Study of the incidence angle effect on the aerodynamic structure characteristics of an incurved Savonius wind rotor placed in a wind tunnel

•The incidence angles have a direct effect on the aerodynamic structure of the incurved Savonius wind rotor.•The recirculation zones have been observed on the advancing and returning buckets depending on the incidence angle.•The largest acceleration zone is formed for θ = 45° and is located in the exterior endplates of the returning bucket.•The depression zone is weak for θ = 0° and relatively weak for θ = 135°, while it becomes important for θ = 45° and θ = 90°.•The wake characteristic of the maximum values of the turbulent kinetic energy is recorded in the diffuser for θ = 90° and θ = 45°.

In this paper, we are interested on the study of the incidence angle effect on the aerodynamic structure of an incurved Savonius wind rotor. The numerical model is based on the resolution of the Navier-Stokes equations in conjunction with the standard k-ε turbulence model. These equations were solved by a finite volume discretization method. The software “Solidworks Flow simulation” has been used to characterise the flow characteristics in different transverse and longitudinal planes. To confirm the computer method validity, an experimental validation has been done using a wind tunnel equipped by the incurved Savonius wind rotor.

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