Vertical Axis Wind Turbines vs Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines?

[Lasivian]

I'm guessing that horizontal turbines are the choice for boaters. But i'm curious "why"? And if anyone has any experience with a vertical turbine on a boat.

Thanks!

[a64pilot]

I don’t think the vertical ones do much except look cool. Excepting Waterworld of course.

[dougweibel]

Originally Posted by Lasivian

I'm guessing that horizontal turbines are the choice for boaters. But i'm curious "why"? And if anyone has any experience with a vertical turbine on a boat.

Thanks!

Vertical turbines have been around plenty of years but you rarely see one. There are a variety of reasons. If they actually had advantages you would see them all over the place instead of just in the few places where someone got sold the bill of goods. I live near the National Renewable Energy Research Labs and was just a couple of hours ago riding my bike past their test wind farm. I have seen one vertical axis installed there - only one over many years. It self destructed. They always have multiple horizontal axis under test.

[NevilleCat]

I think generally it is accepted that vertical axis wind turbines at present don't have anywhere near the power of a horizontal axis one to drive a generator, that is why you rarely see them in a commercial wind farm. It's such a shame as they could potentially be less imposing in a landscape, and certainly be more versatile as far as installation on a small yacht goes.
There has been some available for boating in the past, but my understanding is that they were trickle chargers at best. That is still a valid purpose in some systems though if they are inexpensive and reliable.

[Adelie]

Efficiency for cost

https://education.seattlepi.com/hori...ines-3500.html

[vpbarkley]

Horizontal axis wind turbines contribute very little power and are a nuisance on board. Vertical axis wind turbines are just as noisome but generate only half the power.

[zstine]

one significant reason vertical shaft wind turbines never took off is because the force on the blades is not constant during rotation resulting in pulses and vibration. Bearing failure was common. The spiral shaped vertical turbines were designed to reduce the vibrations, but this shape is expensive to build. There are also wind shadow issues with the blades on the leeward side during rotation which reduces efficiency.

[Mike Banks]

The good thing about vertical turbines is they can have prayers written on them--

[Oceanride007]

Also difficult to gear up to get useful speed of rotation.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by vpbarkley

Horizontal axis wind turbines contribute very little power and are a nuisance on board...

That’s a pretty silly generalisation. For some of us they are a critical and useful source of power.

To me, a generator would be a nuisance.

[sailcrazy]

Following

[michaelratinter]

Plus 1 GILow. My D400 on the mizzen works great!

Quiet. Keeps my 675AH house bank topped ofg

[CATJAVA]

Don’t know anything about vertical axis wind turbines since I’ve never seen one on a boat in the Pacific. But my Air-X makes plenty of power, especially when underway offshore. I actively listen for the sound if I am hove to or anchored. I don’t have to get out of bed until it gets to the correct pitch; then it’s “C’mon Hon, let’s get up and GET SAILING AGAIN!” Evan on JAVA

[MaddMax2u]

I'm looking at wind power and prefer the vertical when it has no leading edges that could cause injur. Remember, that a horizontals blades can easily cut off a coulple of fingers. It might be too high for you, but what if you are doing repairs? What if Shaq is over for a sail? Something like this Vert won't casue you to lose a finger........
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKX6Z675...v_ov_lig_dp_it

[HC Sailing]

Originally Posted by vpbarkley

Horizontal axis wind turbines contribute very little power and are a nuisance on board. Vertical axis wind turbines are just as noisome but generate only half the power.

These ones https://www.superwind.com/superwind-350-353/ are said to be very quiet and reasonably easy to install with excellent energy generation.
Their blades change rotation so that they can even run in high winds without getting too fast.