Impact of 2.5D Domain Thickness on the Accuracy of VAWT CFD
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In recent years, CFD has advanced the design of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs), which operate in urban environments with multi-directional and turbulent wind conditions. Detailed studies in such environments often use LES or SAS models in rotor sections with "2.5D domains," balancing computational cost and accuracy. This research investigates the optimal 2.5D domain thickness, evaluating rotor acceleration and flow using LES and 6DOF. The study finds that a thickness of 0.5C (half the chord length) offers a good trade-off, providing similar results to larger thicknesses while significantly reducing simulation time.