A novel small vertical axis wind turbine using delta-wing blades

• Main Authors: Ji, Xiao Na, Schluter, Jorg Uwe
• Other Authors: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Motors, engines and turbines
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/105946; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/26115; http://dx.doi.org/10.1260/0309-524X.38.4.393
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

We present a novel Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) that uses flat delta-wings instead of aerodynamically shaped blades with airfoil cross-sections. This choice lowers the manufacturing costs significantly. Furthermore, delta-wings have a good aerodynamic efficiency at low Reynolds-numbers compared to conventional blades. This is in particular an advantage, if delta-wings are used in small wind turbines. We have performed wind tunnel measurements at low tip-speed ratio and showed that the power output of the delta-wing turbine is higher than that of a conventional straight-bladed VAWT.