Optimization Research on Lift-Type Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Airfoil by CFD

Abstract

The blade airfoil has an important effect on the performance of a lift-type vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). In this paper, a research has been carried out based on CFD numerical technology to compare the effects of 4 kinds of S series airfoil (S1012, S1016, S1046, S1048) and traditional airfoil NACA0015 on lift-type VAWT. The turbulence model is used k-ω SST model. The simulation results indicate that: The airfoil NACA0015 has the highest torque coefficient and power coefficient. In terms of S series airfoils, the airfoil S1012 has the best performance and airfoil S1016 performs worst. The airfoil S1016 has the largest static torque coefficient. And the airfoil which has higher power coefficient would have a lower static torque coefficient for S series airfoil. The static torque coefficient of airfoil NACA0015 is lower than airfoil S1016 and S1046.