A Low Cost Wind Turbine and Blade Performance

A case study was performed on a commercially available low cost wind turbine. The turbine was tested in a wind tunnel with up to 13 m/s wind speed. The blade characteristics were measured as a function of wind speed, yaw angle, with and without a nose cone, and compared to theoretical models. Practical issues are noted as required for reliable operation, in particular the design of blades and their attachment to the turbine.