The performance of a three dimensional vertical axis wind turbine in laminar flow field is analyzed using an elliptic finite difference procedure known by the name SIMPLER. The conservation equations of mass and momentum are solved using a primitive variable approach wherein the primitive variables p (static pressure), u (component of velocity in the i-direction), v (component of velocity in the j-direction), and w (component of velocity in the k-direction) are solved for directly. The motion of the blades are time averaged and introduced through the source terms of the momentum equations. Performance characteristics such as power coefficient and normal and tangential force coefficients are computed and compared with experimental results and other theoretical methods.
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