Call For Paper October 2026

Research Article | Open Access | Download PDF
Volume 13 | Issue 10 | Year 2026 | Article Id. IJME-V13I10P109 | DOI : https://doi.org/10.14445/23488360/IJME-V13I10P109

Performance Analysis of Various Rotor Geometries using CFD Simulation Techniques


Swati P. Shinde, D.B Jadhav

Received Revised Accepted Published
06 Mar 2026 30 Apr 2026 13 Jul 2026 26 Oct 2026

Citation :

Swati P. Shinde, D.B Jadhav, "Performance Analysis of Various Rotor Geometries using CFD Simulation Techniques," International Journal of Mechanical Engineering, vol. 13, no. 10, pp. 108-138, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488360/IJME-V13I10P109

Abstract

Recently, CFD has shown it can effectively explore and fine-tune how rotors work under different conditions. Although they are dependable, the old-fashioned experimental methods can be kind of costly and oftentimes, long. Thus, this work involves a comparative CFD study to validate the thermodynamic properties and flow characteristics of various rotor profiles with a constant clearance of 0.15 mm, with a focus on flow dynamics and sealing characteristics. The study examines the variations of temperature, velocity and pressure within the rotor geometry. There are four modified profiles (Profiles 1 - 4) looked at, and the Master Rotor is essentially the reference profile or the baseline. The velocity and temperature readings under very high pressure, velocity, and temperature readings show that Profile 1 performs better than the others, thus indicating better sealing and less restrictive flow passages. Leakage (or a sort of flow separation) occurs in Profiles 2, 3 and 4, with the performance remaining in the middle to poor. Overall, Rotor Profile 1 is the best design that fits within the limits and is a good choice for applications that are more demanding, particularly if the manufacturing tolerances can consistently be maintained to keep this 0.15 mm clearance.

Keywords

Rotor, Geometry, CFD, Ansys, Simulation, Techniques, Methods, Approaches.

References

  1. N. Afane et al., “Modal and Harmonic Analysis of the Rotor System Involving Four Different Materials by Finite Element Code: Ansys Workbench,” Materials Physics and Mechanics, vol. 51, no. 7, pp. 63-98, 2023.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  2. Shlok Anand, Satvik Shenoy, and G. Srinivas, “Two-Dimensional Rotor Blade Numerical Analysis using ANSYS,” Journal of Physics: Conference Series, vol. 1706, pp. 1-10, 2020.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  3. M Anbarsooz, “Aerodynamic Performance of Helical Savonius Wind Rotors with 30° and 45° Twist Angles: Experimental and Numerical Studies,” Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, vol. 230, no. 6, pp. 523-534, 2016.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  4. Md. Salman Anik, and Mohammad Sultan Mahmud, “Performance Analysis of VAWT with H-Darrieus Rotor using Gurney Flap,” AIP Conference Proceedings, vol. 3307, no. 1, 2025.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  5. G.N. Barakos, and A. Jimenez Garcia, “CFD Analysis of Hover Performance of Rotors at Full- and Model-Scale Conditions,” The Aeronautical Journal, vol. 120, no. 1231, pp. 1386-1424, 2016.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  6. Petros Chasapogiannis et al., “Analysis of the Aerodynamic Performance of the Multi-Rotor Concept,” Journal of Physics: Conference Series, vol. 524, pp. 1-11, 2014.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  7. Djamal Hissein Didane et al., “Performance Investigation of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine with Savonius Rotor using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD),” CFD Letters, vol. 14, no. 8, pp. 116-124, 2022.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  8. Qiang Guo, Lingjiu Zhou, and Zhengwei Wang, “Comparison of BEM-CFD and Full Rotor Geometry Simulations for the Performance and Flow Field of a Marine Current Turbine,” Renewable Energy, vol. 75, pp. 640-648, 2015.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  9. Pinku Debnath, Rajat Gupta, Krishna Murari Pandey, “Performance Analysis of the Helical Savonius Rotor Using Computational Fluid Dynamics,” ISESCO Journal of Science and Technology December, vol. 10, no. 18, pp. 17-28, 2014.
    [
    Google Scholar]
  10. Inamul Hasan et al., “Forward Flight Performance Analysis of Supercritical Airfoil in Helicopter Main Rotor,” Intelligent Automation and Soft Computing, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 567-584, 2022.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  11. Drusilla Duty et al., “Performance Analysis of VAWT with H-Darrieus Rotor using 2D CFD Modelling,” Journal of Design for Sustainable and Environment, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 5-10, 2023.
    [
    Google Scholar]
  12. Arian Hosseini, and Navid Goudarzi, “Design and CFD Study of a Hybrid Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine by Employing a Combined Bach-Type and H-Darrieus Rotor Systems,” Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 189, pp. 49-59, 2019.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  13. Chih-Neng Hsu, “Experimental and Performance Analyses of a Turbomolecular Pump Rotor System,” Vacuum, vol. 121, pp. 260-273, 2015.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  14. Saddam Hussen et al., “Design and Analysis of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Rotors,” International Journal on Recent Technologies in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, vol. 2, no. 9, pp. 54-62, 2015.
    [
    Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  15. Sa. Kasmaiee, Si. Kasmaiee, and A. Farshad, “Unsteady CFD Simulation of a Rotor Blade under Various Wind Conditions,” Scientific Reports, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 1-23, 2024.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  16. S. Mauro et al., “CFD Modeling of a Ducted Savonius Wind Turbine for the Evaluation of the Blockage Effects on Rotor Performance,” Renewable Energy, vol. 141, pp. 28-39, 2019.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  17. M.H. Mohamed, A.M. Ali, and A.A. Hafiz, “CFD Analysis for H-Rotor Darrieus Turbine as a Low-Speed Wind Energy Converter,” Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 1-13, 2015.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  18. M.H. Mohamed, A. Dessoky, and Faris Alqurashi, “Blade Shape Effect on the Behavior of the H-Rotor Darrieus Wind Turbine: Performance Investigation and Force Analysis,” Energy, vol. 179, pp. 1217-1234, 2019.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  19. Nik Ahmad Ridhwan Nik Mohd, and George Barakos, “Performance and Wake Analysis of Rotors in Axial Flight using Computational Fluid Dynamics,” Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 184-193, 2017.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  20. David Phan, and Dino Kondyles, “Rotor Design and Analysis; A Technique Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Heat Transfer Analysis,” 21st Annual Brake Colloquium & Exhibition, Hollywood, Florid, 2003.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  21. Sonu Sharma, and Rajesh Kumar Sharma, “Performance Improvement of Savonius Rotor Using Multiple Quarter Blades – A CFD Investigation,” Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 127, pp. 43-54, 2016.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  22. Sonu Sharma, and Rajesh Kumar Sharma, “CFD Investigation to Quantify the Effect of Layered Multiple Miniature Blades on the Performance of Savonius Rotor,” Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 144, pp. 275-285, 2017.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  23. Wenbo Shi et al., “CFD Analysis of Contrarotating Open Rotor Aerodynamic Interactions,” International Journal of Aerospace Engineering, vol. 2018, no. 1, pp. 1-13, 2018.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  24. Giuseppe Bruni, Sepehr Maleki, and Senthil K. Krishnababu, “Deep Learning Modeling of Manufacturing and Build Variations on Multistage Axial Compressors Aerodynamics,” Data-Centric Engineering, vol. 6, pp. 1-19, 2025.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  25. Matheus Costa Pereira, Mirelli de Castro Cesário, and Anderson Paulo de Paiva, “Dataset for Analysis of Computational Fluid Dynamics Results from an Industrial Centrifugal Fan,” Data in Brief, vol. 63, pp. 1-13, 2025.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  26. Tamás Orosz et al., “Automatic Tolerance Analysis of Permanent Magnet Machines with Encapsuled FEM Models Using Digital-Twin-Distiller,” Processes, vol. 9, no. 11, pp. 1-15, 2021.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
  27. Sayantan Sengupta, and Abhijit Guha, “Inflow-Rotor Interaction in Tesla Disc Turbines: Effects of Discrete Inflows, Finite Disc Thickness, and Radial Clearance on the Fluid Dynamics and Performance of the Turbine,” Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, vol. 232, no. 8, pp. 971-991, 2018.
    [
    CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]