Study of a Five-Blade Vertical Axis Turbine for Energy Generation Using Autodesk CFD

In response to limited energy availability in rural areas of Peru and the environmental impact of conventional sources, this study evaluates the performance of a five-blade vertical-axis wind turbine using Autodesk CFD simulations. The effects of wind speed (1 to 5 m/s) and geometric scaling were analyzed in a wind-tunnel-like environment, employing the SST k-omega SAS turbulence model with 9000 iterations per simulation. Results show that higher wind speeds increase RPM, reaching up to 123.72 RPM at 4 m/s, while scaling up the turbine causes a decrease in RPM. However, torque remains stable due to the larger contact area with the airflow. It is concluded that these turbines are viable for basic domestic applications, such as LED lighting, particularly in contexts with persistent winds and limited resources.