International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT) 168

Volume 4 Issue 5, May 2016, ISSN No.: 2348 8190

Design and Fabrication of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT)

1

Hemant Pathade1
Asst. Professor, Department of Production Engineering, Amrutvahini College of Engineering (University of Pune),
Sangamner, Dist. Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India
2, 3, 4, 5

Prasad Pandhare2, Rahul saskar3, Rohit Chaudhari4, Prakash Bairagi5

Department of Production Engineering, Amrutvahini College of Engineering (University of Pune),
Sangamner, Dist. Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India

Abstract
In this, the Vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) is
designed and fabricated. The plastic composite material
blades which have less cost and light weight than
carbon fiber and balsa wood are designed and
fabricated. This project is used for small scale
generation of electricity. Proper aerofoil shape and
manufacturing technique gives more lift and further
more power generation. The objective of this VAWT is
to generate electricity in remote areas with less setup
cost.

The VAWTs are helpful in remote areas, where there is

no electrical grid power supply. The Darrieus rotor has
better efficiency than other two types of rotor. Egg
beater and H-Darrieus are further types of Darrieus
rotor. Egg beater has curved blade while H Darrieus has
straight blade. The straight bladed Darrieus VAWT is
simple in design and has low cost. Rotor geometry, size,
TSR (Tip speed Ratio), speed, aerofoil shape,
Reynoldss number, wind speed, these factors
influences the overall performance of VAWT rotor.

2. VAWT
Keywords: VAWT, Plastic composite, Design

1. INTRODUCTION
Wind energy is one of the largest natural resource and
can be used for generation of electricity. It is alternative
for non renewable energy source i.e. coal, crude oil,
etc. Also that helps in reducing global warming effect.
Wind turbine is used for conversion of wind energy into
electrical energy. There are 2 types of wind turbine that
helps in generation of electricity are as follows:
1. Vertical axis wind turbine
(VAWT)
2. Horizontal axis wind turbine
(HAWT)
From the above these types, the vertical axis wind
turbine has lots of advantages than horizontal axis wind
turbine, i.e. it operates at very low wind speed with
capturing wind energy from all directions. Sometimes
asynchronous generators are used for electricity
generation in this VAWT. The VAWT revolves about
its own vertical axis. Some VAWT are designed for
small scale electricity generations just like for 30w,
50w, 75w and there set up is portable also. The
rotational parts along with alternator and gearbox are
mounted near to ground level which helps in ease of
maintenance. The main objective that VAWT satisfy is
power generation in low cost with less set up area.
VAWT here reduces complexity in design and
manufacturing that encounters in HAWT. The VAWT
has 3 types that are as follows:
1. Darrieus Rotor
2. Savonius Rotor
3. Giromill Rotor

Darrieus VAWT is lift type while other rotors are drag

and lift. The rotational axis of VAWT is perpendicular
to the wind direction and has capability to receive wind
from all direction; because of this yaw mechanism
which is complicated in design is eliminated. The
Darrieus rotor optimized lift force due to proper aerofoil
shape. The blade with proper aerofoil shape cuts the air
with some angle of attack and causes pressure
difference, and this pressure difference is responsible
for developing a lift forces in Darrieus rotor. Darrieus
rotor with straight blade is quite efficient and they rotate
3 to 5 times the speed of wind the help of lift force.

Fig 1 Orientation of VAWT [1]

3. DESIGN
3.1 Aerofoil Shape
The NACA (National advisory committee of
Aeronautics) has defined no. of aerofoil shape. All
aerofoil has its own shape and Reynoldss no.

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT) 169

Volume 4 Issue 5, May 2016, ISSN No.: 2348 8190

Aerodynamic blade profile suitable for are NACA

0012, NACA 0015, NACA 0018, NACA 0021,
NACA 0025, and NACA 0063. Better the thickness of
profile better lift performance occur.
3.2 Design for strength:
Design of VAWT begins with swept area (A)
calculation and it is calculated by Multiplication of
height of rotor (H) and diameter of rotor (D).
=
= 1 1 = 1 2
Design and calculation of straight bladed VAWT is
performed by considering the speed of wind that will hit
the blade, and also kinematic viscosity (), air density
() and no. of blades. For this project we have consider
TSR () = 1
TSR = 1-4 for small scale generation
TSR = 5- 9 for Large scale generation
Number of blade (Nb) = 3
Wind velocity, ( ) = 9 m/s
Kinematic viscosity,()= 0.0000178 kg/ms
Air density, () = 1.20 kg/m3
Power in the wind is,
1
= 2 3
1
= 1.20 1 729 = 441.04
2
Mechanical power can be calculated by formula,
1
= 16/27 3
2
1
16
= 1.20 1
729 = 261.53
2
27
Where, 16/27 is Betz limit, this value was given by
Albert Betz who was physicist in 1919, and he proposed
that 16/27 = 0.599 is maximum power of efficiency of
wind turbine which convert kinematic energy to
mechanical energy.
Angular velocity () can be calculated as,

9
=1
= 18 /
0.5
= 60/2
60
= 18 = 171.05
2
Chord length,(C) can be calculated as:
= /
0.5
= 0.8
= 0.13
3
Where solidity, = 0.8 as Reynolds no is 1.6*10^5
Lift force which causes blade to lift
1
= 2 2
1
= 0.80 1.20 0.13 18 18 = 20.21
2
Where = coefficient of lift = 0.80
The drag force which resists the wind speed is,
1
= 2 2

1
0.04 1.20 0.13 18 18 = 1.01
2
Where = coefficient of drag =0.04
Torque to be transmitted is,
60
= 2
60
= 261.33
= 14
2 171.88

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4. CAD MODEL

Fig 3 Snapshot of VAWT model in Creo

parametric
4.1 Aerofoil shape

Fig 4 Snapshot of NACA 0018 profile of this

project
4.2 VAWT blade drawing

Fig 5 snapshot of Straight blade of VAWT

International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT) 170

Volume 4 Issue 5, May 2016, ISSN No.: 2348 8190

5. MATERIAL FOR BLADE

8. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The material for straight blade is lightweight and has

low cost. Sometimes FRP is used for building external
panels; internal webs etc. composite of plastic material
is best alternative to carbon fiber and balsa wood blade
and has low cost as well as light weight. For this project
we have used composite of Glass fiber (35%),
polypropylene grade 01(60%), and Yuva latex (5%).
Table1. Blade Material comparison
Sr no
Parameter
Our
Carbon
Composite
fiber
1
Cost
Low
High
2
Manufacturing
Easy
Easy
3
Availability
Yes
Yes
4
Strength
Moderate
High
5
Operating
All weather
All
condition
weather

8.1 Blade material testing

Table2. Blade material property
Sr no
Details
Observations

10*10*3 mm
plate

Breaking load =
133.27
Kgf/mm2

8.2 Blower testing VAWT

Table3. Blower testing of VAWT
Wind speed
Sr. no.
Power generated (v)
(m/s)
1
7
5
2
9
10-11
3
12
13-15

6. FABRICATION

9. CONCLUSION

6.1 Main bearing: The purpose of main bearing is to

supports main shaft and allows the shaft to rotate. Ball
bearing of ID 25mm and OD 30mm is selected for this
project.

1. Increasing the Rotor diameter raises the Reynolds

number of blade. This helps in increasing power
coefficient and further increases power.
2. Also it is showed that lower aspect ratio also
increases power coefficient with power and provide
greater stability to the rotor and overall set up.
3. Darrieus vertical axis wind turbines are efficient;
they depend on lift forces produced by the blade
which cuts the air and rotate.
4. Hollow blade causes more lift forces by blade with
proper aerofoil cross section.

6.2 Main shaft:

Main shaft transmits rotational energy to
alternator through the gearbox. The shaft of 1m length
and 25 mm diameter of Mild steel material is selected.
6.3 Main gear:
The spur gears which are simple in design
and having low cost are selected. The Gear and pinion
mechanism is used in this project. The gear has 110 mm
diameter and 66 teeth while the pinion has 55 mm
diameter and 22 teeth. The gear is mounted on shaft and
pinion is mounted on alternator.
6.4 Alternator:
Instead of using generator we have used
alternator for large power generation. The TATA 407,
Tractor alternator of 35amp is used in this project.

7. FINAL ASSEMBLY

REFERENCES
[1] Peter J. Schubel * and Richard J. Crossley,Wind
turbine blade design energies ISSN 1996-1073.
[2] S. Brusca * R. Lanzafame * M. Messing, Design of
vertical-axis wind turbine: How aspect ratio affects
turbines performance.
[3] Tapan H. Barot, Hitesh Jariwala, Mayur Kevadiya
,A Review on straight bladed vertical axis Darrieus
wind turbine, may 2015; Vol(4):special issue(6).
[4] K.E. Swalwell, J. Sheridan and W. H. Melbourne,
The effect of turbulence intensity on stall of NACA
0021 aerofoil, 14th Australian fluid mechanics
conference, Adelaide university, Australia, 10-14
December 2001.
[5] Agnimitrabiswas, Performance study of 3bladed
aerofoil shaped H rotor made from Fiberglass
reinforced plastics.
[6] R. Ramkissoon and K. Manohar, Increasing the
power output of Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine ,
British journal of applied science and technology, 2013;
3(1):77-99.

Fig 6 Fabricate assembly

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