Experimental characterization of individual pitch controlled vertical axis wind turbine

Research into the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) has been progressing over the last few years due to
the large shift in design constraints for large floating offshore wind turbines by leveraging tools and experience
from research beginning in the 1970s and lasting until the HAWT established market dominance in the 1990s. The beginning studies looking into the feasibility of large VAWT turbines on offshore floating platforms have been largely positive and suggest a large cost savings when comparing to equivalent HAWT turbines. These savings assume certain platform cost reductions as well as ease of operations and maintenance due to the possibility of systems being removed, like the active yaw system, and ease of access to significant components such as the gearbox and generator. In order to realize these cost gains, and perhaps identify more, it is necessary to improve the aerodynamic control of the rotor.