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http://dx.doi.org/10.12989/was.2016.22.5.595

Numerical study of airfoil thickness effects on the performance of J-shaped straight blade vertical axis wind turbine  

Zamani, Mahdi (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad)
Maghrebi, Mohammad Javad (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad)
Moshizi, Sajad A. (Sun-Air Research Institute, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad)
Publication Information
Wind and Structures / v.22, no.5, 2016 , pp. 595-616 More about this Journal
Abstract
Providing high starting torque and efficiency simultaneously is a significant challenge for vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs). In this paper, a new approach is studied in order to modify VAWTs performance and cogging torque. In this approach, J-shaped profiles are exploited in the structure of blades by means of eliminating the pressure side of airfoil from the maximum thickness toward the trailing edge. This new profile is a new type of VAWT airfoil using the lift and drag forces, thereby yielding a better performance at low TSRs. To simulate the fluid flow of the VAWT along with J-shaped profiles originated from NACA0018 and NACA0030, a two-dimensional computational analysis is conducted. The Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations are closed using the two-equation Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence model. The main objective of the study is to investigate the effects of J-shaped straight blade thickness on the performance characteristics of VAWT. The results obtained indicate that opting for the higher thickness in J-shaped profiles for the blade sections leads the performance and cogging torque of VAWT to enhance dramatically.
Keywords
VAWT; J-shaped Profile; thickness; numerical simulation; cogging torque;
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