Design of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Darrieus Type (H- Darrieus Rotor) of 0.20 KW from the Software Topsolid

Hagninou E. V. Donnou *

Laboratoire de Physique du Rayonnement (LPR), Université d’Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Bénin.

Drissa Boro

Laboratoire d’Energies Thermiques Renouvelables (L.E.T.RE), Université Joseph KI-ZERBO, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Donald Abode

Institut National Supérieur de Technologie Industrielle, Université Nationale des Sciences, Technologies, Ingénieries et Mathématiques, Abomey, Bénin.

Brunel Capo-Chichi

Institut National Supérieur de Technologie Industrielle, Université Nationale des Sciences, Technologies, Ingénieries et Mathématiques, Abomey, Bénin.

Aristide B. Akpo

Laboratoire de Physique du Rayonnement (LPR), Université d’Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Bénin.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

The design of a vertical axis wind turbine (Darrieus type) adapted to the site of
Cotonou in the coastal region of Benin was investigated. The statistical study of winds based on the Weibull distribution was carried out on hourly wind data measured at 10 m above the ground by the Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) over the period from January 1981 to December 2014. The geometrical and functional parameters of the wind turbine were determined from different models and aerodynamic approaches. The digital design and assembly of the wind turbine components were carried out using the TOPSOLID software. The designed wind turbine has a power of 200W. It is equipped with a synchronous generator with permanent magnets and has three wooden blades with NACA 0015 profile. The optimal coefficient of lift and drag were estimated respectively at 0.7832 and 0.01578. The blades are characterized by an optimum angle of attack estimated at 6.25° with a maximum fineness of 49.63. Their length is 4 m and the maximum thickness is estimated at 0.03 m with a chord of 0.20 m. The volume and mass are respectively equal to 0.024 m3 and 36 kg. The aerodynamic stall occurs at an attack angle of 14.25°. The aerodynamic force exerted on these blades is estimated to be 240 N. The aerodynamic stresses exerted on the rotor are estimated at 15 864 504 Pa and the solidity at 0.27. The efficiency of the wind turbine is 0.323. From TOPSOLID, the geometrical shape of each component of the wind turbine is represented in three dimensions. The assembly allowed to visualizing the wind turbine after export via its graphical interface. The quantity of annual energy produced by the wind turbine was estimated at 0.85 MWh. This study is the first to be carried out in the study area and could reduce the technological dependence of vertical axis wind turbines and their import for low cost energy production.

Keywords: Design, vertical axis wind turbine, weibull, aerodynamic parameters, topsolid software.


How to Cite

Donnou, Hagninou E. V., Drissa Boro, Donald Abode, Brunel Capo-Chichi, and Aristide B. Akpo. 2020. “Design of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Darrieus Type (H- Darrieus Rotor) of 0.20 KW from the Software Topsolid”. Physical Science International Journal 24 (11):52-70. https://doi.org/10.9734/psij/2020/v24i1130227.