147Mitigations of Human Impacts through Technology
Figure 4.4 illustrates these three VAWT types. A Finnish engineer designed
the Savonius VAWT in 1922. The Darrieus “eggbeater” VAWT design was
by a French engineer in 1931. The two-blade Darrieus VAWT gives a pulsa-
tile torque output, which means extra wear on blades, bearings, and gears.
Curiously, the xed-blade Darrieus VAWT must be spun by a starter motor
to start; this generates symmetrical aerodynamic torque forces that maintain
rotation and generate mechanical power. One Giromill/Darrieus design,
the Cycloturbine, varies the blade pitch as the vertical blades revolve, giv-
ing near-constant (smooth) output torque. Another Dutch Darrieus VAWT
design, the Turby, eliminates torque ...