Design and Analysis of Small-Scale Lift-Type Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine Using Composite Blade. Issue 4 (May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhong-Jia, Yang; Yi-Zhuo, Gu; Min, Li; Yan-Xia, Li; Jie, Lu; Zuo-Guang, Zhang
• Is Part Of: Polymers and polymer composites. Volume 22:Issue 4(2014)
• Page Start: 423
• Page End: 430
• Publication Date: 2014-05
• Subjects: Vertical axis wind turbine -- Wind blade -- Sandwich composite -- Mechanical properties; Polymers -- Periodicals; 668.905
• DOI: 10.1177/096739111402200409
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0967-3911

Abstract

This paper focuses on verifying the feasibility of applying fibre reinforced polymer matrix composite to vertical axis wind turbine. A small-scale lift-type vertical axis wind turbine using glass fibre reinforced epoxy matrix sandwich composite blade was proposed. An airfoil profile of blade was designed and a composite blade was fabricated. The structure parameters of the blade were optimized by means of the finite element modeling method. The mechanical and the resonant properties of the blade were investigated. Finally, a wind turbine with the designed blade was assembled, and its generating capacity was tested. It was demonstrated that the designed composite blade and the wind turbine had excellent performance, indicating a promising technology for utilizing wind power.