An assessment of the potential of a novel ducted turbine for harvesting wind power

A novel ducted turbine, referred to as a Wind Tower, as a smart architectural integrated design for capturing wind power in residential or commercial applications is theoretically and experimentally studied. A mathematical model is developed to predict the flow behavior inside the tower, and a velocity coefficient is defined to correct the results at different test conditions. A 1/8-scale wind tower prototype, including a four-quadrant-peak windcatcher rooftop, a tower, a nozzle, and a turbine, is designed and fabricated. The results from the mathematical model provide a good estimation of the output power obtained from experimental tests. Significant changes in the output wind speed due to pressure differences created by the surrounding environment and the Wind Tower components configuration are observed. The advantages of requiring low maintenance, and being reliable and sustainable, together with its special design that eliminates bird/bat mortality, make the Wind Tower a promising solution for residential, commercial, and off-grid applications.

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