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.
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 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.
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. . .
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.”
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 …
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. . .
