Aerodynamic performance enhancement of Archimedes spiral wind turbine blades through surface modifications: A numerical and experimental study

The Archimedes Spiral Wind Turbine (ASWT) is a promising candidate for urban wind energy applications due to its helical blade geometry, which enables stable rotation and efficient energy captured at low wind speeds. However, its aerodynamic performance remains limited and can benefit from targeted surface enhancements. This study proposes a novel blade surface design in which semi-cylindrical grooves or bumps are geometrically integrated into the suction or pressure sides of the ASWT blades to improve aerodynamic efficiency. Twelve ASWT configurations were systematically developed using parametric modeling in SolidWorks 2020 and evaluated through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations in ANSYS CFX R2. Among the tested designs, the model featuring longitudinal grooves on the pressure side with 12 groove lines (FWPG-12) demonstrated the highest aerodynamic improvement, achieving an 8.3% increase in power coefficient ([Formula: see text]) at a wind speed of 10 m/s. These improvements are attributed to improved flow attachment and delayed boundary layer separation. In contrast, blades featuring surface bumps showed no aerodynamic advantage and generally led to performance deterioration. The findings underscore the aerodynamic benefits of bioinspired surface modifications and highlight their potential for advancing ASWT performance in urban renewable energy systems.