Parameter Optimization Design of Adaptive Flaps for Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

Zhenxu Ran, Weipao Miao (), Yongqing Lai, Yurun Pan, Huahao Ou and Ruize Zhang
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Zhenxu Ran: School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Weipao Miao: School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Yongqing Lai: Power China Huadong Engineering Corporation Limited, Hangzhou 311100, China
Yurun Pan: School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Huahao Ou: School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Ruize Zhang: School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-22

Abstract: To enhance the aerodynamic performance of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) under complex gust conditions, the design parameters of the flap were optimized using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method combined with orthogonal experimental design and the SHERPA algorithm, and two gust models with mainly high and low wind speeds were generated by a self-compiling program to investigate the effects of three combinations of the chordwise mounting position of the flap, the moment of inertia, and the maximum deflection angle on the aerodynamic performance of the vertical axis wind turbine. The results demonstrated that adaptive flaps reduced the flow separation region and suppressed the formation and development of separation vortices, thereby enhancing aerodynamic performance. The adaptive flap was found to be more effective in high-speed gust environments than in low-speed ones. The optimal configuration—chordwise position at 0.4 C , moment of inertia at 6.12 × 10 −5 kg·m 2 , and a maximum deflection angle of 40°—led to a 57.24% improvement relative to the original airfoil.

Keywords: vertical axis wind turbine; adaptive flap; gust; orthogonal experiment; flow control (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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