Open Access
EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERIZATION OF STRAIGHT-BLADED VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINES IN A CONTROLLED WIND ENVIRONMENT
4
Laboratory of Wind Energy and Atmospheric Flows, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , Lausanne, Switzerland
Abstract
This study presents an experimental aerodynamic characterization of straight-bladed vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) under controlled wind tunnel conditions. The investigation focuses on understanding the performance behavior and flow dynamics around the turbine blades at various tip speed ratios and wind velocities. High-precision instruments were used to measure torque, rotational speed, and pressure distribution, while flow visualization techniques provided insights into wake formation and blade-vortex interaction. The results indicate that the aerodynamic performance of straight-bladed VAWTs is significantly influenced by dynamic stall and blade angle orientation. These findings offer valuable data for optimizing blade design and improving the efficiency of VAWTs in urban and distributed energy applications.
Keywords
Vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT),
straight-bladed turbine,
aerodynamic characterization
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