is identified. Development of a bladeless wind turbine was considered to test functionality and performance of this optimization platform. This case was selected due to the complex geometry that will ensure a robust optimization platform. Additionally, developing an efficient bladeless turbine can address many of the challenges that wind power industry faces. Contemporary wind turbine systems rely on blades which operate on the principle of the airfoil. Designing such bladed turbines to operate in low wind speed environments is a major challenge as low wind speeds produce a lift on the blades which is insufficient to run the rotor. This means those designs suffer from high "cut-in wind speeds". A bladeless wind turbine is presented which converts low speed wind energy into a high velocity, rotational jet output through convergent nozzles. Wind energy is extracted by directing a portion of the stream through the proposed structure. Initially, a prototype was 3D printed and tested and it was found that most of the air was diverting around the object instead of passing through the funnel. In order to find a more effective geometry for the funnel without the time and cost of 3D printing many additional designs, the above-described optimization platform was applied to the geometry of this bladeless wind turbine.

contributor: Tennessee Technological University

date: 2020-04-16

type: text

publisher: Tennessee Technological University. Archives and Special Collections

language: English

rights: In Copyright

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