Power performance of vertical axis wind turbine in Martian atmosphere

This research investigates both physics of fluids in Martian atmosphere over the vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) and also examines the power performance of the turbine under different geometrical features. Computational fluid dynamics simulations of VAWTs are inherently challenging, as the blades in the downstream region are impacted by the wakes generated by the upstream blades. Furthermore, the distinct flow behavior caused by the low atmospheric density on Mars adds another layer of complexity, making this research both unique and technically demanding. The reduced atmospheric density on Mars leads to Reynolds numbers that differ substantially from those under terrestrial conditions, influencing boundary layer development and separation, and thereby altering the associated vorticity dynamics. Incorporating winglets into the blade design resulted in a maximum power coefficient (CP) of 0.2, demonstrating their effectiveness in significantly reducing tip vortex formation along the blade span. This CP value is consistent with the results reported by Kumar et al., who employed the double-multiple stream-tube method—which inherently neglects tip vortex effects—thereby supporting the validity of the current simulation approach. Results indicate that winglets are more effective than endplates, enabling greater power extraction from the turbine. Furthermore, the impact of dome placement—both with and without winglets—is investigated, and the results demonstrate that the maximum power performance of the VAWT increases significantly due to the accelerated flow over the dome.