Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT)

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine – General Description

The HAWT have their axis of rotation in the horizontal position. The Horizontal Axis wind Turbines utilize actually the ‘Danish concept’, that is, most modern wind turbines tend to be three-bladed designs with the rotor position maintained upwind (on the windy side of the tower) using electrical motors. This design is known as the classical Danish concept and tends to be a standard against which other concepts are evaluated.  The Gedser wind turbine was a typical expel of HAWTs, in a sense of humor we may say that the Gedser wind turbine was actually the mother of all modern horizontal axis wind turbines.

 If you are interested in reading more about it you may visit the http://guidedtour.windpower.org/en/pictures/juul.htm (The Wind Energy Pioneers: The Gedser Wind Turbine).

The main components of the HAWT ) include:

• a rotor, or blades, 2-3 blades, typically 3, that convert the wind’s energy into rotational energy
• a nacelle, which protects the drive train, gearbox, and generator
• a tower, this supports the rotor and nacelle and ranges from 25-100m (80-328 ft): towers are usually of tubular design, but some are lattice
• a yaw mechanism, that turns the turbine to face the wind
• electronic equipment such as controls, electrical cables, ground support equipment, and interconnection equipment