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The Savonius Rotor

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages of the Savonius Rotor over the Conventional Airfoil:

Relative ease of construction.

Readily available materials for construction (for smaller units). Requires no unusual materials and can be made from many materials including metal, wood, or plastic.

Materials last longer.

Specifications are less stringent.

Easily reversible. The airfoil is made to operate one way only, but the Savonius Rotor can be switched to operate in the opposite direction.

The unit is unidirectional. This means:

no need for a vane to direct it into the wind

no torquing problems

possibility of direct drive down the tower, meaning there are no slips rings or directional gearing necessary (also, the generator or power application unit can be located at the base of the tower)

can be used for more applications. Airfoils are generally limited to electrical generation.

Much safer operation (the sharp edge is the trailing edge).

Can more easily be made into a multiple unit on the same drive train, whereas the airfoil is solitary.

Heavier construction provides the advantage of a flywheel effect.

Disadvantages:

Difficult to balance (although balance is less critical).

Less efficient than a conventional airfoil.

Requires a tower extension.

Slower operating speed.

Overall, heavier than the conventional airfoil.

Large units are bulky and are much more difficult and expensive to construct.

This page last modified on 2 December 2008 08:07:51 PM (active 607 days)

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