Review

Blade Designs, Generator Systems, and Contra-Rotating Architectures in Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: A Review

Volume: 22 Number: 1 July 9, 2026
EN TR

Blade Designs, Generator Systems, and Contra-Rotating Architectures in Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: A Review

Abstract

Abstract: This review re-examines the vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) literature through three coupled design layers: blade and rotor design, generator systems, and contra-rotating or multi-rotor configurations. Drawing on more than 130 peer-reviewed studies, the paper synthesizes findings on Savonius, Darrieus/H-rotor and hybrid rotors; direct-drive permanent-magnet synchronous generators, axial-flux machines and alternative electromechanical topologies; and coaxial, twin and clustered VAWT layouts. The review shows that airfoil selection, pitch, solidity, aspect ratio, helical or twisted geometry and self-starting strategies affect not only the peak power coefficient, but also static torque, torque ripple and structural loading. On the electrical side, direct-drive PMSG and axial-flux solutions are attractive for low-speed operation, yet system performance depends on the coupled rotor torque curve, starting strategy, load matching and power electronics. For contra-rotating and clustered layouts, performance gains are conditional on spacing, rotational direction, inflow angle and power-take-off architecture. The main conclusion is that VAWT performance cannot be explained by single-component optimization; future work should address aerodynamic, electrical, structural, reliability and farm-density metrics within validated multi-objective design frameworks.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Theory of Computation (Other)

Journal Section

Review

Publication Date

July 9, 2026

Submission Date

June 1, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 9, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 22 Number: 1

APA
Özer, İ., Tuncer, C., Alkan, A. D., Çolak, L., Şenol, C., & Çetinkaya, M. (2026). Blade Designs, Generator Systems, and Contra-Rotating Architectures in Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: A Review. Electronic Letters on Science and Engineering, 22(1), 14-43. https://izlik.org/JA25BU53BJ
AMA
1.Özer İ, Tuncer C, Alkan AD, Çolak L, Şenol C, Çetinkaya M. Blade Designs, Generator Systems, and Contra-Rotating Architectures in Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: A Review. Electronic Letters on Science and Engineering. 2026;22(1):14-43. https://izlik.org/JA25BU53BJ
Chicago
Özer, İlyas, Can Tuncer, Anıl Doğan Alkan, Lütfi Çolak, Cengizhan Şenol, and Mücahit Çetinkaya. 2026. “Blade Designs, Generator Systems, and Contra-Rotating Architectures in Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: A Review”. Electronic Letters on Science and Engineering 22 (1): 14-43. https://izlik.org/JA25BU53BJ.
EndNote
Özer İ, Tuncer C, Alkan AD, Çolak L, Şenol C, Çetinkaya M (July 1, 2026) Blade Designs, Generator Systems, and Contra-Rotating Architectures in Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: A Review. Electronic Letters on Science and Engineering 22 1 14–43.
IEEE
[1]İ. Özer, C. Tuncer, A. D. Alkan, L. Çolak, C. Şenol, and M. Çetinkaya, “Blade Designs, Generator Systems, and Contra-Rotating Architectures in Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: A Review”, Electronic Letters on Science and Engineering, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 14–43, July 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA25BU53BJ
ISNAD
Özer, İlyas - Tuncer, Can - Alkan, Anıl Doğan - Çolak, Lütfi - Şenol, Cengizhan - Çetinkaya, Mücahit. “Blade Designs, Generator Systems, and Contra-Rotating Architectures in Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: A Review”. Electronic Letters on Science and Engineering 22/1 (July 1, 2026): 14-43. https://izlik.org/JA25BU53BJ.
JAMA
1.Özer İ, Tuncer C, Alkan AD, Çolak L, Şenol C, Çetinkaya M. Blade Designs, Generator Systems, and Contra-Rotating Architectures in Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: A Review. Electronic Letters on Science and Engineering. 2026;22:14–43.
MLA
Özer, İlyas, et al. “Blade Designs, Generator Systems, and Contra-Rotating Architectures in Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: A Review”. Electronic Letters on Science and Engineering, vol. 22, no. 1, July 2026, pp. 14-43, https://izlik.org/JA25BU53BJ.
Vancouver
1.İlyas Özer, Can Tuncer, Anıl Doğan Alkan, Lütfi Çolak, Cengizhan Şenol, Mücahit Çetinkaya. Blade Designs, Generator Systems, and Contra-Rotating Architectures in Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: A Review. Electronic Letters on Science and Engineering [Internet]. 2026 Jul. 1;22(1):14-43. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA25BU53BJ