An Experimental Study on a Windheat Generation System with a Savonius Wind Turbine

A windheat generation system with a Savonius windturbine was developed and the performance was evaluated through field tests. The system consisted of a heat generation drum, heat exchanger, water storage tank, and two circulation pumps. Frictional heat is created by rotation of a rotor inside the drum containing thermo oil, and was used to heat water. In order to estimate the capacity of this windheat generation system, weather data was collected for one year at the site near the windheat generation system. Wind Power from the savonius wind turbine mill was transmitted to the heat generation system with an one-to-three gear system. Starting force to rotate the savonius wind turbine and the whole system including the windheat generation system were 1.0 and 2.5 kg, respectively. Under the outdoor wind condition, maximum speed of the rotor in the drum was 75rpm at wind speed 6.5 m/sec, which was not fast enough to produce heat for greenhouse heating. Annual cumulative hours for wind speeds greater than 5 m/sec at height of 10, 20, 30 m were 190, 300 and 1020 hrs, respectively. A $5^{\circ}C$ increase in water temperature was achieved by the windheat generation system under the tested wind environment.