A Hybrid MCDM Method for Optimization of VAWT Performance Parameters

Abstract

Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) have an inherent limitation of power performance for its low efficiency. However, the design of VAWT can be tailor-made to work in its built environment due to its varied advantages compared to other designs. Thus, the performance optimization problem entails a multitude framework of designs and operating conditions that must be satisfied for harnessing effective wind power from the turbine design. Furthermore, optimization of the performance of VAWT is considered to be an MCDM optimization problem. In this context, the chapter proposes a hybrid MCDM consisting of entropy and VIKOR-based methods for performance parameter optimizations of VAWT. To show the strength and applicability, a real-life case of optimizing performance parameters (Savonius type VAWT [SVAWT]) is used. The results show that SVWAT provides optimal results at an overlap ratio (16%), Vfree (34.763 m/s), N (3796 rpm), V (26.499 m/s), TSR (0.732).