Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

AB Power

Smart Urban Wind Turbine that Adapts to the Wind

AB Power | Designing a Vertical Axis wind Turbine | Green Energy | Industrial Design, Engineering, Simulation, Testing

Designing an intelligent vertical axis wind turbine that dynamically adapts to wind conditions, improving efficiency at low speeds and enabling deployment in previously unsuitable urban areas.

The Journey

The AB Power Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) is a radical departure from previous fixed blade designs, using more aerodynamically efficient blades independently actuated via an intelligent, machine learning control system to optimise how it responds to wind conditions in real-time.

The increased energy capture competes with traditional turbine designs without the problems like noise or bird strikes, making the AB Power VAWT better for urban environments with limited space and more turbulent winds.

The Result? A fully functioning prototype to gather data and a comprehensive design of the final product that’s helped AB Power secure further investment.

Concept Development

Working closely with AB Power and researchers from Bath University, we investigated various turbine architectures with a focus on efficiency, safety, and ease of maintenance. Technical optimisation played a central role, with FEA analysis employed throughout the process to ensure structural integrity. Additionally, the turbine blade design was fine-tuned and tested using a custom-built wind tunnel test rig.

Technical Prototyping

To attract further investment, AB Power required both a functional prototype to collect data and serve as a technology demonstrator, as well as a compelling vision for the turbine’s future. We designed and engineered a simplified, cost-effective prototype that was easy to assemble with a small team and featured accessible maintenance capabilities for testing. The 10-meter-tall prototype was successfully deployed at a test site, enabling AB Power to gather valuable in-situ data.

Outcome

AB Power’s VAWT offers improved performance at low wind speeds compared to traditional turbines, thanks to its smart adaptive blade actuation, which optimises lift at every angle and adjusts to wind from any direction. Ultimately, we delivered an innovative, technically validated urban wind turbine, complete with a functional proof of concept and a compelling future vision to attract investors.

Ready to talk?

Have you got a product idea?
We'd love to hear it.

Let's talk  >