Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs) perform poorly in urban settings due to the prominence of turbulent winds that are consistently fluctuating in direction. In contrast, Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) are able to take advantage of incoming wind from any direction, which typically allows them to excel within an urban environment. However, the main disadvantage of current VAWTs is their inability to self-start in low wind intensity conditions. Therefore, the goal is to develop a VAWT that is economically competitive and utilizes a variable pitch mechanism to decrease initial cut in speed. A CAD model was developed to display the design of an active variable pitch mechanism as it is integrated into a complete system. Double Multiple Stream-tube Model and CFD simulations were performed to obtain performance characteristics of the variable pitch VAWT. Over a period of four weeks the system was assembled using various methods of fabrication ranging from welding to fiberglass construction. Testing results showed that the system was able to self-start 6mph and make power at approximately 8 mph. The final design was successful in achieving self-starting capabilities at relatively low wind speeds. |
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