Author: Daniel McLean (Memorial University) - Predicting the start-up capability of H-Darrieus vertical-axis wind turbines (HD-VAWTs) is essential for developing reliable machines capable of decentralized energy production. This paper presents a new aerodynamics code addressing this challenge. We use the Gormont dynamic stall model with a low-order, look-up-based approach where aerodynamic coefficients are interpolated to predict an HD-VAWT’s ability to start up and reach tip-speed ratios (TSRs) λ > 1. Without the Gormont model, the predicted steady-state TSR for a reference turbine (experimental λ = 3) is only λ ≈ 0.3; with the model applied, the predicted TSR improves significantly to λ ≈ 2.0. The results demonstrate the Gormont model’s ability to capture the unsteady effects that drive the turbine to λ > 1, while further refinements remain necessary to precisely predict the steady-state TSR. The code developed is a robust foundation for studying HD-VAWT start-up, and provides a platform for future expansion to more complex analysis.
