Small Wind Turbines (Vertical Axis)
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Description | VAWTs have the main rotor shaft arranged vertically. One advantage of this arrangement is that the turbine does not need to be pointed into the wind to be effective, which is an advantage on a site where the wind direction is highly variable. It is also an advantage when the turbine is integrated into a building because it is inherently less steerable. Also, the generator and gearbox can be placed near the ground, using a direct drive from the rotor assembly to the ground-based gearbox, improving accessibility for maintenance. A vertical axis wind turbine can be designed as one of the following subtypes;
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Advantages |
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Disadvantages |
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Characteristic features |
Conversion of kinetic energy from the wind into electrical power |
Application barriers |
High initial investment cost |
Information sources | http://www.oelmuehle-moeriken.ch/ http://www.windturbinestar.com/vertical-wind.html http://www.quietrevolution.com http://www.sawt.com.cn/ |
Image | |
Trade: | Building services |
Parameter | Minimal Value | Maximal Value | Unit |
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Nominal Power |
kW | ||
Nominal Wind Speed |
m/s | ||
Start Wind Speed |
m/s | ||
Stop Wind Speed |
m/s | ||
Maximum Wind Speed Allowed |
km/h | ||
Rotor Weight |
kg | ||
Rotor Diameter |
m | ||
Rotor Surface |
m2 | ||
Mast Height |
m | ||
Maximum Rotation Speed |
rpm | ||
Transmission | |||
Safety | |||
Number of Blades | |||
Material Blades | |||
Voltage (AC) |
V | ||
Minimum Operating Temperature |
°C | ||
Maximum Operating Temperature |
°C | ||
Noise at 20 m Distance with 5 m/s |
DB | ||
Positioning | |||
Operating Efficiency |
% | ||
Annual Degradation Rate in Efficiency |
% | ||
Annual Produced Energy |
kWh | ||
Investment Cost |
€/kW | ||
Operational Cost |
€/year | ||
Maintenance Cost |
% of the turbine cost | ||
Life Expectancy |
years |