Savonius wind turbine
Rotor Savonius
- Date
- c. 1922-1929 · confidence low
- Place
- Finland
- Credited to
- Sigurd Savonius
- Field
- Matter & energy
What it is
A vertical-axis wind turbine made of two or more curved (semi-cylindrical) blades that rotate by wind drag, simple to build and with good starting torque at low wind speeds.
Sources disagree between 1922 (invention) and 1924, with a patent granted in 1926 (UK).
What it led to
- low-power vertical-axis wind turbines
- ventilation and water-pumping applications
- later hybrid designs combined with Darrieus rotors
- current use in small-scale urban installations