Experimental investigation of the influence of solidity on the performance and flow field aerodynamics of vertical axis wind turbines at low Reynolds numbers

Performance (Cp-λ) curves for the two VAWTs are compared at the same Reynolds numbers to investigate the effects of solidity alone on the performance and aerodynamics of each configuration. The higher solidity (σ = 0.34) VAWT attained a similar maximum Cp but with a narrower Cp-λ curve than the lower solidity VAWT. The performance differences between the two VAWT configurations at two tip speed ratios are explained in detail using PIV around both VAWT rotor blades. This allows the linking of detailed aerodynamics to the performance and it was shown that the generation and shedding of stall vortices started earlier on the lower solidity VAWT than the higher solidity VAWT, thus limiting the rotor efficiency.