A Way to Enhance the Efficiency of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

Abstract

Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) can perform better than Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) because VAWTs are relatively simple, quiet, and easy to install. It can take wind from any directions, and operate efficiently in urban areas where turbulent wind conditions usually happen. The weakest point for its configuration, however, is its low efficiency so more intensive research is required.Actual VAWT performance can be predicted based on a determination of the forces acting on blades that produce the turbine’s torque. Thus, this paper proposed a new model of force analysis for calculation of VAWT’s performance and a way to enhance the efficiency of VAWT through proper variations of the pitch angles. Additionally, in order to increase the efficiency of the VAWT for a given tip speed ratio, the solidity in term of blade’s number can be adjusted.Results show that right changes in the value of pitch angles and proper selection of the number of blades can considerably increase the efficiency of the turbine and reduce amplitude of turbine’s torque variation. The new model of force analysis can be helpful for aerodynamic analysis of the VAWT turbine for its better design.