Aerodynamic Performance of the DOE/Sandia 17-m-Diameter Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine

The aerodynamic performance of the DOE/Sandia 17-m-diam Darrieus wind turbine is presented for two rotor configurations: 1) two strutted composite structure blades using a NACA-0012 airfoil section with a 21-in. (0.533-m) chord; and 2) two unstrutted extruded aluminum blades with a 24-in. (0.610-m) chord NACA-0015 section. Significant increases in overall performance were obtained for the extruded blades which represent a currently viable low cost blade construction technique applicable to the Darrieus wind turbine.