This paper presents a comprehensive experimental and numerical investigation of the aerodynamics of a vertical-axis Darrieus wind turbine equipped with newly developed modified asymmetric blades intended to enhance performance at low and variable wind speeds. Using URANS modeling (SST k–ω) combined with full-scale testing, a detailed comparison was carried out against the classical NACA 0021 airfoil. The results show that the asymmetric profile increases starting torque by 30–40%, reduces negative torque by 20–25%, and decreases load pulsations by 15–20%, owing to the delayed onset of dynamic stall and the stabilization of the vortex wake structure. Within the optimal operating range of TSR = 2.5–4, an 18–22% increase in pressure differential is observed, resulting in a higher power coefficient; the maximum Cp reaches 0.15, exceeding that of the symmetric configuration by 20–25%. The agreement between CFD predictions and experimental measurements exceeds 95%, confirming the robustness of the numerical model employed. The findings clearly demonstrate the substantial effectiveness of the proposed blade geometry and its strong potential for next-generation VAWTs optimized for regions with low wind resources.

In recent years, significant downtime has been increasingly observed in the underground mines of the Kazakhmys Corporation. A large number of high-performance self-propelled machines with various pneumatic wheel drives are used in these mines. Practice shows that the use of outdated methods and tools for repairing underground self-propelled equipment does not fully meet modern production requirements and is therefore inefficient. One of the main reasons for the reduced efficiency of self-propelled equipment is the insufficient use of diagnostic methods and tools that enable continuous monitoring of the technical condition of each machine and its main components. To prevent failures, after a certain period of operation, it is necessary to determine the predicted and remaining service life of each unit based on diagnostic data. This article presents the main results of studies aimed at predicting the remaining service life of machine components used in the mines of Kazakhmys Corporation, and analyzes the possibilities of applying the obtained data in industrial practice.