Wind Tunnel Hotwire Measurements, Flow Visualization and Thrust Measurement of a VAWT in Skew

Abstract

The results of experimental research on the wake and induced flow around a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) in skew are presented. The previous research on VAWTs in skew is limited because this operation mode has only recently been found to be significant in the operation of VAWTs in the built environment. These results contain hotwire measurements of the incoming flow and wake of a VAWT in nonskewed and skewed flow. The high sampling rate of the hotwire data allows the effects of blade passing to be identified. Flow visualization of the tip vortices is also presented. Thrust measurements of the rotor were performed to understand the effect of skew on thrust variation and to compare with analytical predictions.