Performance enhancement of a Savonius turbine under effect of frontal guiding plates

Abstract

From some decades, the world has a deep problem which called energy crisis. Therefore, a considerable effort has introduced in the field of renewable energy to cove and solve this problem especially wind energy. Some attempts succeeded to improve the wind turbine to convert the wind energy into mechanical energy. However, rare designs are available to convert the low-speed wind energy. Savonius turbine is one of promising converters for low wind speed energy. In the present work, an important improvement in the power output coefficient has been achieved as well as an interesting increase in the static torque coefficient which shows the self-starting capability. A modification has been performed on the conventional design by adding a couple of frontal guiding plated to reduce the negative torque increase the positive torque. An optimization technique based on in-house optimization library called OPAL coupled with CFD is utilized in the current work. The main objective of this optimization study is to maximize the turbine power coefficient. An interesting increase in the Savonius turbine performance has been gained (typically 39.8% relative increase of the power coefficient).