International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET)

Volume 8, Issue 9, September 2017, pp. 18–25, Article ID: IJMET_08_09_002

Available online at http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJMET?Volume=8&Issue=9
ISSN Print: 0976-6340 and ISSN Online: 0976-6359

© IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed

SAVONIUS WIND TURBINE DESIGN AND

VALIDATION-AN MANUFACTURING
APPROACH
M. Sunil Kumar
Assistant Professor Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Dundigal, Hyderabad, India

VVSH Prasad
Professor Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Dundigal, Hyderabad, India

C. Labesh Kumar
Assistant Professor Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Dundigal, Hyderabad, India

Dr. K Ashok Reddy

Professor Department of Mechanical Engineering MLR Institute of Technology,
Hyderabad, India

ABSTRACT
In recent era, research and development activities in the field of renewable energy,
especially wind and solar have been considerably increased, due to the worldwide
energy crisis and high global emission. The horizontal axis wind turbine cannot be
used for house hold purpose. So, Savonius vertical axis wind turbine can be better
option as it operate in low wind condition also. The choice for this model is to show
case its efficiency in varying wind conditions as compared to the traditional horizontal
axis wind turbine and contribute to its steady growing popularity for the purpose of
mass utilization in the near future as a reliable source of power generation. The paper
aims at designing and analysis of savonius wind turbine which can be used to
generate electricity from wind energy. Therefore, objective is to increase efficiency at
low maintenance price without affecting the whole unit.
Keywords: Renewable energy, VAWT, Savonius, Dynamo, Household
Cite this Article: M. Sunil Kumar, VVSH Prasad, C. Labesh Kumar and Dr. K Ashok
Reddy, Savonius Wind Turbine Design and Validation- an Manufacturing Approach,
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology 8(9), 2017,
pp. 18–25.
http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJMET?Volume=8&Issue=9

http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJMET 18 editor@iaeme.com
 Savonius Wind Turbine Design and Validation- an Manufacturing Approach

1. INTRODUCTION
Savonius wind turbines are a type of vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT), used for converting
the force of the wind into torque on a rotating shaft. The turbine consists of a number of
aerofoils, usually—but not always—vertically mounted on a rotating shaft or framework,
either ground stationed or tethered in airborne systems. Savonius turbines are one of the
simplest turbines. Aerodynamically, they are drag- type devices, consisting of two or three
scoops. Looking down on the rotor from above, a two-scoop machine would look like an "S"
shape in cross section. Because of the curvature, the scoops experience less drag when
moving against the wind than when moving with the wind.
The differential drag causes the Savonius turbine to spin. Because they are drag-type
devices, Savonius turbines extract much less of the wind's power than other similarly-sized
lift-type turbines. Much of the swept area of a Savonius rotor may be near the ground, if it has
a small mount without an extended post, making the overall energy extraction less effective
due to the lower wind speeds found at lower heights. Savonius turbines are used whenever
cost or reliability is much more important than efficiency. For example, most anemometers
are Savonius turbines, because efficiency is completely irrelevant for that application.
Much larger Savonius turbines have been used to generate electric power on deep-water
buoys, which need small amounts of power and get very little maintenance. Design is
simplified because, unlike with Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs), no pointing
mechanism is required to allow for shifting wind direction and the turbine is self-starting.
Savonius and other vertical-axis machines are good at pumping water and other high torque,
low rpm applications and are not usually connected to electric power grids. They can
sometimes have long helical scoops, to give smooth torque. The most ubiquitous application
of the Savonius wind turbine is the Flattener Ventilator which is commonly seen on the roofs
of vans and buses and is used as a cooling device. Small Savonius wind turbines are
sometimes seen used as advertising signs where the rotation helps to draw attention to the
item advertised. They sometimes feature a simple two-frame animation.

2. METHODOLOGY
During design of Savonius vertical axis wind turbine a few factors are consider for design and
based on this for input data whole design calculations were carried out. The following factors
are considered during design.
d – diameter of blade [m]
D –diameter wing spread of rotor [m]
e – pipe spacing [m]
h – height of blades [m]
v – wind speed [m/s]
F – diameter of end plates [m]
Cp - Betz coefficient
a- sweep area of the rotor blade [mm2]
n- speed of rotor [rpm]
𝑟- radius of the rotor [mm]
𝜔- angular velocity [rad/sec]
λ - tip-speed ratio.
𝜏𝑠-the torque at the rotor shaft [Nm]
ρ- air density[kg/m3]

http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJMET 19 editor@iaeme.com
 M. Sunil Kumar, VVSH Prasad, C. Labesh Kumar and Dr. K Ashok Reddy

𝜌𝑠- power of the rotor [w]

FORMULAE & CALCULATIONS
Assume diameter of blade d = 30mm
(Reference: F. Sigernes, University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Norway)
Then, e =d/3 =30/3= 10mm
D=5e =5*10 = 50mm
f = 1.2D = 1.2*50 = 60mm
h= 1mm
The maximum power of the rotor is estimated according to Betz’s law
𝜌𝑠= 1/2 𝜌∙𝐴 ∙ 𝑣3∙ 𝐶𝑝
=0.36∙ ℎ∙ 𝐷∙𝑣3. [W]
Where, ρ=1.2 kg/m3 is the air density,
𝐴=ℎ∙𝐷 the sweep area of the rotor blade and Cp=0.593 the Betz coefficient.
However, there are aerodynamic and mechanical losses in the order of 50%. Our rotor
shaft power equation then becomes
𝜌𝑠=0.18∙ ℎ∙ 𝐷∙𝑣3. [W]
= 0.18*1*50*6*6*6
=12.95 w
The rotational speed is defined as 𝑛= (60/2π×𝜔) [rpm]
Where, =𝜆∙𝑣/𝑟 is the angular velocity in units of radians per second,
=1*6/25
=36.04 rad/s
Here 𝑟=𝐷/2 the radius of the rotor
=50/2
= 25mm and
λ = 1 the tip-speed ratio
Then n = (60/2π×𝜔)
= (60/2π * 30.04)
= 344rpm
Furthermore, the torque at the rotor shaft is given as =𝑃𝑠/𝜔. [Nm]
=12.95/36.04
=0.36 Nm
The height of the rotor is h=1m. The wind start speed v =6 m/s.

CALCULATION OBTAINED
d 30[cm]
e 10.0[cm]
D 0.500 [m]
r 0.2500 [m]
ω 36.04[rad./s]
n 344[rpm]
𝜌𝑠 12.95 [W]

http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJMET 20 editor@iaeme.com
 Savonius Wind Turbine Design and Validation- an Manufacturing Approach

τs 0.36[Nm]
h 1[m]

v 6[m/s]

Figure 1 Basic Sketch of Savonius Wind Rotor

Figure 2 Assembly drawing of Disc, Shafts and Blades

3. SPECIFICATIONS
DISC DIMENSIONS
Thickness 2.5 mm
Diameter 60mm

BLADE DIMENSIONS
Height 1 meters
Diameter 30 mm
Thickness 1 mm

http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJMET 21 editor@iaeme.com
 M. Sunil Kumar, VVSH Prasad, C. Labesh Kumar and Dr. K Ashok Reddy

SHAFT DIMENSIONS
Diameter 25.5mm
Length 1.6meters

BEARING DIMENSIONS
Diameter 25.1mm
Type ball bearing

GEARS DIMENSIONS
Gear diameter 210mm
Thickness 25mm

4. CFD ANAYSIS

Figure 3 Design Modular

Figure 4 Set up

Figure 5 Mesh

http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJMET 22 editor@iaeme.com
 Savonius Wind Turbine Design and Validation- an Manufacturing Approach

5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Figure 6 fluid flow

Figure 7 Momentum and Mass

Figure 8 Turbulence

Figure 9 Pressure

http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJMET 23 editor@iaeme.com
 M. Sunil Kumar, VVSH Prasad, C. Labesh Kumar and Dr. K Ashok Reddy

Figure 10 Velocity

Figure 11 Temperature
Discussions drawn from above results At least 10% power of the consumption can be
fulfil by this set up. Multi stage generator is the double generation concept with the same size
rotor. Gear arrangement can increase the number of rpm in case of low wind speed. This
turbine is generally suitable for 8 to 10m of height above ground level. Because at ground
level velocity of air is very less. Combination of alternator with gear arrangement can be used
to increase output but unnecessarily it will increase the cost of machine. The all-weather point
of view the material use should be non-corrosive. The alternate option for turbine blade
material is reinforced glass fiber because of its more elastic nature but it is costlier than
Aluminium alloy. The cost of the machine should be as minimum as possible. So that it will
be economical for everyone to purchase.

6. FABRICATED SAVONIUS WIND TURBINE

http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJMET 24 editor@iaeme.com
 Savonius Wind Turbine Design and Validation- an Manufacturing Approach

7. CONCLUSION
Such type of wind turbine is more important for small scale work as well as industrial work in
less cost and more efficiency. The machine capacity can be increased according to the need.
By its design the defects can be easily overcome. Simpler design not only reduces the defects
but also contributes for generation of power. It should be noted that these turbines can also be
used for commercial purposes by adding more blades to the turbine. The objective of the
study is to increase the efficiency of the turbine. These portable turbines can also be used for
irrigational unit and also to generate electricity for small scale industry. There are number of
sources for generation of power but in the recent years wind energy shown its potential as the
clean source of energy and contributing to the high energy demands of the world. Vertical
axis wind turbine is the best option for the area which is under load sheading. The output from
the turbine is use to charge a heavy duty battery. This can be beneficial than inverter back up.

REFERENCES
[1] Moutsoglou A, Weng Y. Performance tests of a Benesh wind turbine rotor and a Savonius
rotor. Journal of Wind Engineering 1995; 19: 349-362
[2] Kroms, Wind Power Stations Working in Connection with Existing Power Systems. 1954,
A.S.E.Bull. p. 135-144.
[3] Hütter, U., the Development of The Wind Power Installations for Electrical Power
Generation in Germany. 1973, NASA Technical Translation: Washington DC.
[4] Small-scale wind energy, in Policy insights and practical guidance (CTC738), F.a.R.A.
Department for Environment, Editor. 2008, Carbon Trust and Met Office.
[5] Abhilasha Rathod, Nalin Raut, Sai Patil, Kajol Kamble, Shailendra Shisode, Aerodynamic
Analysis of Morphing Blade for Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine. International Journal of
Mechanical Engineering and Technology, 8(1), 2017, pp. 37–44
[6] Gayathri.S.Nair and Krishnakumari.T, Comparison of Crowbar Control and Novel
Control Methods for Dfig Wind Turbine to Enhance Lvrt Capability under Various Faults,
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
(IJEET), Volume 5, Issue 12, December (2014), pp. 14-20
[7] M. Natesan, Dr. S. Jeyanthi and U. Sivasathya, A Review on Design of Augmented Wind
Turbine Blade for Low Wind Speed Urban Area, International Journal of Mechanical
Engineering and Technology (IJMET) Volume 8, Issue 7, July 2017, pp. 685-691
[8] Martin Best, A.B., Pete Clark, Dan Hollis, Doug Middleton, Gabriel Rooney, Dave
Thomson and Clive Wilson, Small-scale Wind Energy – Technical Report, in Urban Wind
Energy Research Project Part 1 – A Review of Existing Knowledge. 2008.
[9] Hau, E., Wind Turbines. 2nd ed. Fundamentals, Technologies, Application, Economics.
2006, Berlin: Springer.
[10] Bruce E. Boatner, E.R.D., Eagle, ID (US) 83616, Vertical Axis Wind Turbine with
Articulating Rotor. 2010: United States. p. 32.
[11] Joushua Yen, Noor Ahmed. University of New South Wales (NSW) Sydney, Australia.
Sciencedirect (Procedia engineering 49 (2012) 99-106).Improving safety and performance
of small-scale vertical axis wind turbines.
[12] Murat Islam .A MS candidate, School of Aerospace, Mechanical and civil Engineering.
University of Manchaster, England. Design and development of micro wind turbine.
[13] G.D.Rai, Renewable energy sources, book.
[14] Blackwell BB, Sheldahl R, Feltz LV. Wind Tunnel Performance Data for Two and Three
Bucket Savonius Rotor. Journal of Energy 1978; 2:160-164.
[15] Le Gourieres D. Wind Power Plants Theory and Design; Pergamon Press Ltd, 1982.

http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJMET 25 editor@iaeme.com