Analysis of Aerodynamic Performance of Vertical Axis Spiral Wind Rotor

Profile of the FIN-MP airfoil was used as the basic section of vertical axis wind rotor blade. Emphasis was placed on the aerodynamic performance of the wind rotors with different length? of blade chord, while the blade height, rotor diameter and blade´s spiral angle are respectively uniform for the studied rotors. Three-dimensional and unsteady simulation was carried out for the flow field around wind rotor by using the commercial CFD software. SST k-ω turbulent model was used to depict the physical features aroused by the rotating rotor., Moving mesh technique was adopted to handle the interaction near rotating blade and stationary outer zone. Influence of length of blade chord on aerodynamic performance of the airfoil was embodies by lift moment coefficient and pressure exerted on blade surface. Under the same upstream wind speed and rotation speed, analysis was conducted accordingly. Complex flow parameter distributions near the rotor shaft are presented for the supported rotor. Apparent difference of flow characteristics are found along the blade height. The capability of the studied wind rotor to make effective work is enhanced with the increase of length of blade chord.