EFFECTS OF STRUT PROFILES ON BLADE AERODYNAMIC PERFORMANCE OF VERTICAL-AXIS WIND TURBINES

Zhang Xiaobin; Zhang Wanfu; Miao Weipao; Li Chun; Si Paiyou; Liu Shuangbai

doi:10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-0096

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Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (5) : 506-514. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-0096

EFFECTS OF STRUT PROFILES ON BLADE AERODYNAMIC PERFORMANCE OF VERTICAL-AXIS WIND TURBINES

Zhang Xiaobin¹, Zhang Wanfu², Miao Weipao², Li Chun², Si Paiyou¹, Liu Shuangbai¹

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Abstract

The strut is a necessary structure to connect the blades and transmit torque in vertical axis wind turbines, and it is also one of the main factors affecting the aerodynamic performance. Most studies have used simplified two-dimensional models, which cannot account for the influence of the strut on the aerodynamic performance of vertical axis wind turbine. Therefore, a study on the strut of a vertical axis wind turbine with straight blades using a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics method is carried out, and the flow mechanisms of four different strut profiles affecting the blades of the wind turbine are analyzed. The results show that： the drag characteristics of the strut are closely related to its profiles. The cylindrical shape will result in the wind turbine being the unable to generate power, while the drag performance of the spindle-shaped strut is relatively optimal, causing the least decrease in total wind turbine efficency. The direct drag of the strut is more significant in the phase angle at higher relative wind speed, while the indirect drag mainly affects the suction surface of the blade of the vertical-axis wind turbine.

Key words

wind turbines / aerodynamics / computational fluid dynamics / struts / profiles / aerodynamic efficiency

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Zhang Xiaobin, Zhang Wanfu, Miao Weipao, Li Chun, Si Paiyou, Liu Shuangbai. EFFECTS OF STRUT PROFILES ON BLADE AERODYNAMIC PERFORMANCE OF VERTICAL-AXIS WIND TURBINES[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2025, 46(5): 506-514 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-0096

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