The Aerodynamic Control of the 'V' Type Vertical Axis Wind Turbine by Blade Tip Control

Abstract

This paper presents results of wind tunnel tests carried out on a small V-type Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (V-VAWT). This model wind turbine was specifically designed to study the effect of tip area and tip pitch on the performance of this novel VAWT. The results have demonstrated that tip pitch is highly suitable for overall control of the V-VAWT and tip areas as little as 5% of the total blade area could provide both power regulation and overspeed control. While it has not been possible to match the predicted performance data directly to these test results, the computer model VAWTTAY6 can be used with some confidence to predict the performance of larger sized V-VAWTs.