The aim of the project is to increase the efficiency of wind turbines with a vertical axis of rotation by developing a variable blade geometry. In the vertical design, the flow conditions on the rotor blades change during rotation, so that a positive moment is only generated on the rotor axis at certain angles of rotation. To avoid areas without an effective contribution to energy generation, it is necessary for the geometry of the individual rotor blades (e.g. profile curvature and angle of attack) to change during rotation around the axis. In this way, the lift can be increased in positive areas, while negative portions are minimized by appropriate fluid mechanical shaping. So-called macro fiber composite actuators are being considered as a potential technology for implementing the adaptive profile geometry.
