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Experimental study on aerodynamic characteristics of vertical-axis wind turbine

Author(s):Yihuai Hua*, Taiyou Wanga, Hao Jina, Xianfeng Caob, Chen Zhangb
aShanghai Maritime University, No. 1550 Pudong Avenue, Shanghai China and 201306, China

bAVIC Dingheng Shipbuilding Company Jiangdu Economic & Development Zone, Jiangsu and 225200, China
International Journal of Smart Grid and Clean Energy, vol. 6, no. 2, April 2017: pp. 104-113
ISSN: 2315-4462 (Print)
ISSN: 2373-3594 (Online)
Digital Object Identifier: 10.12720/sgce.6.2.104-113

Abstract:This paper firstly introduces some parameters for the design of vertical-axis wind turbine including sweeping area, blade aspect ratio, number of blades, airfoil type, turbine solidity, blade shape and height/diameter ratio. Models of Cup-Rotor, Φ-Rotor and H-Rotor vertical-axis wind turbine were made and aerodynamic experiments were carried out in a wind tunnel laboratory on these typical vertical-axis wind turbines. Experimental results are analyzed, which reveal the influence of the structural parameters on the aerodynamic performance of these wind turbines. When a baffle plate is put in front of the Cup-Rotor wind turbine, its rotational velocity and tip-speed ratio will be higher, and the tip-speed ratio will be over 1.0. Airfoil type has little influence on the minimum steady running speed of Φ-Rotor wind turbine and some influence on the turning point speed. Initial triggering could greatly enlarge the rotational velocity and the tip-speed ratio of the Φ-Rotor vertical-axis wind turbines and improve its working efficiency. The H-Rotor wind turbine has higher minimum steady running speed and lower tip-speed ratio, which needs more attention and carful optimization.

Keywords:Aerodynamic analysis; renewable energy application; vertical-axis wind turbine; wind tunnel test

Full Paper.pdf