Effect of Fins on the Power Performance of a Darrieus Wind Turbine

Abstract

The development of the Darrieus wind turbine is useful in various applications, especially in increasing turbine efficiency. This study evaluates the power performance of a Globe-type Darrieus Wind Turbine using blades with helical fins at base angles ranging from zero to eighty-five degrees at fifteen-degree intervals, and no fins. The prototype design was 3D-printed at a scaled size fitted to the HM 280 equipment tube. The GUNT software program was used to control the radial fan at a fixed flow rate. The prototype turbine model is mounted on an acrylic plastic tube attached to the HM 280 instrument, having a 100mm diameter. The HM 280 is programmed to maintain a 6 m/s wind velocity and record power output at three-second intervals during each one-minute trial. Across three trials, the average recorded wind power input stands at 431.905 mW. Based on the results, the average power output of each turbine models are: at 0°, the power output is 33.21 mW, at 15° it’s 4.94 mW, at 30° it’s 8.83 mW, at 45° it’s 25 mW, at 60° it’s 81.32 mW, at 75° it’s 28.27 mW, at 85° it’s 53.16 mW, and at no fins, it’s 14.3 mW. The turbine, having a 60° base angle model, produced the highest power output of 81.32 mW and turbine efficiency of 18.82%, while a no fin model has a 14.24 mW with 3.29% efficiency. Incorporating the helical fin into the Globe-type Darrieus wind turbine blade has resulted in a notable increase in turbine power output.