Feasibility Analysis for a Small Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine on Venus Surface

A feasibility analysis was performed for the operation of a wind turbine within the Venus surface environment. The Venus environment was modeled. This modeling included the gas properties at the surface (pressure, temperature, and viscosity) as well as estimates of the wind-speed probability over time. Using the environmental data, the wind turbine analysis examined basic operation of a wind turbine and determined the amount of torque and power that could be generated. A baseline wind turbine design was then made that determined the optimal tip-speed ratio and efficiency for the wind turbine. Also specified were the number of blades, airfoil, and sizing. The wind turbine sizing was constrained to fit and be deployable from a Long-Lived In-Situ Solar System Explorer (LLISSE) weather station probe. The analysis also examined the ability to start the wind turbine rotating on the Venus surface. The analysis
determined that once rotating, the wind turbine could generate usable amounts of power for a low-power Venus lander. However, the ability to start the turbine is difficult, and the proposed vertical-axis design would not be capable of starting on its own or even with the augmentation of a Savonius rotor. Therefore, alternate means of starting the turbine, such as a starting motor, would need to be employed. In addition, alternate turbine designs can be considered, such as a horizontal-axis wind turbine, that have better starting characteristics and may be capable of starting under the Venus surface environmental conditions.