Numerical study of flow stream in a mini VAWT with relative rotating blades

Abstract

Today, wind energy is mainly used to generate electricity and more and more with a renewable energy source character. Power production from wind turbines is affected by several conditions like wind speed, turbine speed, turbine design, turbulence and changes of wind direction. These conditions are not always optimal and have negative effects on most turbines. The present turbine is supposed to be less affected by these conditions because the blades combine a rotating movement around each own axis and around the main turbine’s one. Due to this combination of movements, flow around this turbine can be more optimized than classical Darrieus turbines. The turbine has a rotor with three straight blades of symmetrical aerofoil. Paper presents unsteady simulations that have been performed for one wind velocity and different blades stagger angles. The influence of two different blades geometry is studied for four different constant rotational speeds.