Analyzing the Potential of Savonius Wind Turbines for Low-Wind Energy Areas

The primary objective of this paper was to design a small-scale Savonius wind turbine well suited for providing autonomous power to an embedded system. We analyzed the potential of energy production using a vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT), which is a renewable energy source suitable for use in areas with low wind energy potential. Using SolidWorks software, we did a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation in order to examine the behavior of six different types of Savonius turbines, presenting different numbers of blades and different helical blade angles. Finally, we constructed a Savonius turbine measuring 25 cm in diameter and 50 cm in height, featuring helical blades with a twist angle of 360-degree, capable of generating power at a minimum blade speed of 6 rad/s.