Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 39 ( 1992 ) 83-93 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.

, Amsterdam - - Printed in The Netherlands

83

Performances of vertical axis wind turbines with different shapes

Martino Marini, Aristide Massardo and Antonio Satta
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Energetica, Via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genoa, Italy

Summary Different types of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) are presented and compared as regards their aerodynamic performances. A blade with a given airfoil section and length can be fastened to spokes in several ways giving rise to many configurations. Two models are used in the analysis of Darrieus turbines: the single streamtube momentum model and the free wake vortex model. The former is more suitable to carry out an extensive study because of its short CPU time, the latter, which guarantees the best accuracy, can be used to verify the most significant results. The diagrams of the average coefficient of power and of the power for a given speed of the attacking wind are shown. The work-exchange between the wind flow and the machine is investigated by defining an internal efficiency of the wind turbine. Nomenclature

A cl CD CL Cp H i ! L N P Rm.x Ro Re w ~' ~/ /z

= ffi = -= = = = = -= --

swept area of the rotor; free s t r e a m wind speed; blade drag coefficient; blade lift coefficient; ~ 3. --- power coefficient: P/~Qcl, Darrieus rotor height; angle of incidence; blade chord; blade length; n u m b e r of rotor blades; power; Darrieus rotor m a x i m u m radius; reference radius; R e y n o l d s number: Owl/#; relative speed; tip speed ratio: ~'2Rmax/Cl; tip speed ratio: ~Ro/cl; efficiency; air d y n a m i c viscosity;

0167-6105/92/$05.00 1992 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. All rights reserved.

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0
a

= air density;

= rotor solidity: Nl/Rmax; = blade angular velocity.

1. Introduction

The performance of a wind turbine is usually evaluated through the average coefficient of power Cp, by referring the obtainable power to the wind kinetic energy flux and to its normal section swept by the wind. Such a parameter is significant because it characterizes a machine with a given geometry apart from its actual dimensions (scale factor) and from the wind speed cl. However, it is useful to introduce two other parameters in order to specify the terms of the comparison among turbines with different shapes. A first parameter is the product CpA or its nondimensional form (Ps), obtained by dividing by the square of the blade length L (Ps=CpA/L2). Probably the blade length is one of the main data that contribute to the cost of the blade itself and of the whole machine. The second parameter is the internal efficiency which corresponds to the ratio between the Cp of a real turbine and the Cp of the same turbine that operates without any friction. The object of the present work is the analysis of different configurations of the VAWT. The conditions for the comparison are the wind speed and the blade length, the latter being one of the most significant cost items in the project of the machine rotor. The study of the performances of turbines with various geometrical shapes provides not only useful suggestions during the project drafting but also enables us to conceive variable geometry machines that satisfy the requirements of users.
2. Calculation procedures

There are several methods to estimate VAWT performances, a classification of them is reported in [ 1,2 ]. The momentum models, by availing themselves of the actuator disk theory, can predict overall VAWT performances in a simple and fairly accurate way. The accuracy increases if the single streamtube single actuator disk basic model is replaced with more complex models with several streamtubes, e~ch of them including two or more actuator disks. A detailed study of the flow field near the turbine can be carried out only by making use of more sophisticated methods, especially the free wake vortex model [3]. The computational time required by the last method mentioned (VDART) can become very long, because the calculation must be repeated for several complete revolutions of the rotor until the steady flow condition is reached.

85

The models usually utilized in the study of VAWTs are inviscid. One needs to know the experimental values of the aerodynamic coefficients CL and CD for the actual airfoil section to take into account friction effects in the work-exchange between blade and wind flow. The lift and drag coefficients are influenced, as we know, by the Reynolds number (Re) as well as by the incidence angle (i). The above mentioned calculation procedures neglect the actual variations of Re even though it would be possible to insert such a parameter within the semiempirical procedures, making them very complex.

2.1. Reynolds number influence

The influence of Re upon both the aerodynamic action coefficients is remarkable, as we know, for high incidence angles (i= 8-20 ) in the stall zone (Fig. 1). The effects of Re on VAWT performances are pointed out in Fig. 2 where two curves of Cp for the same turbine, obtained from the momentum model by assuming two different Re numbers, are drawn. The range within which Re varies for low and medium size and power turbines ( 5 < R < 20 m) is quite wide: from 0.28 106 to 6.6 106 for low solidity turbines (~=0.15), from 0.54 10e to 1.1 107 for high solidity (~=0.4) turbines. The calculation for the highest values of the tip to wind speed ratio (A) should be referred to the coefficients of Re = 1.8 106, while the lowest values of Ytshould be referred to the lower value of Re. Besides, in drawing up a project underestimated solutions are preferable. Therefore, bearing in mind also the suggestions of other authors [5 ] and that the main interest of the present work

1.5

A ---Re : 1.810'1

' I......

:;ill ............ 1

0.5

O.

o.

lo.

~o.

i( )

Fig. 1. Reynolds number influence on CL and CD coefficients for NACA 0012 airfoil.

86

cPr !
0.2 0.1 O. -0.1 1. 2. 3.

.... ]

0.3 lO~l

\
4. 5. 6. 7.

\
~.

Fig, 2. Reynolds number influence on cylindrical VAWT characteristic.

%
," ~ i I",

0{~ 0.2 0.1 O,

I I

t L

.... i

.... I ~x ~

~, ....... I

4{....

t-'@--4
/ '. /

0.1

2,

',1,

,1,

5,

6,

7.

Jl

Fig. 3. Characteristic curves for differentsoliditycylindricalturbines according to momentum and vortex model.

lies in the comparison of different configurations of wind turbines, only the lower value of Re has been referred to throughout the study related here.

2.2. Comparison of VAh' T computational methods

The simplified momentum model, as shown by the authors in [2], gives reliable results as long as the VAWT solidity ~ and ~ parameter are low. The results of the computational methods based on momentum axid vortex models concerning a cylindrical turbine are nearly coincident (Fig. 3) for a = 0.15 within the whole/~ range, and, for ~ = 0.4 until 2 < 3; while they draw away for higher values of ~ in the last case. When the blockage induced by the VAWT is so strong, according to the momentum model, that the downstream velocity becomes negative, the prediction of the simple model is meaningless. This situation takes place on the right of the asterisk on the continuous curve just where the predictions of the methods do not agree definitely. The difference between the models results is more evident for curved blade

87

CpI

F. . . . .

!,

T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

{,/~/~\
y,"

-e.-

vortexm. |
. . . .

~i

i
{ i

/L,I., 2~\:.
"~'5 K \,i

/~ . . o 1 - .

\~x, \\

I I'/" // \ , 0.1~__ .C_~L-,4-- ....._~_~

o. ........

5
O=0.27
_

11L 4. 5.

--0,1~ 1.

2.

3.

~.

7.

a.

Fig. 4. Characteristic curves for different solidity parabolic turbines according to momentum and vortex model.

vertical axis turbines. The speed of the wind that is attacking the turbine blade changes not only in a streamwise direction [ 2 ], but also in a vertical direction from the central part of the blade with the longest radius and a high peripheral speed to the extreme parts with very short radii and very low peripheral speed. The momentum model draws an average speed, to be attributed to the entire rotor, that is even very different from the local values of speed, if it i,s highly varying near the VAWT. In Fig. 4 the Cp-~ curves obtained by applying both the methods to a parabolic VAWT (H/Rmax= 2) are compared. The single streamtube momentum model produces reliable results for low solidity machines for any value of ;t, though it tends to overestimate Cp, while it is unreliable if solidity is high. The model is accurate for medium and high values of aprovided that ~ is low (/~< 33.5). If A>3.5 for a medium (a=0.27) or high (a=0.4) solidity the method is inaccurate and even inconsistent (see the asterisks). Since the computational time required by the simple momentum model is very small if compared to the vortex model, it will be chiefly employed to draw the characteristic curves of the wind turbines considered below also taking into account the fact that calculations regard comparisons among differently shaped VAWTs. However, following what has been deduced from the comparison of the available methods, some imuortant points will be repeated by using the highly reliable vortex model which allows the overall calculations concerned here to be verified.
3. Internal efficiency

The cylindrical and the Darrieus (with approximately parabolic blades) turbines together with the conical ones are fundamental VAWT configurations that have been converted from projects into power plants so far. Other possible configurations can be conceived and the aerodynamic advantages can be in-

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vortex rood - Q - -0.8 m o m e n t u m mod. - - [] 1 cyl. turb. 2 Dar. turb.

0.6 0.4 0.2 O. 1.

2, 3. 4.

5.

6.

7.

Fig. 5. I n t e r n a l e f f i c e n c y o f c y l i n d r i c a l a n d p a r a b o l i c t u r b i n e s .

vestigated by calculating their coefficients Cp and P~ and their internal efficiency r/i.The meaning of Po, which takes into account the turbine dimensions, is related to the turbine cost as stated above. The VAWT efficiency is a parameter that is seldom taken into consideration since the wind energy is free and it is better to refer to a nondimensional coefficient proportional to the exchanged power that allows the user to estimate it directly. Nevertheless it is important to introduce the efficiency of a wind turbine to treat it as any other turbomachine. The internal efficiency of a VAWT [2], consists of the ratio between the power yielded by the real machine (P) and the power (Pi) yielded by an ideal machine (CD = 0) with the same geometry and work conditions (~),

~h-P/P~,

(1)

The internal efficiency of the two examples of a cylindrical turbine (a-0.4, a = 0.15) and of two of the three examples of Darrieus turbines (a-0.15; 0.4) dealt with in the previous paragraph was calculated. The continuous curves of Fig. 5 were obtained with the momentum model repeating the calculation through the vortex model near the maximum efficiency points ( cylindrical and [] Darrieus turbines).
4. Tarbines with different configuration

Let us suppose that two blades with fixed length are available and that they are so flexible that, if fastened to the threstle in different points, they give rise to parabolas with variable form. The 12 turbines obtained by curving the same blade ( L = 2.96Ro) are shown in Fig. 6a, the solidity of the basic configuration (8) being equal to 0.15 (as = 0.15 ). Their characteristic curves (Fig. 7) overlap as they concern different solidity turbines. Solidity changes, as the chord length is obviously the same, because the maximum (and medium)

89

21~

R: o I

'F%
(b,I
, RO=I

4 3

Sr
(cJ

(d]

Tnb. A (Fig.Go) lurb. hr. Rmox

Tob Tur'lo. ur.

II ( F ; g 6 h ) u. (dc U)

0.1~(N+2)

1 2 3

60 45 30 5
I I (.f',(~ I .~j '

Tob

C (Fig.6c)

4
ltJ~j

r u t b. nr,

I
2 3 4

0
/

30

45 60
b

2 3 J

30 45

Fig. 6. Configuration of analyzed vertical axis wind turbines.

90

)
o.1
I
! / /, , '1~ \ 4",; i ' " ~ --~:k" '~,~~3 ..... ~.....
~"~ ' i ,, ~' d~ ' "

,:

1.

2,

?,.

,1.

5.

6.

7.

Fig. 7, Characteristic curves of parabolic turbines with constant blade length,

CpA momentum rn,

(rn

.7. . . .

2) vortex rn. (~) ..... ~, 1

t: ", !

0.6
o. ,~
o. ~-:l
D,

1
1

I__.._ ~ ,.',~

/
", I '" i ,,i:, (
.I.

I
__ t

I.

~,

:I,

Fi~. 8, C~4 characteristic c~ Jes of parabolic turbines with constant blade length,

radius varies. The best configuration, as regards Cp is configuration 5 rather than configuration 8: it is preferable to fasten the blade so that an "open" parabola is formed. The calculation of C~A changes the picture just outlined. The extreme parabolic turbines with the maximum and minimum ratio H[Rma,~are to be rejected because of their reduced frontal area A, while configurations 6, 7, 8 supply the best power. It is no use to repeat the calculation of a characteristic by means of the vortex model if it concerns a case that clearly involves a low value of CpA. The choice of the most profitable configuration (Fig. 8) would be confirmed by the vortex model since the accordance of the two methods is good for low and medium solidity turbines. It is to be expected that the power is slightly overestimated with the momentum model.

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A second comparison among turbines with the same blade length regarded the conic-cylindrical configuration shown in Fig. 6b. The blade was subdivided into three equal parts that were thought as joined to each other and to the threstle by hinges so that various configurations for various inclinations of the oblique segments were generated. Four turbines with a chord as long as 0.075 times each segment of the subdivided blade were analyzed. The variation of the maximum values of Cp is not marked, the higher is the inclination angle the worse the oblique segments work, at the same time the turbine solidity changes. If we look at CpA (Fig. 9) the extreme configurations are still to be avoided. A conic-cylindrical VAWT, inclined on the outside rather than on the inside, was then considered. These turbines, like the cylindrical ones, need support spokes, whose aerodynamic action, as usual, is at first neglected. In this case an essential difference between Cp and CpA diagrams does not come out due to the small variation of A; yet the most open configurations allow us to exploit the lowest values of2' for which the cylindrical turbine is less efficient (Fig. l 0 ). A variable geometry VAWT would avail itself of a wider character-

0.8 -

,_

~/.._~....~

mo~m

........

i\

.....

1.

2.

3.

4,

5.

6.

7.

Fig. 9. CpA characteristic curves of conic-cylindrical turbines.

(m~)l2 /

--

I
|

,LZ~-~':~'

I_.L ~ ":_2 morn.m /

- . v0rtexm. [

"i

o.V f + , / ~I I

_L._.L%-::~. ~ i". i
I ~, \ ',,

I~,

'

\"

., [

..... t

"i V,

I. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. X Fig. 10. CpA characteristic curves of outer conic-cylindrical turbines.

92

% l ihiut sp0ks
! , .

o.2i.
O. 1 [

'!iJ i
i
i ,, J ,I.

o.i '
t

I ,'~t i#~,' i

c0n~igurati0n .... o 1 e

#
)

i
I

" " -I u::3

',

0.1[. .

;
2.

...........
:3.

t
5. .~

F i g . 11. I n f l u e n c e s o f s p o k e s o n c y l i n d r i c a l t u r b i n e p e r f o r m a n c e s .

istic curve: when the turbine angular speed is low the oblique segments should be very inclined, while they should tend to the vertical position for high peripheral speeds. The study of conic-cylindrical configurations can be utilized to take into account the influence of spokes on the aerodynamic performance of a straight vertical blade VAWT, assuming that the aerodynamic profile of blades and spokes is the same. The characteristic of a cylindrical turbine without spokes was taken as reference and represented by a continuous line in Fig. 11, where all the data are obtained using the vortex method. Horizontal spokes hinder the rotor movement, as Cp is slightly lower than for the turbine without spokes. On the contrary if spokes arc inclined they provide a positive contribution that is evident along the part of curves examined, in particular for configuration ( 3 ) (Fig. 11 ). Clearly using the vortex method the fluid dynamics interferences between blades and spokes are taken into account.
5. Closure

The main objective of this paper was the analysis and the comparison of possible different configurations of VAWT. The following conclusions can be drawn: - Taking into account the comparative character of the analysis, the momentum model predicts in a simple and fairly accurate way VAWT overall performances, provided that 2 and a assume suitable values, as pointed out in the paper. - From the maximum turbine power point of view, assuming a constant blade length, the better configuration is obtained from the parameter CpA instead

of Cp.
- The study of aerodynamic spokes influence on the VAWT performance, car-

93

ried out with the vortex method, has shown that turbine power can be increased, provided that the spokes are not horizontal.

Acknowledgements

This works was supported by the Ministry of University and Scientific Research of Italy (MURST) and by National Research Council (CNR).
References
1 J.H. Strickland,A review of Aerodynamic Analysis Methods for V.A.W. Turbines, Proc. 5th Asme Wind Energy Symposium, 1986. 2 M. Marini, A. Massardo, A. Satta and G. Zamparo, Performances of Tangential Wind Turbines (in Italian),in:Development of Wind Technology in Italy,E N E A Publisher, 1989. 3 J.H. Strickland,B.T. Webster and T. Nguyen, A Vortex Model for the Darrieus Turbine: an Analytical and Experimental Study, S A N D 79-7058, 1980. 4 M. Marini, A. Massardo, A. Satta and G. Zamparo, Theoretical Aerodynamic Methods for V.A.W.T. Analysis,Proc. 24th IECEC Conference, 1989. 5 R.J. Templin, Aerodynamic Performance Theory for the N C R Vertical-axisTurbine, LTRLA-160, 1974.