A group of researchers from Youngstown State University in Ohio has developed an original way to generate energy with the use of vertical wind turbines placed along highways. Unlike traditional wind turbines that operate using natural air currents, this concept uses wind generated by moving cars as the source of energy.
The American researchers’ idea envisages the installation of vertical axis turbines on roadsides or in the dividing strips of highways, near dense and stable traffic flows. To improve the efficiency of the turbines, the scientists have proposed using aerodynamic guides – special fairings that form and direct the air flow. These elements enhance the effect of air on the blade that moves in the direction of the flow, simultaneously reducing resistance on the opposite side, where the blade rotates against it. This principle improves the distribution of aerodynamic load and increases torque, subsequently upping the volume of electricity generated.
The researchers justified their choice of vertical turbines by their design advantages: unlike horizontal units, which need to be oriented in the direction of the wind, vertical turbines can effectively capture air flows from any side. These turbines are compact and easy to maintain, and all of their mechanically active components are close to the ground, which makes them safe and suitable for installation near transport infrastructure.
Turbine operation was studied via computational fluid dynamics methods. At the first stage, various traffic scenarios, from cars to buses moving at a speed of about 115 kmph, were simulated. Then, attention was given to the configuration and placement of aerodynamic guides relative to the turbine. During the simulation, three options were considered: without guides, with two guides, and with three fairings. Calculations were carried out in a non-stationary mode, which made it possible to track the dynamics of the air flow and power generation at all stages of vehicle passage past the turbine.
The power generated was estimated by integrating the turbine torque over time, taking into account its angular velocity of rotation. In other words, the researchers determined with what force and for how long the air flow affects the blades, and calculated how much energy the turbine manages to generate during one vehicle passage. This method made it possible to accurately record short-term but very intense peaks of generation that occur when cars pass.
The results were impressive. In the basic configuration without guides, the turbine generated about 37 joules of energy per vehicle passage. With two guides, this indicator rose to 58 joules, reaching 127 joules with three guides, which corresponds to an increase of more than 240%. The dimensions of the vehicle had a significant impact as well: the volume of power generated was significantly higher in the case of a bus, which creates a more powerful and voluminous air flow.
Thus, the study demonstrated that the kinetic energy from traffic flow is a real and underestimated source of energy. When it comes to using vertical wind turbines with guide elements, this resource can be efficiently converted into electricity, and the resulting energy can be used to power street lights, road sensors, surveillance cameras or charging stations without connecting to external grids.
