Vertical axis wind turbine - A review of various configurations and design techniques

Increased concern for environment has led to the search for more environment friendly sources of energy. Wind energy can be a viable option in this regard. Vertical axis wind turbines offer promising solution for areas away from the integrated grid systems. However, they have certain drawbacks associated with different configurations. This paper reviews various configurations of VAWT along with their merits and demerits. Moreover, design techniques employed for VAWT design have also been reviewed along with their results. It was learned that coefficient of power (C-p) for various configurations is different and can be optimized with reference to Tip Speed Ratio. Latest emerging design techniques can be helpful in this optimization. Furthermore, flow field around the blade can also be investigated with the help of these design techniques for safe operation. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.