When the wind of change blows
Andrea G. Sanvito
- Thesis title: Multi-fidelity unsteady rotor aerodynamic modeling of multi-scale Horizontal and Vertical Axis Wind Turbines
- PhD Tesi Supervisors: Giacomo Bruno, Azzurro Persico e Alberto Zasso
- Phd: STEN, 35° cycle (starting year 2019)
- B. Sc: 2015, Ingegneria della Produzione Industriale, Politecnico di Milano (Lecco Campus)
- M. Sc: 2018, Mechanical Engineering (Turbomachinery track), Politecnico di Milano
Tell us something to introduce yourself
I have always been fond of science and, particularly, engineering. I moved my first steps in the engineering field since I was a child enlightened by my grandfather, explaining ships, airplanes and helicopters during hot summer afternoons.
As the time goes by, I combined my interest in fluid dynamics with renewable energies, so that I finally flowed into aerodynamics of wind turbines. I believe that my curiosity is the prime mover that helps me continually strive throughout the challenges of the research.
As the time goes by, I combined my interest in fluid dynamics with renewable energies, so that I finally flowed into aerodynamics of wind turbines. I believe that my curiosity is the prime mover that helps me continually strive throughout the challenges of the research.
What are you working on at the moment?
I am studying aerodynamics of wind turbines: 200 meters-tall mills, mounted far away the sea shores, on floating structures. The challenge is forecasting aerodynamic behavior of these giants under the tireless effect of waves. Computational Fluid Dynamics, also known as CFD, nothing else than a powerful means to resolve complicated bunch of equations for fluids, helps me to this aim and simulate with a numerical model what happens in the reality. Besides, the same prototype of a floating offshore wind turbine has been tested experimentally in the Wind Tunnel of Politecnico. Approaching a problem under different point of view is extremely exciting to understand the physics underneath.
What do you hope is the impact of your research?
I acknowledge that a deep insight of complex aerodynamic phenomena in presence of fluid-structure interaction is still lacking. In light of this, I presume that a full numerical-experimental comparison may shed light on this undisclosed topic. Moreover, my research represents a preparatory stage for further investigation which aims at quantifying the impact of floating wind turbines in a wind farm layout. Wake originated by the first rows of a wind farm affects successive rows, lowering their performances. Nowadays, the challenge is the optimization of the entire wind farm through an holistic achieving a reduction of soil (or better, sea) exploitation and mitigate Operating and Management costs, in this framework, the study would cover a paramount role understanding the most beneficial position of turbines without significant power losses.
What’s the most significant outcome of your research?
Assumed that the research is still underway, it is hard to outline all the outcomes. However, numerical and experimental comparison is really promising so far. The numerical model adopted mimic experimental data which confirms that Computational Fluid Dynamics indeed is able to reproduce the physics of the phenomenon. The validation of the tools developed to simulate the floating wind turbine aerodynamics under several wave conditions represent an inescapable stage of this research. If the validation is within a confidence interval means that all further studies are based on a well-established ground and trustful results are considered in the future.
Why did you choose to start this experience and why did you choose PoliMi?
After my Master Degree I wished to join a doctoral program since I reckon research field much attractive. I longed to apply for a PhD position in Wind Energy and I found a position at Politecnico di Milano after one year working for an Oil&Gas company. I have sent my application to Politecnico because I got on very well during my MSc and the university offers recent but promising horizon in the wind energy sector.
Still, in light of my short working experience, I appreciate the innovative character of a PhD programme in which you are entirely involved into your own research plan and decide aspects worthwhile to focus onto with a particular freedom. I can breath a very open-minded atmosphere with colleagues and professors from here and abroad, who are more than eager to share their knowledge. Now I feel grateful to have had the chance to make my wish possible. No regrets at all.
What has been the highlight of your POLIMI PhD time?
Very briefly: I started my PhD on vertical axis wind turbines for urban o rural environment. I developed an in-house low-fidelity code able to assess the main performances. I would have further advanced on that front if it was not come a serendipitous opportunity about floating offshore wind turbines. This gave me the chance to contribute to OC6 project, joining a group formed by several universities and institutions spread all over the world whose aim is to simulate floating offshore wind turbine under surge and pitch motion with different numerical tools. All in all, a wide knowledge is shared and proficient discussions are open from which I am still learning. Meanwhile a COVID pandemics occurs: even though with less impact than other jobs, the penalty that I suffered the most is the limitation to participate in person to scientific conferences. I hope to remedy it very soon.
What are your plans after the end of the PhD?
Good question indeed. Not so much time is missing to postpone the quetion, actually. I would like to keep on working in the research. I am aware that academic career is not easy, but it always deserves a trial. Also the teaching compels me significantly. However, just thoughts so far.
On the other side, I know that research is viable also in the industry: more and more private companies are investing in wind energy, that is for sure is playing in my favour. It has to be said that a PhD open countless doors in front of us, just choose what it suits us better.
Which advice would you give to new engineers that are pondering about PhD in Polimi?
Be driven by your passion and curiosity. Do not limit to what it is easy or guaranteed, but do dare, seemingly unusable, ways that makes you flourish.
Which personal experience (trip, meeting of a person, book, movie, etc..) mostly affected the way you see things?
The power of sharing with people shaped me throughout my life. During my experience within and beyond the borders, meeting with people invited me to see things under another, unexpected, viewpoint. My stay in UK for 10 months and my last two years sharing a house with two mates enriched my daily life as I have never hoped. I also mention my passion for hiking and trekking: I walked along breathtaking trails in Italy and Portugal embedded in the uncontaminated nature, so I have discovered the beauty of a slower pace.
