New Vertical Axis Windmill

Privately held Tera Moya Aqua unveiled there new vertical windmill which it says is more efficient than traditional propeller designs.  They claim their windmill creates up to 80% more power from the same wind as conventional wind turbines. They claim several advantages for their design including:

• Less dangerous to birds
• Very quiet operation
• Lower maintenance costs because their critical equipment is more accessible
• Lower capital costs due to simpler design
• More acceptable because of lower profile - less visual pollution
• Superior handling of high gusts of winds

The turbine assembly consists of two primary components, the rotor and a set of air foils/stators. The gearbox, generator and controls for the unit are housed in the building at the base of the unit.The company plans to sell turbines generating from 500 watts to 1 megawatt. The smaller ones are portable and can be used by farmers, the military and remote cabin owners.

Terra Moya Aqua, Inc.  Cheyenne, WY
Cheyenne firm's wind turbine get makeover, Jackson Hole Star Tribune, November 5, 2005
New Wind Turbine May Boost Wind Power, Wired News, Nov 5, 2005

More blogs about wind, wind power, alternative energy, renewable, renewable energy, energy

Comments

[Jerry]

There was a really interesting vertical wind gen design in the news a few years ago. Out of Germany or Benelux maybe? The fellow used a computer simulator to optimize the design such that it could start and produce power at low wind speeds and didn't have any problems with high winds. The kind of thing I'd love to try once it became commercially available but now I can't recall who it was.

[JesseJenkins]

Barco WM, a Spanish R&D group has been developing a similar vertical axis wind turbine design. Their design features four flat arms rotating around a central vertical axis. Each arm is made up of a number of panels which lie perpendicular to the wind to offer the greatest resistance to the wind when they are located in the front rotation area and then turn parrallel to the wind to offer practically no resistance when they are in the generator’s return area. (Check out the site for pictures and animations, it will make more sense then).

Like this design, they claim lower cut-in speeds and significantly higher max wind speeds with a greater efficiency than normal horizontal axis turbines (~40%). The higher max speeds are important for high wind areas as the power curve of turbines typically rises exponentially with wind speed until it reaches a cut off (max) speed at which the blades are rotated parallel to the wind and locked to prevent damage. Barco's design can run in very high winds (they even claim hurricane-force winds) and will continue to generate electricity. The combination of higher efficiency, lower cut-in speed and much higher max speed means these turbines should be able to generate significantly more megawatt-hours annually than horizontal axis designs.

Also, like the above design, they do not need to rotate to track the wind like horizontal turbines as any wind direction works the same.

The final advantage of vertical axis designs (which is a big one) is that the generator for these turbines can be installed at the ground rather than up in the nacelle on top of a tower like horizontal designs. There is simply little one can do to miniaturize or make lighter the dense coil of wires and large magnets that the generators consist of. Having to suspend all this weight in the air atop a tower is a significant engineering issue, necessitates large, expensive and very strong towers and puts a limit to the maximum size horizontal axis turbines can grow to. Vertical axis turbines avoid this issue as they can place the generator on the ground.

[Phil Epp]

Please take a look at www.artistsagainstwindfarms.com

[Jim from The Energy Blog]

I took a look at the above website and am afraid I do not have much sympathy for this type of movement. While there are a very few sites worth preserving, there is too much NIMBYism in this world and it is not possible too agree to all special interest groups wishes. Our need for new energy sources, especially renewable energy is too great.

[JesseJenkins]

Agreed, Jim. Well said.

[Sandra Macapagal]

Hi. I am a student. Our group will be having an Investigatory project regarding vertical axis windmills. i was just wondering if you can send me some data about it. We will really appreciate any reply from you. thanks!

[Prof.M.Ravindran]

I am looking for a reliable generator to be used with such vertical axis wind mills ,but for very small ratings around 200 W.This is to be used along with PV systems for waterpumping in a remote tribal village. I am convinced vertical axis windmills are easy to erect and maintain in remote ares. I will appreciate more info on mini wind mills of vertical axis.

[stephen perrone md]

I would like to power my summer home with a vertical axis windmill but do not know where to purchase them. What power output/size would be necessry? I live on the eastern end of Long Island which is bounded on each side by a bay. I think this is an ideal location for a wind generator since the breeze/wind blows all day from one direction or the other. Can you suggest who or where these devices can be purchased. I recently saw a piece on television about a vertical windmill that had an array of blades organized like a cylinder around the shaft but cannot identify where it is from. Are you aware of this type of unit since it seems so compact and unobtusive.

[Tom]

One very very major advantage to a VAWT (vertical axis wind turbine) is that most of them are omni-directional, they can start spinning with a wind from any direction. This is very exciting because the HAWTs (can you figure it out!) take atleast 15 minutes to turn into the wind and then 20 to get going, all the while the VAWT is going at full speed. It's a quicker design, it needs work on being more efficient though, but it can be done electrically, as seen above. email me if you want more information about VAWTs.
P.S they are definatly not a bulky as the HAWTs too, when the wind gusts, so do they.

HAWT- Horizontal axis wind turbine

[amazingdrx]

Vertical axis machines can be practical in much lower average wind speed areas and where height restrictions on towers and NIMBY zoning problems exist.

By covering many times the wind area with a lower height many different problems with small scale wind can be solved simultaneously.

So far no simple, low cost, efficient designs are on the market that I know of. This is an area crying out for inovation and investment. It could power over half the homes and vehicles in the US with home installations.

[Brian Gulland]

Hallo guys and gals,a terrifically important job you are doing,wonderful site.I stumbled on you whilst researching vertical axis wind turbines.We live in North Wales in the UK halfway up a mountain at 984 feet and its virtually never free from wind.Strikes me we could be generating for us and others pretty much the whole time.Why is this system not widely available for one and all to buy and use ?

[amazingdrx]

I think Brian that lack of investment capital and resulting mass production cost reduction is mainly to blame.

Look how these Colorado mountain people solved that problem, they do-it-themselves with almost no capital. Good old frontier cooperation, it might work where you live too?

http://www.otherpower.com/17page1.html

[Ron Patenaude]

Has anyone heard about the new Frank Tarar Verticle Axis Windmill? Designed by a 88 year old inventor. It uses electro magnets to keep there from being any friction while turning. (Same concept for Bullet Train in Japan). I wish to find out more about it but I don't think he is on the web all and his ideas appear revoluntary (in concept). He is doing work in Blasdell NY and has already invested 1.2 million in his concept.

[rocaluma]

Just to point out a couple of advantages to vertical axis windmills: 1) No need to rotate to face and catch the wind 2) safer for birds as the surface area is not in their natural flight path.
The main disadvantage is obviously the aerodynamic inefficiency inherent in the design.
Once more work is done in this area, it should be the better option.

[Ababu Taye]

I am not sure about your statement "The main disadvantage is obviously the aerodynamic inefficiency inherent in the design."

It would seem that a vertical system would be more efficient, because it would catch the entire force of the wind that is being applied to the perpendicular shaft.

[Pragnesh mulani]

hi in our company we are thinking about installing a wind mill for lighting purpose. the capacity we required at present i can't know but plz tell me cost of each capacity m/c. as soon as i will get capacity required i will mail you.but at present plz send me cost.thankyou

[manju]

hi i am electronics engineering student and i am interested in doing a project on generation of power from vertical windmill.will u please send some details about this project

[Michael Bain]

lookig for more info and venders who sell vertical wind mills?

[Angel Figueroa]

Looking for the Vertical windmill for using on the roof of a building. Can you send me information about you product?

[S. Wood]

I saw a vertical style windmill featured on a TV program about 1 year ago. I believe it was made in Denmark and was used for alternate electrical energy. It was suitable for apartments as well a single dwellings.I don't remember the name of the program but it features cutting edge inventions and new consepts. Can anyone help with any info. TIA

[Micahel Bain]

I would like information on a vertical axis wind turbine for a seasonal/retirement home.

[muthubalamurugan]

sir,
iam studying in mechanical engineering.
this year i am going to do a project on vertical wind turbine(model).please give some idea and your intention

thanking you

[Nathan]

Dear Sir,

I have heard many things about new technologies in wind turbines and this vertical wind turbine is very interesting.

But, we at Neo Energy Corporation, have invented the world’s first generator, which is run by bullocks and produces energy to power small villages and communities at very negligible cost, when compared to our conventional ways. This is a novel concept of converting animal power to electricity generated from locally available materials. And this energy is clean and green with no carbon emission.

All you need is a small bullock cart, Steel Rotor, variable gear box, Fly wheel Dynamo – able to produce up to 400Watts. This power is sustainable, as the Bullocks are of local breed and can consume fodders, which are available locally. The unit can be housed in a shed with concrete floorings.

We wish to commercialise this product for the welfare of millions of people in Asia and Africa. And we look forward to technocrats and private equity firms to participate in this revolution to make this project a very successful one.

Thanks for providing this platform.

Nathan

[Jerry Fenning]

Is there a vertical axis windmill on the market for privat homes that isn't more than 5 feet tall with a ground generator? I live in So. Calif. near Cajon Pass that generates wind. Just trying to be cost efficient, energy conscous and protect our environment. thanks

[MICHAEL D SATTERWHITE]

IM BUILDING A VERTICAL WING GENERATOR USING A TRAILER AXLE AND A HUB.IV WELDED A 2 IN PICE OF GALVANIVED PIPE FIVE FEET LONG TO THE HUB. I MOUNTED 5 VEINS ON FIBERGLASS PLATES BOLTED TO THE HUB AT THE BOTTOM AND BOLTED TO A GALVANIZED SCREW ON PLATE .AT THE TOP. EACH VEIN IS CROSS BRACED WITH GUY WIRES ITS ABOUT 8 FT AROUND IM THINKING ABOUT USING CLOTH SAILS AND BUNGEE CORDS TO CONTROL RPM. IM JUST LOOKING FOR SOME COMENTS ON MY IDEA AND WHAT YOU THINK .IM TRYING FOR SOMETHING REAL SIMPLE AND CHEAP TO MAKESOMETHING ANY ONE CAN BUILD PLV CONTACT ME AT [email protected]

[XR]

I like the idea. Any graphic aids you could get? Where I live, we are working on a new vertical axis that seems like it relates to yours. Keep it up!

--XR--

[soukou hodonou achille]

I hope that i WILL RECEICE MQRE DOCUMENTS ABOUT THAT NEW ENERCY.

[Building Turbines]

We are building a horizontal axis wind turbine for building rooftops. The turbines harness the buildings updraft wind behind the parapet wall. The parapet wall is used to shade the bottom blades from the turbulent vortex winds. After building four successfull prototypes we are now on our first production turbine. We need help with the alternator and gearbox. We are also seeking funding to get into production asap. Please see our website and advise. http://buildingturbines.com
Thanks!

[Subin Geo Mathews]

hello,
I am a mechanical engineering student.We are making a model of the vertical windmill.We would like to have your advice on this matter.
Thanks

[faraz]

I am a student doing a project on windmills.
Can u please give me the designing part of the vertical axis windmill. I would be really thankful to you.

[rohan]

hello,
I am a mechanical engineering student.We are making a model of the vertical windmill.
We're a bit confused about the designing part.
Would to help us with the design???
Thanks

[mathw antony]

the thing sonds more anantageous than the trditional designs.we wish to do this as our project

[wind turbine]

A solar system is ideal for urban areas where building codes prevent a wind turbine. Solar systems work when sunlight strikes a solar photovoltaic module.

[steven]

is any is still interesting in these windmill system, we have starting working on a new design, and maybe we might be able to help each other.

[Vertical wind turbine]

Horizontal wind turbine are larger and hence, more useful in rural areas with open spaces. If you are living in an urban or suburban area, you will want to opt for the vertical wind turbine. In fact, vertical wind turbines were specifically designed to address the unique issues associated with electricity production in urban or suburban settings where horizontal winds become vertical when encountering the face of a building. The helical shaped blades of the vertical wind turbine can make use of horizontal or vertical wind bursts blowing in from any direction.

[Vertical wind turbine]

Horizontal wind turbines are larger and hence, more useful in rural areas with open spaces. If you are living in an urban or suburban area, you will want to opt for the vertical wind turbine. In fact, vertical wind turbines were specifically designed to address the unique issues associated with electricity production in urban or suburban settings where horizontal winds become vertical when encountering the face of a building. The helical shaped blades of the vertical wind turbine can make use of horizontal or vertical wind bursts blowing in from any direction.

[nisse]

Vertical wind mills have a very low efficiency. There is no such thing as a new vertical wind mill. They all look like old models that were rejected because of low efficiency, unreliability,high cost, non-selfstarting, turbulence problems, mechanical complexity....

A large amount of the vertical wind mills you find on the internet are part of the very popular energy investment fraud business.

[Vertical Wind Turbine]

A great post. I am loving that there are more and more new designs entering the market for wind turbines lately. This is definately a growing area in renewable energy.

[eric smolt]

I am seeking to purchase verticle windmill(s) I'm looking for a specific mill that I saw a picture of, but now cannot find. the blades are about 20 ft long. please send pics to [email protected]

[Nileshkumar Sapara]

It is very much important that research on both solar as well as wind sources on one instrument.

[husky air compressor]

I'm working on a green house project. I'm really interested by this Vertical Axis Windmill and I really would like to know if it's reliable for single housing application.
thanks a lot!
Husky air compressor
Husky air compressor parts

[husky air compressor parts]

Is this Vertical Axis Windmill good for a retirement home? or not?

[Allen Readinger]

I have a challenge for the engineers. Adopt a continuously variable transmission into the Vertical Axis Windmill to change the ratio and increase resistance with higher wind speed instead of using brakes and creating heat. It reminds me of changing gears on my mountainbike.