Vortex Generators

[motoman465]

Good Morning,

I recently joined a website, www.gassavers.org.  In the aerodynamics section of the forums there has been a lot of talk about vortex generators.  I was wondering if the addition of some vortex generators to a VAWT like Ed's Lenz2 would be beneficial.  I would really like to try it out and test each version, but I lack the facilities to do so.  So, I am humbly asking for the opinions of the members of this board.  Thank you!

Todd

[disaray1]

 I've played with vortex generators in the past (on racecars) and found little to no percievable gains/improvements- a little time in a windtunnel would have been nice, but the budget wouldn't allow it. I can't imagine how one would implement VG on VAWT, maybe on the outside, just downwind of the leading edges? Is there enough velocity there to get them active? I'd probably guess not or else you'd see them on Pacwind- helping them past Betz.

 Good idea though. Wonder what ED thinks.

 What happened to Willib?

 David

 

[DanG]

Here is a loaded search link for this forum for whale tubercle, the knobs on huge whale heads and jaws and flukes that may aide in greater swimming efficiency...

http://tinyurl.com/3c7qou

[windstuffnow]

  There has been quite a bit of extensive testing on aircraft wings using vortex generators.  Some of the articles I've read about them look quite interesting showing positive results.  I'm not sure it would be of any real benifit on small turbines though.  Most of the testing that has been done with them is on aircraft that fly in the range of 100+ mph, a bit out of the range were working in.  It's possible there would be some benifit to them even in low winds... I've never experimented with them so I couldn't say one way or the other.  They may work on HAWT's much better since the blades are running at higher speeds.

  Rotornuts played with the idea some time back, the tubercles, I don't remember what the outcome was...

.