Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

hi i have friend here in southern Spain who has made a few of them out of 45gallon drums.the smallest one is 5kva and is efficient even in a slight wind.i will get him to send you some info.

Thanks very much! I'm looking forward to getting the information.

Bob

check these guys, it's a good site.

There are several wind turbine companies in Vermont. Earth Turbines, in Hinesburg, comes to mind. I don't know about manufacturers for vertical axis configuration, though. My understanding is they are less efficient and mechanically less reliable.

ok i have spoken to my friend and this is how he explained it to me.one type is to drum halves welded in to an s shape like the spinning signs out side shops.he then welds these to a rear axle with one half shaft removed.the end with out the half shaft is set in concrete.the prop shaft joint is put through a belt pulley or gear box connected to a generator unit.to increase torque you weld to more drums on top at right angles.simple?.the other type is 25g drums spread out in a 8 spoke fashion this type he attaches to the prop shaft connection and one half shaft runs a 10kva generator and the other shaft runs a water pump.this rig is quite big(understatement).both are simple low maintenance and they have not cost him over 150 dollars.

Any possibility of getting pictures?

I was researching another topic and ran across your post. We are in Houston, Texas, and there is competition out there, but our #1 product is the Windspire Vertical Axis Wind Turbine manufactured in the US by Mariah Power, Reno NV. Windspires are mfg'd in a renovated auto plant in Michigan and Mariah Power put a lot of out-of-work auto workers in good jobs making high-quality products that perform as advertised. Visionary Mike Hess and his group really hit a home run with this product and the company continues to grow. I suggest you take a look at Quinnipac University's decision to install 25 in a micro-grid, or other installations on the East Coast - you can find references by Googling Windspire, or go to YouTube and type in Windspire - you might be impressed. Khirika Quinonez is the East Coast rep that can best help you with your questions and you can access her through the Mariah Power website. We researched VAWT's for 2 years before deciding on Mariah. We have been more than satisfied as a dealer/installer and know of no unhappy consumers. I hope this helps. Steven

First of all I would read some basic stuff about wind power:

Wind Power, Renewable Energy for Home, Farm and Business, by Paul Gipe.

Vertical axis, VAWT is an inferior technology to horizontal axis, HAWT, mainly due to efficiencies and fatigue.

If all you want is sculpture then what the school did in CT is fine, Mariah power etc. Be careful about pretty websites extolling the virtues of vertical axis turbines -these are usually practicing what can be termed "green-washing".

Although some Savonius-type turbines are good in high torque low rpm applications, i.e. water pumping, what you really want is area: m2, tower height: m, (where air flow is laminar), a good airfoil blade design: 3-blade, and a good electric generator configuration, whether direct-drive or gearbox. The technology has really improved over the last 2 generations, and HAWT seems to have won. Be careful about the novel designs unless you want to tinker and re-invent the wheel.

The site linked above: otherpower.com is good.

good luck!

Hello everyone! My instructor gave me 5 kVA Vertical Axis Wind Turbine as project study. He wants a design and he wants it "direct coupled". Does anyone think it it's possible? I think it will give variable output. Please help me…
Thanks!

-Leonil, 5th year ECE student from Philippines

think about what sort of alternator you will use

the field windings on some designs determine the output