Optimal Design of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines for Mechanical and Aesthetic Performances under Green Lifestyles in Thailand

School of Manufacturing Systems and Mechanical Engineering, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, Thailand

^a Corresponding author: thanan@siit.tu.ac.th

Abstract

Although current Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) is highly potential to energy conversion of wind energy under low wind speed conditions, which are abundantly found in Thailand, it is clear that there are no strong attentions of usages from private investors and government. To resolve the problems, the optimal design of VAWTs is proposed to obtain the most efficient power generation and the most physical attractiveness to household users. For each three dimensional VAWT model, the mechanical performance index is determined from the mean power coefficient over tip speed ratios via CFD analysis while the aesthetic performance index is obtained from the mean vote of respondents about their preference to three dimensional VAWT models. The product t-norm of two indices is used to quantify the most efficient power generation and physical attractiveness. The greatest values are chosen as the best designs. It is confirmed that there are significant tradeoffs between engineering achievement and appearance satisfaction for given models in the survey experiment. The mechanical performance index and aesthetic performance index should be taken in account for commercialization design. This work aims at research communities for systematically exploring new wind turbine rotors with innovative shapes, sizes, and orientations for physical attractiveness.