Experimental Study of the Performance of a Novel Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine

Abstract

Basic equations for estimating the aerodynamic power captured by the Anderson vertical-axis wind turbine (AVAWT) are derived from a solution of Navier–Stokes (N–S) equations for a baroclinic inviscid flow. In a nutshell, the pressure difference across the AVAWT is derived from the Bernoulli’s equation—an upshot of the integration of the Euler’s momentum equation, which is the N–S momentum equation for a baroclinic inviscid flow. The resulting expression for the pressure difference across the AVAWT rotor is plotted as a function of the free-stream speed. Experimentally determined airstream speeds at the AVAWT inlet and outlet, coupled with corresponding free-stream speeds, are used in estimating the aerodynamic power captured. The aerodynamic power of the AVAWT is subsequently used in calculating its aerodynamic power coefficient. The actual power coefficient is calculated from the power generated by the AVAWT at various free-stream speeds and plotted as a function of the latter. Experimental results show that at all free-stream speeds and tip-speed ratios, the aerodynamic power coefficient of the AVAWT is higher than its actual power coefficient. Consequently, the power generated by the AVAWT prototype is lower than the aerodynamic power captured, given the same inflow wind conditions. Besides the foregoing, the main purpose of this experiment is to investigate the technical feasibility of the AVAWT. This proof of concept enables the inventor to commercialize the AVAWT.

Design Optimization of Savonius Wind Turbine Using CFD-Particle Swarm Optimization with Power Flow Validation Experimentally

“…In reducing the raw materials of blade in manufacturing, it requires the optimization steps to overcome the aerodynamic loads [2]. For Savonius wind turbine, the Coefficient of Power, CP=0.2 [6,7], 0.125 [8], 0.1 to 0.25 [9], 0.24 [10] and 0.25 [11] is lower when compared to aero blade type wind turbine about 0.3 to 0.45 causing it only applicable for low power application [12].…”