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Flow Fields Past Grain Bins As It Relates To Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Placement Optimization, Jon Richter
Flow Fields Past Grain Bins As It Relates To Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Placement Optimization, Jon Richter
All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects
This thesis studies the 3D flow field of grain bins as it relates to Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) placement. Numerical CFD simulations using ANSYS FLUENT were created and validated with the Minnesota State University, Mankato water channel. It was found that the best speed-up regions were on the outer most sides of the models, closest to the walls of the water channel. The model that is furthest upwind in the group has the best speed-up velocity. As the models become closer together, an asymmetric flow field develops. VAWT placement between the models for any case researched is not recommended. …
Investigation Into The Potential Use Of Windbreaks To Improve Solar Collector Performance, Michael Watts
Investigation Into The Potential Use Of Windbreaks To Improve Solar Collector Performance, Michael Watts
All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects
The global demand for energy is ever increasing; however, the world has a limited number of fossil fuels available. Therefore, alternative renewable energy sources must be utilized. For this reason, solar thermal collectors have become an increasingly popular method for providing hot water or space heating. However, solar thermal collectors are most commonly used in areas that experience warm climates throughout the year. In areas that experience seasonal climates, the cold temperatures and harsh climate conditions significantly reduce the performance of solar thermal collectors during the winter months. This thesis examined the potential that the implementation of a windbreak could …