Innovative Technology

12kW prototype UU

Vertical Wind AB has developed a new and exciting wind power technology based on a vertical axis wind turbine with a cable-wound direct driven generator. The turbine does not need a pitch or a yawing mechanism and the direct driven generator eliminates the need of a gearbox. The robust and simple technology with few moving and sensitive parts compared to conventional wind turbines, gives a higher availability and reliability as well as lower cost for maintenance. Furthermore, this type of wind turbine is quieter than its horizontal counterpart.

Vertical instead of horizontal axis of rotation

The wind turbines developed by Vertical Wind AB, have a vertical axis of rotation whereas conventional turbines rotate around a horizontal axis. A vertical axis wind turbine absorbs wind from any direction. Therefore, no yawing mechanism is needed, as for horizontal axis wind turbines.

Generator at ground level without gearbox

Generator under construction at Uppsala University

Research and development

The wind turbine developed at Vertical Wind is more robust and simpler than traditional wind turbines and has a good lifetime economy. The wind turbine’s availability, reliability and cost efficiency is a result of the thorough design process using interdisciplinary competence as well as cutting edge knowledge in a large number of areas such as aerodynamics, structural mechanics and electricity. In these areas Vertical Wind actively works with modern analysing tools and the development of the technology is done in close collaboration with the researchers at the Division for Electricity at Uppsala University, where wind power research have been ongoing since 2001.

Calculated velocity field around a three-bladed vertical axis wind turbine.

A wind turbine has an environmental footprint. Good wind resources often coincide with high environmental values. Therefore, areas such as meteorology, biology and environmental planning are of large importance and must be considered already in the planning stages.

Scientific publications related to our technology

• P. Deglaire, O. Ågren, H. Bernhoff and M. Leijon, "Conformal mapping and efficient boundary element method without boundary elements for fast vortex particle simulations", European Journal of Mechanics - B,Fluids, Volume 27, Issue 2, March-April 2008, Pages 150-176
• Sandra Eriksson, Andreas Solum, Mats Leijon and Hans Bernhoff, "Simulations and experiments on a 12 kW direct driven PM synchronousgenerator for wind power", Renewable Energy, Volume 33, Issue 4, April 2008, Pages 674-681.
• Sandra Eriksson, Hans Bernhoff and Mats Leijon, "Evaluation of different turbine concepts for wind power", Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 12, Issue 5, June 2008, Pages 1419-1434. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2006.05.017
• J. Kjellin, S. Eriksson, P. Deglaire, F. Bülow, H. Bernhoff, "Progress of control system and measurement techniques for a 12 kW vertical axis wind turbine", Proceedings of European Wind Energy Conference & Exhibition EWEC 2008, March 31- April 3, 2008, Brussels, Belgium.
• Andreas Solum, Mats Leijon, "Investigating the overload capacity of a direct-driven synchronous permanent magnet wind turbine generator designed using high-voltage cable technology", International Journal of Energy Research, Volume 31, Issue 11, September 2007, Pages 1076-1086.
• Sandra Eriksson, "Vertical Axis Wind Turbines with Direct Driven Generators", UURIE 302-06L, Uppsala 2006
• Eriksson, S., Bernhoff, H. "Generator-Damped Torsional Vibrations of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine", Wind Engineering (2005) vol. 29, No. 5 p449
• Andreas Solum, ”Permanent magnet generator for direct drive wind turbines”,UURIE 303-06L, Uppsala 2006
• Paul Deglaire, Sandra Eriksson, Jon Kjellin, Hans Bernhoff, "Experimental results from a 12 kW vertical axis wind turbine with a direct driven PM synchronous generator", Presented at EWEC 2007 - European Wind Energy Conference & Exhibition, Milan, Italy, May. 7-10, 2007
• Andreas Solum, Paul Deglaire, Sandra Eriksson, Magnus Stålberg, Mats Leijon, Hans Bernhoff, "Design of a 12kW vertical axis wind turbine equipped with a direct driven PM synchronous generator", Presented at EWEC 2006 - European Wind Energy Conference & Exhibition, Athen, Greece, Feb. 27 to Mar. 02, 2006
• M.Dahlgren, H.Frank, M.Leijon, F.Owman and L.Walfridsson, "Windformer – Wind Power Goes Large Scale",ABB Review 3/2000 pp 31-37
• M. Leijon “Windformer –ett integrerat systemkoncept för storskalig vindkraft” Svenska Mekanikers Riksförening 2000:4
• M. Leijon et al., "Breaking Conventions in Electrical Power Plants", CIGRÉ 1998 paper 11/37-03 (Prize winner)