Aerodynamic characterization of a vertical axis wind turbine using a mechatronical experimental setup
Résumé
This paper describes an innovative low-cost wind turbine evaluation platform. A rapid prototyping process was used to fabricate the small form wind turbine airfoil, a DC motor was used as a generator to evaluate the generated power and torque. The experimental setup took place in an academic wind tunnel and the wind speed was measured with a classical differential manometer. Based on this setup, the aerodynamic performance of the slow running vertical axis type wind turbine was evaluated experimentally. The obtained experimental values are consistent with those found in the literature. This apparatus provides a reference test setup to the research, education and development of vertical axis wind turbines.