The Voith-Schneider Wind Turbine: Some Theoretical and Experimental Results on the Aerodynamics of the Voith-Schneider Wind Turbine

Since 1976 a Voith-Schneider Wind Turbine has been developed and investigated at Aalborg University Centre. The most recent part of this project concerns the aerodynamical behaviour of this turbine type, and will be briefly reviewed. A new steady-state two-dimensional flow model is presented in which the flow field will be calculated by means of applied blade forces. Also new is the presentation of a modified multiple stream tube model, which will yield advantages over formerly used ordinary models. A 9 m² experimental wind turbine for free wind testing is described. Allowance for comparison between theoretical and experimental results has thus been provided for. Especially it has emerged that flow field measurements just outside the rotor periphery seem most valuable in discerning between the various flow models.