Preliminary design and viability consideration of external, shroud-based stators in wind turbine generators

Abstract

Horizontal-axis wind turbine designs often included gearboxes or large direct-drive generators to compensate for the low peripheral speeds of the turbine hub. To take advantage of high blade tip speeds, an alternative generator configuration could employ a stator positioned in a shroud on the outside diameter of the turbine.' 7 I performed a preliminary investigation into some of the main design concerns and costs of a shroud-stator turbine. To answer the basic questions of functionality and cost, I considered turbine-blade deflection, material costs, and stator configuration. Although I did not complete the entire investigation, I determined the approximate deflection of the loaded wind turbine blades and developed several relationships between the force and the current output of the turbine for use in designing the stator.