DEVELOPMENT OF AN INNOVATIVE VERTICAL-AXIS, TWIN-ROTOR WIND TURBINE TO ADDRESS HIGH CAPACITY AND LESS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

초록

The development of a small wind turbine should comply with stipulations on noise-levels for the community and a strong need for a reliable system of high capacity. The secret behind the new VAWT of twin rotors lies in its guided turbine design which combines inlet-guide vanes, a top-guide vane, and a cup-bladed rotor. Its functional assembly makes it unique from all the Savonius rotors or their derivatives. To minimize the inevitable loss of energy from frequent wind direction change, the twin-rotor turbine is designed to rotate about a horizontal axis in a synchronized way and to yaw as a whole toward the wind direction. The objective of this task was to design low noise, small wind turbine blade and guide-vane satisfying the following specifications: a rated capacity of 5 kW, an annual capacity of 20% or more at average wind speed of 6m/s, and a turbine efficiency of 40% or more. The measured performances for the mock-up model of the 5kW turbine in the wind tunnel test are presented and discussed for its controllability against the wind direction change.