Horizontal axis wind turbine
In the field of renewable energy the A.D.A.Group has carried out the analysis
and optimization of vertical and horizontal axes wind-turbines. In
particular, design of airfoils for wind-turbine
efficiency optimization have been performed.
The group has worked in the SINERGY European program on a development of a new
vertical axes water turbine for tidal currents. Wind-tunnel tests on a model have been
performed in DPA wind-tunnel. The problem of cavitation was extensively investigated and the HLIFT airfoil was
designed to be cavitation free. Also a numerical code was developed to predict vertical axes turbine performances.
A real prototype named Kobold (diameter of 6 meters and cambered floating blades of 5 meters in span) was designed
and built. It has been installed in the Messina Strait, Italy,
since Spring 2001. In the last three years a preformance aquisition system has been developed and, in summer 2003, there
were intensive field tests.
Schematic views of different turbine concepts
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Horizontal axis wind turbine |
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Darreius-type vertical axis wind turbine |
Cycloturbine |
Marine turbine examples
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Wind turbine designs can be adapted to work as Marine turbines in tidal currents |
Example of horizontal 3 kW wind turbine optimized by ADAG
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Original turbine |
Modified turbine blade |
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Optimized turbine tested in DPA wind tunnel
(Watch the video)
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Simulation of the dynamic behavior of the optimized turbine The special gearbox has been expressly designed to control the blade stall at higher RPM's (Watch the video) |
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The KOBOLD-type 20 kW marine turbine designed by ADAG
KOBOLD turbine shown below is part of the ENERMAR System, owned by Ponte di Archimede, that also owns the international patent of this type of vertical axis turbine.
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The vertical axis turbine coupled with a generator |
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The KOBOLD concept: floating blades adjust their position according to the local relative wind |
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An artistic impression of the Kobold turbine |
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Kobold model developed for wind-tunnel tests |
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Comparison beetwen Hlift and classical airfoils characteristics: lift- (top), drag- (middle), and moment-coefficient |
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The Kobold turbine installed in Messina Strait |
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The Kobold turbine position in Messina Strait |
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Comparison beetwen field tests and numerical predictions |
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work in progress . . .
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