Impact of Blade Modifications on the Performance of a Darrieus Wind Turbine

Abstract

Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) are gaining increasing significance in the realm of renewable energy. One notable advantage they possess is their ability to operate efficiently in diverse wind conditions, including low-speed and turbulent winds, which are often prevalent in urban areas. In this study, dimples and pitch angles into the rotor blades are used to enhance the aerodynamic performance of a straight-bladed Darrieus turbine. To simulate the turbine’s rotation under transient conditions, computational fluid dynamics calculations are conducted in a two-dimensional setting. The unsteady Navier–Stokes equations are solved, and the k-ω SST turbulence model is employed to represent turbulent flow. The results of the simulation demonstrate that the application of a circular dimple on the pressure side of the blades, positioned at 0.25 of the chord length with a diameter of 0.08 chord length, leads to a 5.18% increase in the power coefficient at λ = 2.7, in comparison to a turbine with plain airfoils. Moreover, when an airfoil with both a dimple and a + 1° pitch angle is utilized, the turbine’s performance at λ = 2.7 improved by 7.17% compared to a plain airfoil, and by 1.8% compared to a dimpled airfoil without a pitch angle. Additionally, the impact of a double dimple on both the pressure and suction sides of the airfoil on turbine performance was investigated. It was discovered that the double-dimpled airfoil exhibited lower performance in comparison to a plain airfoil. The study showed that the utilization of both dimples and pitch angles for airfoils of a Darrieus turbine blade increases the power generated by the turbine.