Savonius wind turbine

This projects helps to understand how a wind generator works and more generally how it is possible to transform mecanical energy into electricity. This principle can be found in many devices that we use every day (bicycle dynamo, car alternator, etc.) and is the way we produce most of our electricity in power stations.

This special wind turbine was invented by the Finnish engineer S. J. Savonius in 1922. It is one of the two main techniques used for vertical axis wind turbines. Quite powerful with a low rotation speed, the Savonus wind turbine is generally used to provide mechanical energy (pumping water or grinding grain, for example). As Savonius turbines do not have an excellent energy efficiency, horizontal axes wind turbines are usually used when it comes to produce electricity.