Wind Tunnel Experiments on Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines with Straight Blades

Abstract

This paper gives the experimental performances obtained in a wind tunnel for a flexible experimental model of vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) with straight blades. The effects of blades arrangement in one or two stages, of setting angle and of blade numbers influences on the output performance were analysed. The results showed that the VAWT developed torque at low speeds is greater when the setting angle of blades is greater but the VAWT developed torque at higher speeds is greater when the setting angles of blades is less.