Wind Tunnel Experiment of Flow Field and Aerodynamic Force on Straight-Bladed Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

Abstract

The flow field around a vertical axis wind turbine is much complicated because the relative flow velocity and the angle of attack to the blade are much changed during rotation. The two-dimensional flow field around a straight-bladed vertical axis wind turbine under operation and the pressure distribution on the surface of the rotor blade were measured in wind tunnel. The flow field and blade load under the different operating conditions were investigated. The velocity deficit in wake region due to rotating blade is also shown. The pressure difference between pressure and suction surfaces becomes large when a blade is passing at the upstream position.