Bioinspired Trailing Edge Serrations for Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Blades in Urban Environments: Performance Effects
Luis Santamaría, Luis Fernández‐Salazar, Manuel García-Díaz, José González, Mónica Galdo Vega
Abstract
Abstract Biomimetics has recently emerged as an interesting approach to enhance renewable energy technologies. In this work, bioinspired Trailing Edge Serrations (TES) were evaluated on a typical Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) airfoil, the DU06-W200. As noise reduction benefits of these mechanisms are already well-established, this study focuses on their impact on airfoil and VAWT performance. A saw-tooth geometry was chosen based on VAWT specifications and existing research, followed by a detailed assessment through wind tunnel tests using a newly developed aerodynamic balance. For a broad spectrum of attack angles and Reynolds numbers, lift, drag, and pitching moments were carefully measured. The results show that TES enhance the lift-to-drag ratio, especially in stalled conditions, and postpone stall at negative angles, expanding the effective performance range. A notable increase in pitching moment also is also observed, relevant for blade-strut joint design. Additionally, the impact on turbine performance was estimated using an analytical model, demonstrating excellent accuracy when compared against previous experimental results. TES offer a modest 2% improvement in peak performance, though they slightly narrow the optimal tip-speed ratio zone. Despite this, the potential noise reduction and performance gains make TES a valuable addition to VAWT designs, especially in urban settings.