Learn How to Build Wind Turbines (here)
Read on to know more about the advantages and disadvantages of a vertical axis wind turbine...
Wind turbines are machines that convert the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy. When the mechanical energy is converted to electricity, then the machine is referred to as a wind turbine, or a wind energy converter.
When such mechanical energy is used directly by machines such as pumps, then the machine is referred to as a 'windmill'.
History of Wind Turbines
Wind Machines have been used since 200 BC in Persia for grinding grain. It was introduced in 250 BC in the Roman Empire.
Windmills were used in the 14th Century in Holland to drain the areas of the Rhine River Delta.
In the 1900s, Windmills were used in Denmark for pumps and mills. Windmills were also used in USA and USSR to produce electricity on farms.
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
Wind turbines are of two types: Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines and Vertical Axis Wind Turbines. In a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine, the main rotor shaft and electrical generator is placed at the top of the tower and it must be pointed into the direction of the wind. In a vertical wind turbine, the rotor shaft runs vertically.
The advantages of a Vertical Wind Turbine are that the rotor shaft is placed vertically and can be located near the ground. The generator and the gearbox are placed near the ground. Thus the tower need not support it. Also the turbine need not be pointed into the wind. This makes maintenance of the wind turbine quite easy. Also the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine is quite cost effective. These can be placed on hilltops, on ridgelines and atop mesas and any areas where the force of the wind is more near the ground. Since they are placed lower, they can be used where tall devices are not allowed by the law. The main advantage of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine, however, is that it turns in any direction with the wind.
The disadvantages of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine are that they cannot cover a large area of wind. They need to be installed on a relatively flat area of land as that is the only way they can cover larger areas of wind sweep. They are not very efficient with regards to extraction of energy because they operate near the ground where the air flow is turbulent.
Good examples of the types of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines are the Darrieus Wind Turbine, the Giromill, the Savonius Wind Turbine, and the Windmill with Rotational Sails.
By Madhavi Ghare Published: 10/25/2007
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