Improvement in Aerodynamic Performance of Magnus Wind Turbine at Low Circumference Speed Ratio by Optimization of Fin Shape Attached to Rotating Cylinder

Abstract

The development of wind power generation from large wind turbines has shown excellent profitability, however, large wind turbines must be built in locations away from residential area, from the point of view of the landscape and noise. Wind power generation also requires that wind conditions be good and the site be near an electric power-consuming region. A Magnus wind turbine which uses a rotating cylinder as a substitution for the blade of a common wind turbine. The Magnus wind turbine is compact, resistant to wind pulsation and can be installed in residential areas. The purpose of this study is to optimize the shape of the straight fin attached to a rotating cylinder by using genetic algorithms and CFD, in order to improve lift-to-drag（L/D）ratio under the low rotating speed conditions. The validity of the CFD is confirmed by comparing the results in a wind tunnel experiment. The proposed new straight fin attains the lift enhancement and the drag reduction in contrast to the original straight fin at low rotating speed of the cylinder.