Optimization of 300 Watt Vertical Axis Wind Turbine for Low Wind Speed Regions: A Case Study of Malaysia

Abstract

This study demonstrates the overall performance and efficiency of a 300 Watt conventional vertical axis wind turbine manufactured by (i-wind) for a low wind speed regions. The study investigates the increasing of blade tangential velocity by adding a new blade attached to the main blade of the turbine. The new blades called secondary blades which will take the effect of increasing the tangential velocity and hence increasing the rated output power. The new contribution proposed in this study was taken into considerations the optimum position of the secondary blades. The position was taken to be in parallel location with the main blades under different configurations and distances (7, 10, 15 and 20 cm). A simulation analysis using ANSYS CFD was proposed in this study to evaluate the tangential velocity and the rotational speed of different cases for the modified vertical axis wind turbine. The range of wind velocities were 5 to 12 m/s in order to cover a reasonable range of wind speed. The variation of power and rotational speed was compared with the power and rotational speed calculated for the conventional wind turbine. The study illustrates the correlations of power and rotational speed of the modified vertical axis wind turbine. The increasing of tangential velocity and output power for the modified turbine under a minimum wind speed of 5 m/s were found to be 17% and 51% respectively.