Wind Harvest’s VAWT Aeroelastic Modeling Validated!

We are excited to announce that we have published Dr. David Malcolm’s report summarizing how well the data from the Wind Harvester Model 3.1 turbine matched predictions. We believe we are the first VAWT manufacturer to have an aeroelastic model that has been twice validated with field data. 

You can read more about the process by which our team collected the data on the turbine’s frequency response, loads, drag and power performance in earlier blog posts here, here, here, and here.  

Dr. Malcolm led the effort to organize the immense amount of data and validate the Company’s Eole aeroelastic model.

An interesting first for the load model was its ability to predict the change in loads that would come when the blades passed downwind (through the “shadow”) of the central mast.  A slight drop of energy occurs just as predicted. That is an exceptionally good model. 

Another excellent correlation (see below) is its Fatigue Analysis using the Sandia National Lab-LIFE82 code and a rainflow counting of the field data from the blade bending sensor. Because the data and the model predictions are so close, there is a high degree of confidence that the FR4 models predictions are correct, and Wind Harvester’s aircraft aluminum blades will last over 70 years.