An overview of aerodynamic performance analysis of vertical axis wind turbines

Abstract

In this paper, an attempt has been made to highlight major developments of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) in the last few decades. The effects of various design parameters such as airfoil, number of blades, solidity, aspect ratio, blade helicity, and overlap ratio have been critically analyzed. Wind energy is the most promising renewable, cost-effective, efficient, and accessible source for both domestic and commercial applications. Horizontal axis wind turbines are highly developed and are being used for medium-to-large scale power projects. VAWT are considered viable options for urban and semi-urban areas. These turbines have several characteristics, such as omnidirectional, power generation in weak and unstable winds, esthetically sound, safety, and low noise. Darrieus turbines with a fixed blade-type have starting problems at low wind speeds. Savonius turbines have good starting capability; however, their power coefficients are lower than other types of VAWT. To overcome the shortcomings of conventional wind turbines, an innovative engineering solution was sought in the design of hybrid VAWT. The analysis revealed that hybrid wind turbines have addressed the deficiencies to an extent; however, the overall performance is still less than that of conventional wind turbines. Several recommendations have been made based on state-of-the-art information from the perspective of future studies and acceptability. It was concluded that vast opportunities for wind turbine applications are available in urban areas; however, further academic research is required on critical aspects such as self-starting at low wind speeds, efficiency, structural reliability, design improvement for aerodynamic performance, and wind resource assessment.

Identifying some regularities of the aerodynamics around wind turbines with a vertical axis of rotation

“…Traditional wind turbines are three-bladed installations with a horizontal axis of rotation, which are efficient due to the fact that they receive the full flow energy per blade area [8]. Nevertheless, such installations have a disadvantage in the form of orientation in the direction of the wind [9]. Along with the horizontal axis of rotation, installations with a vertical axis of rotation are also used in practice, the main advantage of which is independence from the wind direction and a relatively low level of noise and vibrations [10].…”

Development of a Predictive Model for Evaluation of the Influence of Various Parameters on the Performance of an Oscillating Water Column Device

“…Moreover, the Savonius turbine’s ability to handle turbulent and irregular flows, which are common in wave environments, further enhances its suitability for OWC systems. Its vertical-axis orientation means it does not need to be reoriented to face the direction of the flow, unlike horizontal-axis turbines, thus continuously capturing energy regardless of changes in wave direction [ 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

Automatic Control and System Theory and Advanced Applications—Volume 2

“…Under this perspective, the paper [65] is timely and stands out in the current literature. The research directions are multiple, ranging from the miniaturization of wind generators for their use in single buildings [66] or for public services like street lights [67] to the detailed analysis of the geometrical features of the blades to maximize performance [68]. A review of the vertical-axis wind generator configurations can be found in [69], where the main problems of the available technologies are highlighted.…”