Vertical Wind Turbines

Wind energy is the process by which electricity or mechanical power is generated using wind power. Turbines convert kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical power that has many uses like grinding grain or pumping water. Wind turbines generate electricity using wind to turn blades that spin a shaft that is connected to a generator and makes electricity.

Wind turbines are mainly of two types, i.e. horizontal or vertical. In vertical wind turbines the main shaft is set in a vertical position. Vertical wind turbines can be easily installed and maintained. The turbine is able to use wind blowing in any direction and the operation is virtually noise and vibration free. Wind turbines can be connected to the electricity grid using a grid-tie inverter or off-grid inverter. Installing a wind turbine can cost $3,000 to $5,000 but this investment will be a huge saving in the long run as you save on lower energy bills.

Among the advantages of vertical wind turbines are that the vertically placed shaft can be located near the ground as are the generator and the gearbox. The turbine does not need a tower to support it and need not point toward the wind direction, but can turn in any direction with the wind. They are cost effective and can be placed on higher elevations like hilltops, etc. where the wind force is much higher than at the ground level.

The vertical wind turbines cannot be used to cover a large area of wind. Because they operate near the ground where air flow is often turbulent, they can be inefficient also because wind speeds are lower at the ground level resulting in lesser wind energy for a turbine. The shaft experiences higher loads because wind shear is always more sever close to the ground. If a turbine is mounted on the rooftop wind is redirected over the roof and can double the wind speed. Three common vertical wind turbines are Darrieus wind turbine, Giromill wind turbine, and Savonius wind turbine.