Performance Study of a Helical Savonius Wind Rotor

For the well-being of humans, electrical power is required for different needs. For many years, there has been a great deal of interest in wind energy because it is a clean and sustainable source. Because of its less expensive cost and its autonomy from wind direction, the Savonius rotor, as vertical axis turbine, has the advantage of being appropriate for certain implementations as a conversion device for energy. From this perspective, multiple studies have been conducted to promote its efficiency. The focus of this study is the helical Savonius wind rotor (HSWR) which has not been overly investigated. Experimental tests were realized with the use of HSWR manufactured via 3D printing machine in a wind tunnel. The torque and power coefficients were addressed to assess the rotor experimental performances. Next, a numerical study was undertaken through Ansys Fluent 17.0 software. Good compliance was achieved, which validated the numerical model with a mean error equivalent to 5%. The maximum power coefficient proved to be equal to 0.124 numerically at a tip speed ratio of 0.73 and 0.1224 experimentally at a tip speed ratio of 0.69. The current research may be extremely promising in terms of providing the air flow aerodynamic traits of a HSWR for the engineers and the designers and in view of its performance betterment.