Building and Testing an H-Type VAWT to Validate the Simulation Software HAWC2

DTU/Heriot Watt Engineering/Global/Climate, 2023–24

Liaison(s): Jenni Rinker ’11, Weng Kean Yew, Mac Gaunaa
Advisor(s): Dre Helmns
Students(s): Peyton TenEyck (TL-F), Caitlyn Ossa (TL-S), Clay Briggs, Holly Chen, Felix Murphy, Nebiyu Samuel (F), David Aguirre (S)

Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines are a promising renewable energy source for areas of multidirectional wind flow, such as cities. Unfortunately, small VAWTs have not been extensively researched, tested, nor simulated. To fill this gap, the DTU/Heriot-Watt Clinic Team has designed and built an H-Type VAWT which will be used to validate VAWT models in the simulation software HAWC2. By contributing to the literature and research of VAWTs, we are paving the way for future advancements in the field.