Blade Configuration Optimization and Performance Characteristics of a Simple Savonius Rotor
- 1 August 1985
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Power and Process Engineering
- Vol. 199 (3), 185-191
- https://doi.org/10.1243/pime_proc_1985_199_023_02
Abstract
The generation of low cost power in rural areas of the third world can be aided by using 44 gallon (210 litre) oil drums cut longitudinally in half and each half mounted on a vertical rotating shaft in the form of a Savonius rotor. This paper describes wind tunnel tests carried out on a model of such a rotor to determine the positioning of the two blades for maximum power output. For the optimum blade configuration the power and performance coefficients are determined and comparisons with the results of previous work are made. The results show that for maximum power output blade overlap is required along with negative blade separation, a finding which has not previously been reported.Keywords
This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- Wind tunnel tests on a savonius rotorJournal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 1978
- Self-regulating composite bearingless wind turbineSolar Energy, 1978
- An experimental investigation of a class of resistance-type, direction-independent wind turbinesEnergy, 1978