MULTI-ELEMENT WIND TURBINE AIRFOILS AND WIND TURBINES INCORPORATING THE SAME

摘要

The present invention relates to wind turbines and more particularly to a multi - element airfoil for a vertical or horizontal axis wind turbine. In one embodiment, a vertical wind turbine includes a plurality of blades (30) arranged in an annular path around a central axis of rotation. Each blade includes a first element (32) and a second element (34) that are nestable together. The first element has a concave rear surface (33), and the second element has a convex leading surface (35). Each of at least 45% of the blades generates a lift in a direction of rotation of the turbine that is greater than a drag generated by the same blade.