Effect of different endplates on blade aerodynamic performance and blade loading of VAWT with symmetric airfoil blades

The aerodynamic performances of a symmetric airfoil bladed Vertical Axis wind turbine (VAWT) with different end plate configurations are studied using computational methods. The aerodynamic performance of VAWT can be improved using endplates. The secondary flow vortices can be suppressed by this endplates which improves torque characteristics. In this study, a symmetric airfoil bladed giromill wind turbine has been designed and analyzed. Different endplate configurations such as circular, rectangular, airfoil shaped, and winglet shaped endplates are modelled in same VAWT and their performance characteristics are studied. Vast number of experiments has been performed with different tip speed ratios. The effect of each endplates on the wind turbine aerodynamics performance and blade loading has been studied. It has been observed that endplates can be used to increase the performance of VAWT.