This CFD simulation was used to compare custom high performance airfoils currently being developed by 123DESIGNS (123DESGINS.biz) for Primo Wind (primowind.com)
The air flow simulation video shows how a 5 blade horizontal windmill performs when flat plates are used instead of wing shaped (NACA) airfoils. We hope the engineers and inventors out there enjoy it for extended periods…thinking.
This blade layout is interesting because of the way the turbulence from the blades interact, yet also allows significant flow through the central hub area. We are finding that our own proprietary airfoils are performing significantly better than this flat plate and other (Gorlov) design comparisons. But even as a flat plate, you can pull power from wind this way.
