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Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: Current Technologies and Future Trends
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Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: Current Technologies and Future Trends

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A3: Wind, Wave and Tidal Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 4779

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Yutaka Hara

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Engineering, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori 680-8552, Japan
Interests: vertical-axis wind turbines; horizontal-axis wind turbines; cost reduction of wind turbines; aerodynamics; computational fluid dynamics; blade element momentum theory; over-speed control of wind turbines; wind turbine wake; closely spaced arrangements of VAWT; interaction between wind turbines; phase synchronization; aeroelastic analysis; fatigue analysis; wind power; fluid mechanics; renewable energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Yoshifumi Jodai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology (KOSEN), Kagawa College, 355 Chokushi, Takamatsu 761-8058, Japan
Interests: energy saving; educational technology; fluid mechanics; turbulence; wind tunnel experiment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Wind power has now become a major power source. The majority of it is produced via the large horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT), the size of which continues to increase. However, the difficulty of increasing its size has become apparent, and reducing the impact on the environment has also become an issue. In order to achieve carbon neutrality, it is necessary to pursue every possibility, and there are great expectations for the widespread use of vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) and the resolution of these problems. Wind farms using small, low-cost VAWTs is considered to be one such promising technique. However, there is still a lack of research and technological development for VAWTs, which generate more complex flow fields around them and larger load fluctuations than HAWTs do. Increasing the size of VAWTs is also a major target of the wind power field.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to collate original papers and review papers on various topics related to vertical-axis wind turbines, and to investigate new possibilities of vertical-axis wind turbines.

Prof. Dr. Yutaka Hara
Prof. Dr. Yoshifumi Jodai
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT)
  • aerodynamics related to VAWT
  • computational fluid dynamics of VAWT
  • blade element momentum theory of VAWT
  • reduction in costs of VAWT
  • control of VAWT
  • wake analysis of VAWT
  • wind farm of VAWT
  • closely spaced arrangements of VAWTs
  • interaction between VAWTs

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 16240 KiB  
Article
Development of a Numerical Characterization Method for a Ducted Savonius Turbine with Power Augmenters
by Sebastian Brusca, Filippo Cucinotta, Antonio Galvagno, Felice Sfravara and Massimiliano Chillemi
Energies 2025, 18(5), 1142; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18051142 - 26 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 535
Abstract
Savonius turbines are widely used in energy recovery applications, including urban-integrated wind energy systems and Oscillating Water Column (OWC) setups for wave energy conversion. This study explores the use of a ducted Savonius turbine. Experimental tests were conducted on a scaled turbine to [...] Read more.
Savonius turbines are widely used in energy recovery applications, including urban-integrated wind energy systems and Oscillating Water Column (OWC) setups for wave energy conversion. This study explores the use of a ducted Savonius turbine. Experimental tests were conducted on a scaled turbine to evaluate its performance. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFDs) model, incorporating Sliding Mesh and Dynamic Fluid Body Interaction (DFBI) techniques, was developed to replicate the experimental conditions. The accuracy of the model was confirmed through validation against experimental data. In total, four conditions were studied: one without a Power Augmenter, one with the Bell-Metha Power Augmenter, and two custom ones obtained by increasing the slope at the end of the Power Augmenters. To facilitate rapid turbine characterization, a fast computational method was developed, allowing the derivation of characteristic curves using only three CFD simulations per configuration. The reliability of this approach was assessed by comparing predictions with experimental results. Developing such a model is crucial, as it enables seamless integration with Reduced-Order Models (ROMs), significantly improving efficiency in evaluating multiple operating points. Compared to traditional experimental testing, this approach provides a faster and more efficient way to obtain performance insights, paving the way for enhanced turbine optimization and real-world deployment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: Current Technologies and Future Trends)
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11 pages, 5956 KiB  
Article
A Study on Wind Collection Effect of Vertical Axis Windmills
by Tadashi Hosoe and Kazuto Yukita
Energies 2024, 17(23), 6088; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17236088 - 3 Dec 2024
Viewed by 760
Abstract
In recent years, global warming caused by greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide has become a concern. This has resulted in increased focus on environmentally friendly power systems. Consequently, renewable energy power generation methods, such as wind and solar power generation, have attracted [...] Read more.
In recent years, global warming caused by greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide has become a concern. This has resulted in increased focus on environmentally friendly power systems. Consequently, renewable energy power generation methods, such as wind and solar power generation, have attracted attention. Wind power generation is expected to significantly increase in the future. However, in many inland areas in Japan, the average wind speed remains 6 m/s or less. In this study, we proposed the introduction of winglets and wind collectors (used in aircraft wings) into straight-wing vertical-axis wind turbines to improve their power generation efficiency. Field tests were conducted to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method. Using winglets and wind collectors, the wind turbine rotation speed was increased at low wind speeds, which facilitated the generation of power. Moreover, it was confirmed that a wind turbine equipped with the proposed winglets and wind collectors could capture wind without its dispersal as it passed through the turbine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: Current Technologies and Future Trends)
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21 pages, 11857 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study for Understanding the Characteristics of a Floating Axis Wind Turbine under Wind and Wave Conditions
by Hidetaka Senga, Keitaro Kunishi, Gaku Fujita, Tomotake Imaoka, Hiroyuki Ohira and Hiromichi Akimoto
Energies 2024, 17(13), 3285; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17133285 - 4 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1200
Abstract
Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are suitable for Japan’s coastal waters. As one of the unique concepts of FOWTs, the floating axis wind turbine (FAWT) is a type of vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) that actively uses the features of VAWTs to specialize [...] Read more.
Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are suitable for Japan’s coastal waters. As one of the unique concepts of FOWTs, the floating axis wind turbine (FAWT) is a type of vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) that actively uses the features of VAWTs to specialize in an area of the floating type. In this study, FAWT behaviors under wind and wave conditions were experimentally investigated in a water tank to understand its dynamic characteristics. The experimental results reveal that although the floater of the FAWT is relatively small compared to its rotor size, its heave response is comparable to those of the other FOWTs using different floaters. Moreover, the FAWT shows a high stability under rated operation and during sudden changes in the wind. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: Current Technologies and Future Trends)
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33 pages, 15478 KiB  
Article
Use of Dampers to Improve the Overspeed Control System with Movable Arms for Butterfly Wind Turbines
by Yutaka Hara, Hiroyuki Higami, Hiromitsu Ishikawa, Takeshi Ono, Shigenori Saito, Kenichiro Ichinari and Katsushi Yamamoto
Energies 2024, 17(11), 2727; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17112727 - 3 Jun 2024
Viewed by 920
Abstract
To reduce the cost of small wind turbines, a prototype of a butterfly wind turbine (6.92 m in diameter), a small vertical-axis type, was developed with many parts made of extruded aluminum suitable for mass production. An overspeed control system with movable arms [...] Read more.
To reduce the cost of small wind turbines, a prototype of a butterfly wind turbine (6.92 m in diameter), a small vertical-axis type, was developed with many parts made of extruded aluminum suitable for mass production. An overspeed control system with movable arms that operated using centrifugal and aerodynamic forces was installed for further cost reduction. Introducing this mechanism eliminates the need for large active brakes and expands the operating wind speed range of the wind turbine. However, although the mechanism involving the use of only bearings is simple, the violent movement of the movable arms can be a challenge. To address this in the present study, dampers were introduced on the movable arm rotation axes to improve the movement of the movable arms. To predict the behavior of a movable arm and the performance of the wind turbine with the mechanism, a simulation method was developed based on the blade element momentum theory and the equation of motion of the movable arm system. A comparison of experiments and predictions with and without dampers demonstrated qualitative agreement. In the case with dampers, measurements confirmed the predicted increase in the rotor rotational speed when the shorter ailerons installed perpendicularly to the movable arms were used to achieve the inclination. Field experiments of the generated power at a wind speed of 6 m/s (10 min average) showed relative performance improvements of 11.4% by installing dampers, 91.3% by shortening the aileron length, and 57.6% by changing the control target data. The movable arm system with dampers is expected to be a useful device for vertical-axis wind turbines that are difficult to control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: Current Technologies and Future Trends)
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