Enhancing vertical axis wind turbine efficiency through leading edge tubercles: A multifaceted analysis

Abstract

This research paper aims to investigate the impact of leading edge tubercles (LET) on the performance of hybrid vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). The study involves both experimental and computational analysis of a novel hybrid VAWT configuration. The proposed VAWT design is characterized by a high power coefficient and self-starting capability. To provide a basis for comparison, an existing hybrid VAWT without tubercles and a conventional H-Rotor Darrieus design were also examined. The findings indicate that the proposed hybrid VAWT achieved the highest power coefficient (Cp) of 0.475 at a tip speed ratio (TSR) of 3. Furthermore, the proposed wind turbine demonstrated superior Cp values at both low TSRs (1 to 2.1) and high TSRs (4.1 to 5) compared to the existing hybrid VAWT and the H-Rotor Darrieus turbine. The positive static torque coefficient (Cts) values observed at all azimuths, with a maximum value of 0.319, highlight the self-starting capability of the proposed hybrid wind turbine. The enhanced power coefficient and the ability to harness wind energy even at low wind speeds make the proposed hybrid wind turbine suitable for a wide range of power projects, from small to large-scale. This approach offers a means to determine the optimal design configuration for a hybrid VAWT and facilitates a detailed analysis during the early design stages, along with its high-fidelity characteristics.