Numerical performance and stress prediction for a vertical-axis wind turbine as a function of the aerodynamic control strategy

A combined performance/stress numerical analysis is proposed for a three-bladed vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) adopting a Blade Element-Momentum (BE-M) algorithm as a simulation tool. After determining the operational curves of the turbine, the aerodynamic forces acting on rotor blades, as well as the global thrust acting on the whole machine, are evaluated as a function of the aerodynamic control strategy of the rotor, obtaining a first estimation to be used for the structural sizing of both rotor blades and shaft.