This study is focused on harvesting wind energy from gust produced by trains, that are moving inside tunnels by placing Savonius rotors alongside the trains. Numerical simulation shows that the conventional S shaped Savonius rotor fails to harvest energy under such conditions and hence a new design is proposed to generate useful power without compromising the efficiency of the moving trains. The new turbine design is evaluated to optimize its parameters such as diameter and location with respect to train, considering SMRT's (Singapore Mass Rapid Transit) circle line in Singapore. This unconventional energy production can be a viable energy solution to provide power to electronic components and tunnel lighting. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd

Santanu Mitra

Mechanical Engineering

(SoE) School of Engineering

Bethi R.V.

Laws P.

Kumar P.

<p>Shiv Nadar University is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, research-focused, and student-centric University offering a full range of academic programs at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, the University comprises of academic wings, sophisticated labs, international standard sports facilities, amphitheaters, auditorium, conference rooms and smart classrooms. The University&rsquo;s goal is to become internationally recognized for the quality of its research and creative endeavors and their applicability to improving quality of life, generating new insights and expanding the boundaries of human knowledge creativity. Committed to excellence in teaching, research and service, the University aims to serve the higher education needs of India and the world beyond.</p>

Shiv Nadar University

Renewable Energy

Effects of end plates with various shapes and sizes on helical Savonius wind turbines

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

CFD simulation of train aerodynamics: Train-induced wind conditions at an underground railroad passenger platform

Numerical study of detailed flow field and performance of Savonius wind turbines

Discussion on the verification of the overlap ratio influence on performance coefficients of a Savonius wind rotor using computational fluid dynamics

Conventional Savonius rotors have high coefficient of static torque at certain rotor angles and a negative coefficient of static torque from 135° to 165° and from 315° to 345° in one cycle of 360°. In order to decrease this variation in static torque from 0° to 360°, a helical Savonius rotor with a twist of 90° is proposed. In this study, tests on helical Savonius rotors are conducted in an open jet wind tunnel. Coefficient of static torque, coefficient of torque and coefficient of power for each helical Savonius rotor are measured. The performance of helical rotor with shaft between the end plates and helical rotor without shaft between the end plates at different overlap ratios namely 0.0, 0.1 and 0.16 is compared. Helical Savonius rotor without shaft is also compared with the performance of the conventional Savonius rotor. The results indicate that all the helical Savonius rotors have positive coefficient of static torque at all the rotor angles. The helical rotors with shaft have lower coefficient of power than the helical rotors without shaft. Helical rotor without shaft at an overlap ratio of 0.0 and an aspect ratio of 0.88 is found to have almost the same coefficient of power when compared with the conventional Savonius rotor. Correlation for coefficient of torque and power is developed for helical Savonius rotor for a range of Reynolds numbers studied. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Performance tests on helical Savonius rotors

Modified Savonius wind turbine for harvesting wind energy from trains moving in tunnels