VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINES

Part B Module 1 – Wind Energy

VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINES

"Eoliennes Gaspesie" by guillom H-Darrieus-Rotor By Stahlkocher

BASICS

For vertical axis wind turbine having rotor of diameter D and height h:

𝐴 = 𝐷𝐷 where A = wind flow area

IMPACT OF AREA IN CALCULATIONS

Maximum power available from the wind:

𝑃𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑜 𝑎𝑖 𝑡𝐷𝑜 𝑜𝑎𝑖𝑤 =12𝜌𝐴𝑉03

where 𝐴 = 𝐷𝐷 for vertical axis wind turbines

AERODYNAMIC LIFT-TYPE VAWT

• VAHT aerodynamics are complex! – Beyond the scope of this course – Previous discussion of the principles of aerodynamic lift

and drag are relevant – Performance depends on rotor speed

• Not self-starting – provision must be made to initiate rotation

COMBINED TYPES

• Darrieus for power production in windy conditions

• Savonius for starting and contributing to low wind conditions Taiwan 2009 JinGuaShi Historic Gold Mine Combined Darrieus Savonius

Wind Turbines FRD 8638, by Fred Hsu

VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINES SUMMARY

• Aerodynamic lift-type VAWT can have excellent performance – See data next lecture

• More resources have been spent on developing HAWT propeller type technology so some design challenges remain

• Smaller power (aero lift-type) VAWT are under development and may play a larger role in the future

• Need strategy for starting.

REFERENCES AND PHOTO CREDITS • "Eoliennes Gaspesie" by guillom - Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons

Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eoliennes_Gaspesie.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Eoliennes_Gaspesie.jpg

• H-Darrieus-Rotor by Stahlkocker, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:H-Darrieus-Rotor.jpg#mediaviewer/File:H-Darrieus-Rotor.jpg. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

• Taiwan 2009 JinGuaShi Historic Gold Mine Combined Darrieus Savonius Wind Turbines FRD 8638" by Fred Hsu, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Taiwan_2009_JinGuaShi_Historic_Gold_Mine_Combined_Darrieus_Savonius_Wind_Turbines_FRD_8638.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Taiwan_2009_JinGuaShi_Historic_Gold_Mine_Combined_Darrieus_Savonius_Wind_Turbines_FRD_8638.jpg. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons