Straight-bladed vertical axis wind turbine rotor design guide based on aerodynamic performance and loading analysis

Vertical axis wind turbines with straight blades are attractive for their relatively simple structure and aerodynamic performance. An efficient design methodology is required to enhance this resurging renewable energy technology. This paper aims to provide a robust design procedure built on an existing analytical approach to determine the optimum range of the design parameters for prototype construction. Identifying the proper range of design parameters can save significant time and resources in the initial turbine development stages. Here the double-multiple streamtube method has been utilized to analyze turbine aerodynamic performance. A parametric optimization has been performed for several design factors to maximize the turbine power coefficient and its operational range. The results show that the optimum value of the rotor solidity factor, blade aspect ratio, and rotor aspect ratio are in the range of 0.2 < σ < 0.6, 10 < μ < 20, and 0.5 < H/D < 2, respectively. Aerodynamic loading analysis has also been carried out, and the most severe stresses acting on the blades and supporting arms were determined. The most favorable bending stress distribution along the blade occurred when two supporting arms per blade were used at intermediate locations of 21% and 79% along the blade length. A comparative study of different supporting arm shapes demonstrated that utilizing aerodynamic profiles for turbine arms created the most acceptable aerodynamic response. A summary of design aspects addressed in this paper is presented in a useful summary flowchart.

[1]  Hans Bernhoff,et al.  Power coefficient measurement on a 12 kW straight bladed vertical axis wind turbine , 2011 .

[2]  Samir Ziada,et al.  Measurement of high solidity vertical axis wind turbine aerodynamic loads under high vibration response conditions , 2012 .

[3]  Donald Rockwell,et al.  Flow structure on finite-span wings due to pitch-up motion , 2011, Journal of Fluid Mechanics.

[4]  G. Persico,et al.  Aerodynamic Measurements on a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine in a Large Scale Wind Tunnel , 2011 .

[5]  Nasir Hayat,et al.  Vertical axis wind turbine – A review of various configurations and design techniques , 2012 .

[6]  Hans Bernhoff,et al.  Resonances and Aerodynamic Damping of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine , 2012 .

[7]  Mazharul Islam.  Analysis of fixed-pitch straight-bladed VAWT with asymmetric airfoils , 2008 .

[8]  Richard E. Brown,et al.  Effect of blade geometry on the aerodynamic loads produced by vertical-axis wind turbines , 2011 .

[9]  R. Templin.  Aerodynamic performance theory for the NRC vertical-axis wind turbine , 1974 .

[10]  Mazharul Islam,et al.  Desirable Airfoil Features for Smaller-Capacity Straight-Bladed VAWT , 2007 .

[11]  Jang-Ho Lee,et al.  Study on the analysis method for the vertical-axis wind turbines having Darrieus blades , 2013 .

[12]  Erich Hau,et al.  Wind Turbines: Fundamentals, Technologies, Application, Economics , 1999 .

[13]  Robert Dominy,et al.  Darrieus turbines: The physics of self-starting , 2009 .

[14]  Richard E. Brown,et al.  Effect of dynamic stall on the aerodynamics of vertical-axis wind turbines , 2011 .

[15]  Brian Kinloch Kirke.  Evaluation of Self-Starting Vertical Axis Wind Turbines for Stand-Alone Applications , 1998 .

[16]  Chao Li,et al.  2.5D large eddy simulation of vertical axis wind turbine in consideration of high angle of attack flow , 2013 .

[17]  M. F. Jentsch,et al.  Vertical axis resistance type wind turbines for use in buildings , 2009 .

[18]  Ibrahim Dincer,et al.  Energy and exergy efficiency comparison of horizontal and vertical axis wind turbines , 2010 .

[19]  M. Saqib Hameed,et al.  Design and analysis of a straight bladed vertical axis wind turbine blade using analytical and numerical techniques , 2013 .

[20]  Il-Yop Chung,et al.  An Analysis of Variable-Speed Wind Turbine Power-Control Methods with Fluctuating Wind Speed , 2013 .

[21]  B K Kirke.  Optimum Matching of Non-Electrical Loads to Wind Turbines , 1996 .

[22]  David MacPhee,et al.  Recent Advances in Rotor Design of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines , 2012 .

[23]  C. Ferreira.  The near wake of the VAWT: 2D and 3D views of the VAWT aerodynamics , 2009 .

[24]  Herbert J. Sutherland,et al.  A summary of the fatigue properties of wind turbine materials , 2000 .

[25]  S. Nakao,et al.  Effects of aspect ratio in a transonic shock tube airfoil flow , 2012 .

[26]  P. G. Migliore,et al.  Comparison of NACA 6-series and 4-digit airfoils for Darrieus wind turbines , 1983 .

[27]  I. Paraschivoiu.  Wind turbine design with emphasis on Darrieus concept [ressource électronique] / Ion Paraschivoiu , 2002 .

[28]  Pourya Alamdari,et al.  Aerodynamic design and economical evaluation of site specific small vertical axis wind turbines , 2013 .

[29]  Moti Keinan,et al.  A Modified Streamtube Model for Vertical Axis Wind Turbines , 2012 .

[30]  Yutaka Hara,et al.  Moment of Inertia Dependence of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines in Pulsating Winds , 2012 .

[31]  Ernesto Benini,et al.  Effect of Blade Number on a Straight-Bladed Vertical-Axis Darreius Wind Turbine , 2012 .

[32]  David Wood,et al.  Research and development issues for small wind turbines , 1999 .

[33]  Wen Tong Chong,et al.  Performance investigation of a power augmented vertical axis wind turbine for urban high-rise application , 2013 .

[34]  S P Farthing.  Vertical axis wind turbine induced velocity vector theory , 2009 .

[35]  S. Tullis,et al.  Flow separation on a high Reynolds number, high solidity vertical axis wind turbine with straight and canted blades and canted blades with fences , 2012 .