Performance optimization of a dual-rotor wind turbine system

Abstract

We are building an efficient and smart wind turbine system. The significant features of this turbine are its dual rotor blade system which is positioned horizontally at upwind and downwind locations, its drive train which is installed horizontally inside the tower with a new efficient induction generator, and its control and safety systems. The project focuses mainly on the methodology to analyze the power flow performance. The scientific literature indicates that a dual-rotor system could extract additional 20–30% power compared to a single rotor system from the same wind stream. Our wind tunnel test indicates that a scaled-down version of the dual-rotor turbine system may produce up to 60% more power than a single-rotor system. Designed for on-site power generation by commercial, industrial, and residential electric users in remote locations, our model uses wind tunnel effect to capture and amplify wind for optimized production of energy. It is intended that this turbine system will be available in tower-mounted design and can capture wind in regions where it has low speed wind. The successful design should allow an economical transition to a utility scale.