ANALYSIS OF AERODYNAMIC PARAMETERS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINES
Analysis of aerodynamics and energy efficiency made it possible to estimate power factors of the most effective up-to-date vertical axis wind turbines. Resistance forces in the traverse flow are so great that they can result in reduction of a power factor from 0.56 to 0.28, i.e. in 2 times. With an increase of angle of the blades placing from 0º to 4º, the power factor increased from 0.40 to 0.61, i. e. in 1,5 times. Optimization of geometric parameters and improvement of generating lines of the blades can increase efficiency of Н-Darier rotor up to 0.72, which exceeds the maximum possible value for horizontal axis wind turbines (0.45). With increasing relative width of the semicylindrical blade from 0.1 to 0.5 and increasing the number of blades from 2 to 6, the power factor of Savonius rotor raises from 0.018 to 0.226. To reduce energy losses in Savonius rotor it is possible to use inclined generators and end elements of blades of various shapes.