Lebost wind turbine: laboratory tests and data analysis
Preliminary aerodynamic torque and power measurements and data analysis are presented for the Lebost Wind Turbine--a recently patented vertical-axis wind energy machine incorporating flow-focusing inlets fixed to a housing shroud surrounding blades rotating normal to the flow. Two laboratory-scale models were constructed, instrumented, and tested in a specially modified section of the NYU 30-m wind tunnel at freestream velocities (U/sub infinity/) of 0 to 15.4 m/s (0 to 34.5 mph) and blade diameter Reynolds numbers (Re/sub D/) of 0.5-3.7 x 10/sup 5/. At all U/sub infinity/ the shaft rotation rate decreased nearly linearly with applied load. However, the (no-load tip speed)/(U/sub infinity/) ratio X/sub 0/ and the torque coefficient at zero rotation were found to be Re/sub D/-dependent, with X/sub 0/ first decreasing for Re/sub D/ <2 x 10/sup 5/ and then increasing (presumably, X/sub 0/ levels off at about 1.0 at the end of the transitional regime). These results are consistent with the modified impulse turbine theory presented. Based on this theory, a parabolic correlation for the power coefficient based on projected blade frontal area is found. Results indicate an optimized high-Re/sub D/ prototype could generate X/sub 0/ greater than or equal to 1, corresponding to maximum power coefficients of CP/sub max/ greater than or equal to 0.6, roughly twice the CP/sub max/ of high-solidity horizontal-axis windmills and Darrieus windmills (X/sub 0/ approx. = 6) and three times the CP/sub max/ of Savonius windmills.
- Research Organization:
- New York Univ., NY
- OSTI ID:
- 6531349
- Journal Information:
- J. Energy; (United States), Vol. 2:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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