Aerodynamic Characteristics of Airfoils Equipped With Gurney Flaps and Vortex Generators for the Entire Range of Pitch Angles

Marin Ivanković; Marvin Jentzsch; Marinos Manolesos; Christian Navid Nayeri; Hrvoje Kozmar

doi:10.1002/we.70106

journal article Open Access Apr 08, 2026

Aerodynamic Characteristics of Airfoils Equipped With Gurney Flaps and Vortex Generators for the Entire Range of Pitch Angles

Marin Ivanković Marvin Jentzsch Marinos Manolesos Christian Navid Nayeri Hrvoje Kozmar

Wind Energy Vol. 29 No. 5 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/we.70106

Abstract

ABSTRACT

An experimental study of NACA0021 airfoil equipped with vortex generators (VGs) and Gurney flaps (GFs) was conducted to assess the effects of these devices on the aerodynamic airfoil performance, the information that is necessary for studying the self‐starting characteristics of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs). This is particularly important given current efforts to enhance the efficiency and lifetime of VAWTs. The pressure distribution on the airfoil was assessed for the entire angle of attack (
AoA
) range (i.e., 0° ≤
AoA
< 360°). Four airfoil configurations were studied, i.e., (a) the baseline airfoil, (b) the airfoil with VGs, (c) the airfoil with a GF with a height of 0.014 chord (
c
) lengths, and (d) the airfoil with a GF of height 0.025
c
. VGs yield a 33.3% increase in the
AoA
at which the flow reattaches and 16.3% increase in the maximum lift force coefficient
c

L

. Configurations equipped with GFs exhibit 27.9% increase in the maximum
c

L

and a concurrent increase in the lift‐to‐drag ratio.

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Details

Published: Apr 08, 2026
Vol/Issue: 29(5)
License: View

Authors

M

Marin Ivanković

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture University of Zagreb Zagreb Croatia; Hermann‐Föttinger‐Institut Technische Universität Berlin Berlin Germany

M

Marvin Jentzsch

Hermann‐Föttinger‐Institut Technische Universität Berlin Berlin Germany

M

Marinos Manolesos

School of Mechanical Engineering National Technical University of Athens Zografou Greece

C

Christian Navid Nayeri

Hermann‐Föttinger‐Institut Technische Universität Berlin Berlin Germany

H

Hrvoje Kozmar

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture University of Zagreb Zagreb Croatia

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Award: #446073296

Hrvatska zaklada za znanost Award: HRZZ‐IP‐2022‐10‐9434

Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst

Cite This Article

Marin Ivanković, Marvin Jentzsch, Marinos Manolesos, et al. (2026). Aerodynamic Characteristics of Airfoils Equipped With Gurney Flaps and Vortex Generators for the Entire Range of Pitch Angles. Wind Energy, 29(5). https://doi.org/10.1002/we.70106

Aerodynamic Characteristics of Airfoils Equipped With Gurney Flaps and Vortex Generators for the Entire Range of Pitch Angles

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