Salyers, T.E. (2016) Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Aerodynamic Performance for Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine Models with Various Blade Designs. College of Graduate Studies, Georgia Southern University, Georgia.

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: CFD-Based Performance Analysis and Experimental Investigation of Design Factors of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines under Low Wind Speed Conditions in Thailand

  AUTHORS: Suchaya Unsakul, Chaianant Sranpat, Pongchalat Chaisiriroj, Thananchai Leephakpreeda

  KEYWORDS: Vertical Axis Wind Turbine, CFD Analysis, Experimental Technique, Low Wind Speed, Power Coefficient, Tip Speed Ratio

  JOURNAL NAME: Journal of Flow Control, Measurement & Visualization, Vol.5 No.4, October 16, 2017

  ABSTRACT: This paper presents effects of design factors on mechanical performance of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs), and an experimental investigation of optimal VAWT performance under low wind speed conditions in Thailand. Design factors include types of wind turbines, number of blades, types of materials, height-to-radius ratios, and design modifications. Potential VAWT models with different design factors are numerically analyzed within a virtual wind tunnel at various wind speeds by utilizing XflowTMComputational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software. The performance curves of each VAWT are obtained as plots of power coefficients against tip speed ratios. It is found that the type of wind turbine, number of blades, and height-to-radius ratio have significant effects on mechanical performance whereas types of materials result in shifts of operating speeds of VAWTs. Accordingly, an optimal VAWT prototype is developed to operate under actual low speed wind conditions. The performance curve from experimental results agrees with the CFD results. The proposed methodology can be used in the computer design of VAWTs to improve mechanical performance before physical fabrication.