Design and construction of a vertical axis contra rotating ROTAR wind turbine

Abstract

Alongside the fast-rising energy demand in the 21st century and the growing recognition of global warming and environmental pollution, energy supply has become an integral and cross-cutting element of economies of many countries. The main aim of this project is to design and construct a wind turbine to harness wind energy at low and intermediate wind speeds. The optimization and analyze of the performance of a special purpose airfoil shaped for the primary and secondary rotor blades to be used in the construction of a Contra Rotor Wind Turbine for power production in places with low and intermediate wind speeds will be carried out. The optimization and analysis are to be done using XFOIL Software and ANSYS software with the aim of maximizing lift coefficient and minimizing the drag for low and intermediate wind speeds while considering the suitable angle of attack, stall regulations, pitch angle and blade thickness. The designs are to be used in the construction of a vertical axis CRWT, A CRWT is described as a system consisting of two sets of rotors separated by an appropriate distance whereby one of the rotor sets is rotating in counter-clockwise direction and the other in clockwise direction. The performance characteristics of the wind turbine will be analyzed using numerical methods using CFD in ANSYS Software and an Analytical method and then the Numerical, Analytical and the experimental results compared. The numerical analysis has attained an efficiency of 46% while Analytical analysis has attained an efficiency of 54%.