Numerical and Experimental Investigations on a Dimpled Savonius Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

Abstract

This research deals with the design and fabrication of novel designs as a mean to harness wind energy using a ‘Savonius’ Turbine. It is generally employed to harvest the low to very low wind speed potentials. They can particularly be of high use in the regions where the wind speeds are not high enough for installing conventional horizontal axis wind turbines. The paper introduces a novel concept of testing a Savonius wind turbine with dimple structures on its blades and investigating its effect on the turbine’s efficiency. The study also deals with the experimental validation of the effect of using a converging ducted structure with a single stage and double stage configurations of Savonius wind turbine, apart from comparing the turbine’s performance with and without endplates. The results of the study proves that power coefficient increases with the addition of dimple structures on the blades and it can be further augmented by using a ducted structure with the Savonius turbine.