Performance and structure optimization for a new type of vertical axis wind turbine

Wind energy is a renewable energy without pollution in the nature world. Researchers dedicate to improve wind energy utilization of vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). A new type of wind rotor named fish-ridged rotor is proposed based on bionic simulation of swimming fish. Geometric structure of the rotor is designed and analyzed. Wind tunnel tests are carried out to study performance of the rotor. Influence of key structural parameters of the rotor on its performance is simulated and analyzed by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Results show that the new type of the rotor has good performance and has simple structure.