Torque Ripple in a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

Torque ripple is a name given to time variations in torque which are propagated through the drive train of wind energy conversion systems.This paper covers an analytical and experimental investigation of torque ripple in a Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine. An analytical model of the turbine is described and numerical results from a solution to the equations of this model are compared to experimental results obtained from the existing DOE/Sandia 17 meter vertical axis wind turbine. Discussions on the sources of torque ripple, theoretical and experimental correlation, and means of suppressing its magnitude are included.