Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Design Debuts

A vast new vertical axis wind turbine design with the potential to make a massive impact on the wind power industry was unveiled at the end of July 2010.

The Aerogenerator X would be capable of producing as much as 10MW of wind power and its innovative design would allow it to rotate around its own axis, replicating the natural spinning motion of a sycamore seed in the breeze.

According to its developers, the basic V-shaped design – potentially capable of carrying out one complete revolution approximately every 20 seconds - could be enhanced to produce even larger versions with a 20MW output.

Aerogenerator X: Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

The Aerogenerator X Vertical Axis Wind Turbine is the result of a year-and-a-half’s worth of offshore wind turbine research.

Compared to conventional/comparable 10MW wind turbine designs, it would be around 50 per cent of the height and offer weight advantages, too. With an overall width of 270 metres, the Aerogenerator X would be over three times wider than the Airbus A380 airliner – the largest design in commercial service at present.

The project represents a collaboration between Wind Power Ltd and several other firms including architectural organisation Grimshaw, Rolls-Royce and Shell.

10MW Aerogenerator X © Wind Power Limited & Grimshaw from Wind Power Limited on Vimeo.

Aerogenerator Offshore Wind Turbine

Following the release of concept images, Wind Power Ltd next intends to construct and trial a scaled-down Aerogenerator offshore wind turbine unit.

‘Offshore is the ideal place for wind power but is also an extremely tough environment’, Wind Power Limited’s Theo Bird stated in a recent online press release. ‘The US wind researchers who worked on vertical axis projects have always regarded the technology as great to work with at sea because it can be big, tough and easily managed.

‘By facilitating projects like ours they continue the heritage of great engineering in Britain.’

 ‘The Aerogenerator X embodies the best in innovative engineering in Britain, and continues an illustrious tradition’, Grimshaw Partner Neven Sidor added. ‘Grimshaw has great regard for this engineering tradition, and is delighted to help in its realisation.’

Aerogenerator X Image copyright of Grimshaw/Wind Power Ltd and reproduced with grateful thanks

See also -

News:

Funding for New Wind Turbine Design

Products and Services:

Companies Supplying Wind Turbines