Wind TechnologyHistorical

Drive TrainsConversion Devices

Configurations (HAWT, VAWT)Rotor Design

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Smith-Putnam 1.25 MW

Paul Gipe & Assoc.

Smith-Putnam 1.25 MW, 1941~700 hrs

Gedser24 m, 250 kW1957-1967

© Risø National Laboratory

Tvind54 m, 2 MW1978-Present

Paul Gipe & Assoc.

Growian100 m, 3 MW,

1981~400 hrs

Paul Gipe & Assoc.

Large Turbine Manufacturers• Vestas (DK)• Bonus-Siemans• NEG-Micon (DK)• Enercon (D)• GE Wind (D-US)• Gamesa (ES)• Mitsubishi (JP)

• Nordex (DK)• Ecotecnia (ES)• DeWind (D)• Suzlon (India)• Lagerwey (NL)• RePower (D)• Fuhrländer (D)

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Bonus 63 m, 1.3 MW

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

© Bonus

Ecotecnia 1.6 MW

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org © Ecotecnia

Direct-Drive Wind Turbines• Enercon (D)• Lagerwey (NL)• Jeumont-Industrie (F)

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org© Enercon

Lagerwey Direct-Drive

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

© Lagerwey

Jeumont-IndustrieDirect Drive• Discoid

French Nuclear Submarines

• 50 Units Built

J48 © Jeumont-Industrie

Configuration: Axis of Rotation

Paul Gipe & Assoc.

HAWT VAWT

Wind Energy Conversion Devices

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

• Drag DevicesHAWT (Seldom)VAWT (Often)

First Choice of “Inventors”

• Lift DevicesHAWT (Dominant)VAWT (Rare)

VAWT Configurations

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Persian Panemone

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Savonius or “S” Rotors

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

VAWTs Darrieus4 Blades

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

VAWTs Darrieus3 Blades

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

VAWTs Darrieus2 Blades

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

DAF-IndalAtlantic Wind Test Site, PEI

VAWTs Darrieus2 Blades

DAF-Indal, Kortright Cente, Ontario

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

VAWTs DarrieusBi-Blade

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

GiromillArticulating Straight Blade VAWT

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Giromill (McDonnell Aircraft)

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Giromill (McDonnell Aircraft)

• High Hype• Complex• Costly• DOE

Boondoggle

Variable Geometry VAWT (Musgrove)

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org © PI Specialists

We Know What Works . . .and What Doesn’t

Eole, Cap Chat

© Vortec

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

HAWT Configurations

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Blade Number

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

• 1 Blade• 2 Blades• 3 Blades• Multiblade

Farm Windmill

• No BladesNo, Really

One-Blade Turbines

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

• Lightweight• Only One Blade• Small Gearbox• High RPM• Noisy• Complex Rotor• Odd

Two Blades

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

• Lighter than Three• Static Balance• Dynamic Imbalance in Yaw• Teetering Hub• Pitch-Coupled Teetering• Higher RPM than Three• Noisier than Three• Visual Imbalance

Two-Blade Turbines

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Two-Blade Turbines

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Two Blade Turbines

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Two-Blade Turbines

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Three Blades

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

• Dynamic Balance in Yaw

• Complicates Erection• Visually Balanced• Lower RPM• Bigger Gearbox• Can Use Simple Hub

Wood Blades

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Composite Wood Blades

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Metal Blades

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

• Aluminum• Steel

Blade Shape

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

• Taper• Twist• Glauert Formula

Shark Fin Shape

Blade Taper

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Blade Color

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

• White• Gray• Black

Ducted Turbines

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

© Vortec

Coning-Positive

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Coning-Negative

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

© Nordex

RePower, Husum, Germany

OrientationVAWTS Omnidirectional

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Orientation of HAWTSTracks

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

OrientationFan Tails

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

OrientationYaw Motors

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

© DeWind

OrientationPassive Yaw-Tail Vanes

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

OrientationPassive Yaw-Tail Vanes

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

OrientationPassive-Downwind

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

No Aerodynamic Rotor Controls• Mechanical Brakes

Tacke• Flutter

SWP Air• Electro-Dynamic

SWP SkystreamPaul Gipe, wind-works.org

Overspeed ControlsFurling-Vertical

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Rotor ControlsFurling-Horizontal

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Rotor ControlsAir Brakes

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

OverspeedControls

Variable Pitch

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

• Pitch-to-Feather

Tip Brakes (Plates)

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Overspeed ControlsPitching Blade Tips

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Overspeed ControlsSpoilers

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Airfoils

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

• Single Surface• Constant Planform• Tip Shape• Tip Speed Ratio• Stall Control

Single Surface

Airfoils

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

AirfoilsConstant Planform

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

Airfoils

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org

© Vestas

AirfoilsBlade Tips

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org