Turbine designs

There are many designs and configurations of turbine but, whatever their shape and size, they can generally be grouped into two types:

a)  vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) -  with a vertical axis of rotation  and a shaft that points up.

A 2.5kW VAWT Prototype from Cleanfield Energy Corp.

b)  horizontal-axis turbines (HAWTs) - whose main turning shaft is horizontal and points into the wind. In the UK, these are by far the most common kind of wind turbine – although not necessarily the best type for all urban locations.

 
A Mistral turbine from Samrey Generators & Turbines