Influence of Solidity and Camber on Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

Abstract

This paper aims to predict the performance of a VAWT using a cambered airfoil. The H-type Darrieus turbine consists of three straight blades with shape of aerofoil attached to a rotating vertical shaft. Bearing in mind the overall flow is characterized by important secondary flows, the turbulence model selected was Transition SST with non-equilibrium wall functions. Conservation equations were solved with a Third-Order Muscl scheme using SIMPLE to couple continuity and momentum equations. A parametric study has been carried out to analyze the solidity and camber effects on the non-dimensional curves so that the range of tip speed ratio of operation could be predicted as well as their self-starting behavior.