FloWind: The World’s Most Successful VAWT

Though no longer extant, FloWind at one time was the world’s most successful manufacturer and developer of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines. FloWind manufactured two models of Darrieus wind turbines during the early 1980s and developed two prototype turbines during the mid to late 1980s. FloWind’s Darrieus turbines generated nearly 1 TWh (972 million kWh) during nearly two decades of operation. No VAWT has ever come close to that performance since and it’s unlikely that any ever will.

Rtemagicc Aepvestasv82 80 Jpg Jpg

Low Wind Speed and Medium Wind Speed Turbines or New Large Diameter Turbines with Low Generator Ratings

By

Paul Gipe

Long awaited, low specific capacity-high specific area turbines are the kind of technology needed to make wind energy an essential low-cost component of moving society toward 100% renewable energy.

Flowind's Ehd Three Bladed Turbine Contrasted To Its 19 Meter, Two Bladed Commercial Model.

FloWind’s Extended Height to Diameter VAWT

By

Paul Gipe

FloWind’s development of the Extended Height-to-Diameter (EHD) Vertical Axis Wind Turbine was the last gasp of Darrieus wind turbine development in the US.

Flowind 25m Tehachapi 1985 334 1200x800

Photos of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

By

Paul Gipe

I’ve added photos of historical interest to my web pages on Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) and Darrieus turbines of various designs. . .

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Market, cost, and technical analysis of vertical and horizontal axis wind turbines—A review

By

Paul Gipe

“For all wind turbines, other than those used for more decorative purposes, the cost of energy is important.”

Flowind 25m Tehachapi 1985 325 1200x800

Sandia’s Retrospective of VAWT Technology—A Review

By

Paul Gipe

This review was a case of cleaning my desktop and before electronically filing away Sandia’s year-old report on its work …

Cleanfield Turbine Near Hamilton, Ontario. Photo By Martin Ince, Www.mkince.ca.

Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Revival?

By

Paul Gipe

Since Wind Energy Basics was first published in 1999, there has been an explosion of interest in new vertical-axis wind turbines. In that edition, the conclusion illustrating one photograph was stark–“Practically no one is working with vertical axis wind turbines today.” The text went even further when describing the difficulties that “new” or “novel” designs face. . .

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