# Vertical-axis wind turbine

(Redirected from Vertical axis wind turbine)
The world's tallest vertical-axis wind turbine, in Cap-Chat, Quebec
Vortexis Schematic
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine offshore

A vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) is a type of wind turbine where the main rotor shaft is set transverse to the wind (but not necessarily vertically) while the main components are located at the base of the turbine. This arrangement allows the generator and gearbox to be located close to the ground, facilitating service and repair. VAWTs do not need to be pointed into the wind,[1][2] which removes the need for wind-sensing and orientation mechanisms. Major drawbacks for the early designs (Savonius, Darrieus and giromill) included the significant torque variation or "ripple" during each revolution, and the large bending moments on the blades. Later designs addressed the torque ripple issue by sweeping the blades helically (Gorlov type).[3] Savonius vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWT) are not widespread, but their simplicity and better performance in disturbed flow-fields, compared to small horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWT) make them a good alternative for distributed generation devices in urban environment.[4]

A vertical axis wind turbine has its axis perpendicular to the wind streamlines and vertical to the ground. A more general term that includes this option is "transverse axis wind turbine" or "cross-flow wind turbine." For example, the original Darrieus patent, US Patent 1835018, includes both options.

Drag-type VAWTs such as the Savonius rotor typically operate at lower tipspeed ratios than lift-based VAWTs such as Darrieus rotors and cycloturbines.

Computer modelling suggests that wind farms constructed using vertical-axis wind turbines are 15% more efficient than conventional horizontal axis wind turbines as they generate less turbulence.[5][6]

## General aerodynamics

The forces and the velocities acting in a Darrieus turbine are depicted in figure 1. The resultant velocity vector, ${\displaystyle {\vec {W}}}$, is the vectorial sum of the undisturbed upstream air velocity, ${\displaystyle {\vec {U}}}$, and the velocity vector of the advancing blade, ${\displaystyle -{\vec {\omega }}\times {\vec {R}}}$.

${\displaystyle {\vec {W}}={\vec {U}}+\left(-{\vec {\omega }}\times {\vec {R}}\right)}$

Fig1: Forces and velocities acting in a Darrieus turbine for various azimuthal positions
A helical Darrieus turbine

Thus the oncoming fluid velocity varies during each cycle. Maximum velocity is found for ${\displaystyle \theta =0{}^{\circ }}$ and the minimum is found for ${\displaystyle \theta =180{}^{\circ }}$, where ${\displaystyle \theta }$ is the azimuthal or orbital blade position. The angle of attack, ${\displaystyle \alpha }$, is the angle between the oncoming air speed, W, and the blade's chord. The resultant airflow creates a varying, positive angle of attack to the blade in the upstream zone of the machine, switching sign in the downstream zone of the machine.

It follows from geometric considerations of angular velocity as seen in the accompanying figure that:

${\displaystyle V_{t}=R\omega +U\cos(\theta )}$

and:

${\displaystyle V_{n}=U\sin(\theta )}$

Solving for the relative velocity as the resultant of the tangential and normal components yields:

${\displaystyle W={\sqrt {V_{t}^{2}+V_{n}^{2}}}}$ [7]

Thus, combining the above with the definitions for the tip speed ratio ${\displaystyle \lambda =(\omega R)/U}$ yields the following expression for the resultant velocity:

${\displaystyle W=U{\sqrt {1+2\lambda \cos \theta +\lambda ^{2}}}}$ [8]

Angle of attack is solved as:

${\displaystyle \alpha =\tan ^{-1}\left({\frac {V_{n}}{V_{t}}}\right)}$

Which when substituting the above yields:

${\displaystyle \alpha =\tan ^{-1}\left({\frac {\sin \theta }{\cos \theta +\lambda }}\right)}$[9]

The resultant aerodynamic force is resolved either into lift (L) - drag (D) components or normal (N) - tangential (T) components. The forces are considered acting at the quarter-chord point, and the pitching moment is determined to resolve the aerodynamic forces. The aeronautical terms "lift" and "drag" refer to the forces across (lift) and along (drag) the approaching net relative airflow. The tangential force acts along the blade's velocity, pulling the blade around, and the normal force acts radially, pushing against the shaft bearings. The lift and the drag force are useful when dealing with the aerodynamic forces around the blade such as dynamic stall, boundary layer etc.; while when dealing with global performance, fatigue loads, etc., it is more convenient to have a normal-tangential frame. The lift and the drag coefficients are usually normalised by the dynamic pressure of the relative airflow, while the normal and tangential coefficients are usually normalised by the dynamic pressure of undisturbed upstream fluid velocity.

${\displaystyle C_{L}={\frac {F_{L}}{{1}/{2}\;\rho AW^{2}}}{\text{ }};{\text{ }}C_{D}={\frac {D}{{1}/{2}\;\rho AW^{2}}}{\text{ }};{\text{ }}C_{T}={\frac {T}{{1}/{2}\;\rho AU^{2}R}}{\text{ }};{\text{ }}C_{N}={\frac {N}{{1}/{2}\;\rho AU^{2}}}}$

A = Blade Area (not to be confused with the Swept Area, which is equal to the height of the blade/rotor times the rotor diameter), R = Radius of turbine

The amount of power, P, that can be absorbed by a wind turbine:

${\displaystyle P={\frac {1}{2}}C_{p}\rho A\nu ^{3}}$

Where ${\displaystyle C_{p}}$ is the power coefficient, ${\displaystyle \rho }$ is air density, ${\displaystyle A}$ is the swept area of the turbine, and ${\displaystyle \nu }$ is the wind speed.[10]

VAWTs offer a number of advantages over traditional horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs):

• Omni-directional VAWTs may not need to track the wind. This means they don't require a complex mechanism and motors to yaw the rotor and pitch the blades.[11]
• Gearbox replacement and maintenance are simpler and more efficient, because the gearbox is accessible at ground level instead of requiring the operator work hundreds of feet in the air. Motor and gearbox failures generally are significant operation and maintenance considerations.
• Some designs can use screw pile foundations, which reduces the road transport of concrete and the carbon cost of installation. Screw piles can be fully recycled at end of life.
• VAWTs can be installed on HAWT wind farms below the existing HAWTs, supplementing power output.[12]
• VAWTs may operate in conditions unsuitable for HAWTs. For example, the Savonius rotor, which can operate in irregular, slow wind ground-level contexts, is often used in remote or unattended locations although it is the most 'inefficient', drag-type, VAWT.

VAWTs often suffer from dynamic stall of the blades as the angle of attack varies rapidly.[13][14][15]

The blades of a VAWT are fatigue-prone due to the wide variation in applied forces during each rotation. This can be overcome by the use of composite materials and improvements in design[citation needed] - including the use of aerodynamic wing tips that cause the spreader wing connections to have a static load. The vertically oriented blades can twist and bend during each turn, shortening their usable lifetimes.

Other than the drag-types, VAWTs have proven less reliable than HAWTs,[16] although modern designs have overcome many early issues.[17][18]

## Research

A 2021 study simulated a VAWT configuration that allowed VAWTs to beat a comparable HAWT installation by 15%. An 11,500 hour simulations demonstrated the increased efficiency, in part by using a grid formation. One effect is to avoid downstream turbulence stemming from grid-arranged HAWTs that lowers efficiency. Other optimizations included array angle, rotation direction, turbine spacing, number of rotors.[19]

## Applications

Light pole wind turbine

The Windspire, a small VAWT intended for individual (home or office) use was developed in the early 2000s by US company Mariah Power. The company reported that several units had been installed across the US by June 2008.[20]

Arborwind, an Ann-Arbor (Michigan, US) based company, produces a patented small VAWT which has been installed at several US locations as of 2013.[21]

In 2011, Sandia National Laboratories wind-energy researchers began a five-year study of applying VAWT design technology to offshore wind farms.[22] The researchers stated: "The economics of offshore windpower are different from land-based turbines, due to installation and operational challenges. VAWTs offer three big advantages that could reduce the cost of wind energy: a lower turbine center of gravity; reduced machine complexity; and better scalability to very large sizes. A lower center of gravity means improved stability afloat and lower gravitational fatigue loads. Additionally, the drivetrain on a VAWT is at or near the surface, potentially making maintenance easier and less time-consuming. Fewer parts, lower fatigue loads and simpler maintenance all lead to reduced maintenance costs."

A 24-unit VAWT demonstration plot was installed in southern California in the early 2010s by Caltech aeronautical professor John Dabiri. His design was incorporated in a 10-unit generating farm installed in 2013 in the Alaskan village of Igiugig.[23]

Dulas, Anglesey received permission in March 2014 to install a prototype VAWT on the breakwater at Port Talbot waterside. The turbine is a new design, supplied by Wales-based C-FEC (Swansea),[24] and will be operated for a two-year trial.[25] This VAWT incorporates a wind shield which blocks the wind from the advancing blades, and thus requires a wind-direction sensor and a positioning mechanism, as opposed to the "egg-beater" types of VAWTs discussed above.[24]

Architect Michael Reynolds (known for his Earthship house designs) developed a 4th-generation vertical axis wind turbine named "Dynasphere". It has two 1.5 KW generators and can produce electricity at very low speeds.[26]

## References

1. ^ Jha, A.R. (2010). Wind turbine technology. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.[page needed]
2. ^ Raciti Castelli, Marco; Englaro, Alessandro; Benini, Ernesto (2011). "The Darrieus wind turbine: Proposal for a new performance prediction model based on CFD". Energy. 36 (8): 4919–34. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2011.05.036.
3. ^ Battisti, L.; Brighenti, A.; Benini, E.; Castelli, M. Raciti (September 2016). "Analysis of Different Blade Architectures on small VAWT Performance". Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 753: 062009. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/753/6/062009. hdl:11572/152690.
4. ^ Longo, Riccardo; Nicastro, Patricia; Natalini, Matteo; Schito, Paolo; Mereu, Riccardo; Parente, Alessandro (August 2020). "Impact of urban environment on Savonius wind turbine performance: A numerical perspective" (PDF). Renewable Energy. 156: 407–422. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2020.03.101.
5. ^ "Vertical turbines could be the future for wind farms". EurekAlert!.
6. ^ Hansen, Joachim Toftegaard; Mahak, Mahak; Tzanakis, Iakovos (June 2021). "Numerical modelling and optimization of vertical axis wind turbine pairs: A scale up approach". Renewable Energy. 171: 1371–1381. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2021.03.001.
7. ^ Islam, M; Ting, D; Fartaj, A (2008). "Aerodynamic models for Darrieus-type straight-bladed vertical axis wind turbines". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 12 (4): 1087–109. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2006.10.023.
8. ^
9. ^ El Kasmi, Amina; Masson, Christian (2008). "An extended k–ε model for turbulent flow through horizontal-axis wind turbines". Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics. 96: 103–22. doi:10.1016/j.jweia.2007.03.007.
10. ^ Eriksson, S; Bernhoff, H; Leijon, M (2008). "Evaluation of different turbine concepts for wind power". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 12 (5): 1419–34. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2006.05.017.
11. ^ Wicaksono, Yoga Arob; Tjahjana, Dominicus Danardono Dwi Prija; Hadi, Syamsul (2018). "Influence of omni-directional guide vane on the performance of cross-flow rotor for urban wind energy". AIP Conference Proceedings. 1927 (1): 030040. doi:10.1063/1.5024099. ISSN 0094-243X. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
12. ^ Peace, Steven (June 1, 2004). "Another Approach to Wind". Mechanical Engineering. 126 (6): 28–31. doi:10.1115/1.2004-JUN-2.
13. ^ Buchner, A-J.; Soria, J.; Honnery, D.; Smits, A.J. (2018). "Dynamic stall in vertical axis wind turbines: Scaling and topological considerations". Journal of Fluid Mechanics. 841: 746–66. Bibcode:2018JFM...841..746B. doi:10.1017/jfm.2018.112. S2CID 126033643.
14. ^ Buchner, A-J.; Lohry, M.W.; Martinelli, L.; Soria, J.; Smits, A.J. (2015). "Dynamic stall in vertical axis wind turbines: Comparing experiments and computations". Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics. 146: 163–71. doi:10.1016/j.jweia.2015.09.001.
15. ^ Simão Ferreira, Carlos; Van Kuik, Gijs; Van Bussel, Gerard; Scarano, Fulvio (2008). "Visualization by PIV of dynamic stall on a vertical axis wind turbine". Experiments in Fluids. 46: 97–108. Bibcode:2009ExFl...46...97S. doi:10.1007/s00348-008-0543-z.
16. ^ Chiras, Dan (2010). Wind Power Basics: A Green Energy Guide. New Society. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-86571-617-9.[page needed]
17. ^ Ashwill, Thomas D.; Sutherland, Herbert J.; Berg, Dale E. (2012). "A retrospective of VAWT technology". doi:10.2172/1035336. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
18. ^ Kear, Matt; Evans, Ben; Ellis, Rob; Rolland, Sam (January 2016). "Computational aerodynamic optimisation of vertical axis wind turbine blades". Applied Mathematical Modelling. 40 (2): 1038–1051. doi:10.1016/j.apm.2015.07.001. ISSN 0307-904X.
19. ^ Koop, Fermin (2021-04-27). "The future of wind farms is vertical, striking new study claims". ZME Science. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
20. ^ LaMonica, Martin (2 June 2008). "Vertical-axis wind turbine spins into business". CNET. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
21. ^ "History". Arbor Wind. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
22. ^ Holinka, Stephanie (8 August 2012). "Offshore Use of Vertical-axis Wind Turbines Gets Closer Look". Renewable Energy World. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
23. ^ Bullis, Kevin (8 April 2013). "Will Vertical Turbines Make More of the Wind?". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
24. ^ a b "C-Fec turbine". C-Fec. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
25. ^ "Dulas secures consent for prototype 'vertical axis' wind turbine". Renewable Energy Focus. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
26. ^ "Vertical Axis Wind Power Generation Prototype". Earthship Biotecture. Retrieved 18 September 2015.