Kevin Sliman / Penn State
An engineering student has made a great advance in maximizing the power coefficient of wind turbines, based on an old mathematical problem proposed by Hermann Glauert.
Divya Tyagi, engineering student at Pennsylvania State University, made a significant advance to simplify a complex mathematical problem and centenary, originally proposed by British aerodinamicist Hermann Glauert.
Tyagi’s, published in Wind Energy Science, improves the design of wind turbines, offering new possibilities to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.
Glauert’s original work focused on Power coefficient maximization Wind turbines, which measures the effectiveness with which turbines convert wind energy into electricity. However, its model did not take into account critical factors such as the total force and the moment coefficients in the rotor or the way the paddles flex under the wind pressure, the.
Tyagi shifted these gaps using the Calculation of variationsa mathematical method used for restriction optimization problems. Your work identifies optimal aerodynamic performance, determining the ideal flow conditions to maximize energy production.
According to Tyagi’s counselor, Sven Schmitz, his approach allows a deeper exploration of wind turbine design. “The real impact will be on the next generation of wind turbinesusing the new knowledge that has been revealed, ”said Schmitz, a professor at Boeing/AD Welliver at the University’s Aerospace Engineering Department.
The practical benefits of Tyagi’s research are substantial. Improve the power coefficient of a wind turbine by only 1% can significantly increase its energy production, potentially providing enough energy for an entire neighborhood. His investigation was initially developed as a degree thesis and received the Anthony E. Wolk award for its exceptional thesis.
Currently, Tyagi is taking the Master in Aerospace Engineeringfocusing on computational simulations of fluid dynamics. Its investigation, supported by the US Navy, aims to improve flight simulation and driver safety by studying interactions between helicopter rotors and ships air winds.
“I spent about 10 to 15 hours a week between the problem, the writing of the thesis and the research. It took a long time because it was very intensive in mathematics. But I feel very proud now, seeing all the work I did, ”admits the young woman.
