Design and Development of a Small-Scale Composite Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine

Muhammad Sohaib Azeem; Tasawar Abbas; Almas Arshad; Muhammad Muneer; Bilal Arif; Shehan Ali; Muhammad Zafar

doi:10.59890/ijsas.v3i8.144

Authors

Muhammad Sohaib Azeem School of Electrical and Power Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing
Tasawar Abbas School of Electrical and Power Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing
Almas Arshad Department of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian
Muhammad Muneer Institute of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of the Punjab, Lahore
Bilal Arif Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Management and Technology Lahore, Sialkot Campus, Sialkot
Shehan Ali Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Lahore, Lahore
Muhammad Zafar Institute of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of the Punjab, Lahore

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59890/ijsas.v3i8.144

Keywords:

Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine, NACA 0021, Composite Blade, Axial Flux Generator, Renewable Energy

Abstract

Pakistan faces persistent energy shortages, largely due to its heavy reliance on fossil fuels, which leads to environmental degradation and economic constraints. This work presents the design, fabrication, and testing of a small-scale, low-cost vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) suitable for both urban and rural installations. The turbine utilizes a H-Darrieus configuration with three blades, employing a NACA 0021 symmetric airfoil, which is optimized for operation at low wind speeds. Blades were manufactured using glass fiber-reinforced plastics (GFRP) with a pharma core, achieving a high stiffness-to-weight ratio. An axial flux generator with a double-rotor, single-stator design was integrated for electrical generation. Designed for a wind speed of 8 m/s, the turbine achieved a torque of 14.5 Nm and mechanical power output of 257 W, corresponding to a power coefficient of 0.40. Accounting for generator efficiency (90%), the effective coefficient of performance was 0.36. Mechanical testing validated the structural integrity of the composite blades, while experimental runs confirmed reliable performance across varying wind speeds and angles of attack. The complete prototype cost approximately PKR 30,000 and weighed 20.3 kg, demonstrating the feasibility of localized, small-scale wind energy solutions for Pakistan.

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