Experimental investigation into solidity of straight bladed VAWT
Experimental investigation into solidity of straight bladed VAWT
Solidity (σ) is a critical design parameter for vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs), influencing its performance across various operational conditions. This study examines the impact of solidity on VAWT performance through a series of experimental investigations. Consensus points to lower solidity for high tip speed ratio (TSR) and higher solidity for lower TSR conditions. As turbine solidity increases, both torque and power generation improve, alongside enhanced self-starting capabilities. However, exceeding optimal solidity results in significant performance degradation, with the coefficient of performance (CP) dropping by 96.5% between solidities of 0.500 and 1.000. Furthermore, the maximal rotational speed decreased by 162 RPM from a solidity of 0.375 to 1.000. This study also highlights the limitation of solidity of vertical axis wind turbines at low TSRs, underscoring the importance of optimizing solidity to balance lift forces and maintain efficient energy conversion. These findings provide valuable insights for the design and optimization of VAWTs to enhance their efficiency and operational range.
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT), Solidity, Coefficient of Power, Diameter
Lee, Ken Yeen
5a3b2045-af8d-423d-994c-b49ba75c81c2
Cruden, Andrew
ed709997-4402-49a7-9ad5-f4f3c62d29ab
Ng, Jo-Han
4c9c51bd-1cfc-46c0-b519-23b77566fe50
Wong, Kok-Hoe
4ab87de5-7d69-4274-a951-75cb22c9d8c8
1 November 2025
Lee, Ken Yeen
5a3b2045-af8d-423d-994c-b49ba75c81c2
Cruden, Andrew
ed709997-4402-49a7-9ad5-f4f3c62d29ab
Ng, Jo-Han
4c9c51bd-1cfc-46c0-b519-23b77566fe50
Wong, Kok-Hoe
4ab87de5-7d69-4274-a951-75cb22c9d8c8
Lee, Ken Yeen, Cruden, Andrew, Ng, Jo-Han and Wong, Kok-Hoe
(2025)
Experimental investigation into solidity of straight bladed VAWT.
In The International Conference on Sustainable Energy, Infrastructure and Environment.
vol. 1560,
IOP Publishing.
10 pp
.
(doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1560/1/012048).
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
Solidity (σ) is a critical design parameter for vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs), influencing its performance across various operational conditions. This study examines the impact of solidity on VAWT performance through a series of experimental investigations. Consensus points to lower solidity for high tip speed ratio (TSR) and higher solidity for lower TSR conditions. As turbine solidity increases, both torque and power generation improve, alongside enhanced self-starting capabilities. However, exceeding optimal solidity results in significant performance degradation, with the coefficient of performance (CP) dropping by 96.5% between solidities of 0.500 and 1.000. Furthermore, the maximal rotational speed decreased by 162 RPM from a solidity of 0.375 to 1.000. This study also highlights the limitation of solidity of vertical axis wind turbines at low TSRs, underscoring the importance of optimizing solidity to balance lift forces and maintain efficient energy conversion. These findings provide valuable insights for the design and optimization of VAWTs to enhance their efficiency and operational range.
Text
Lee_2025_IOP_Conf._Ser.__Earth_Environ._Sci._1560_012048
- Version of Record
More information
Published date: 1 November 2025
Venue - Dates:
The International Conference on Sustainable Energy, Infrastructure and Environment 2024, , Putrajaya, Malaysia, 2024-10-14 - 2024-10-15
Keywords:
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT), Solidity, Coefficient of Power, Diameter
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 510300
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/510300
PURE UUID: 7931c1fe-67c8-42bd-8243-0e80092b8f3e
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 25 Mar 2026 17:30
Last modified: 26 Mar 2026 02:45
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Ken Yeen Lee
Author:
Kok-Hoe Wong
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
