Parametric Performance Analysis of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

ABSTRACT

As the power efficiency is affected by every aspect of a wind turbine and its blades, a 2D-computational investigation of several key parameters is proposed after which actual experiments are performed. Six parameters are examined in the computational investigation: installation angle; blade airfoil; chord length; number of blades; radius of an impellor; and wind speed. To find out the optimum performance of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine or VAWT, one appropriate parameter is selected at each section of the simulation progression. Afterwards, an experimental prototype of wind turbine is fabricated and put into an air-dynamic test to ascertain the validity of the previous CFD simulation.

Keywords::

• CFD simulation
• Darrieus type
• parameter
• solidity
• spin-up method
• VAWT

Acknowledgements

This work was completed under the supports of National Natural Science Foundation of China (51376096) and Workstation of business graduate student of Jiangsu province.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yang Cao

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Yang Cao, School of Mechanical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, P.R. of China; Jiangsu Engineering Research Center of Wind Energy Application, Nantong 226019, P.R. of China.

Jinyi Li

Jinyi Li, School of Mechanical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, P.R. of China; School of Mechanical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, P.R. of China.

Guoqing Wu

Guoqing Wu, School of Mechanical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, P.R. of China; Jiangsu Engineering Research Center of Wind Energy Application, Nantong 226019, P.R. of China.

Qiaomei Li

Qiaomei Li, School of Mechanical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, P.R. of China.

Yujuan Shi

Yujuan Shi, School of Mechanical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, P.R. of China.

Shuda Xing

Shuda Xing, School of Mechanical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, P.R. of China.