Self-starting performance is very important for the design of the Wells turbine. In order to analyse the self-starting performance of the Wells turbine in regular and irregular waves, a mathematical model was established to simulate the self-starting process of the Wells turbine in regular and irregular oscillating air flows. Based on the turbine’s force coefficients and the restraint moment function of electric generator, the self-starting performance was investigated in different oscillating air flow conditions and the turbine’s inertia. Digit results show that the self- starting time is shortened with the increase of the amplitude of oscillating air flow or the decrease of the period of oscillating air flow and the turbine’s iner tia. The key to the improvement of the starting performance of the Wells turbine is to improve the turbine’s performance in the stalling region. Self-starting performance is very important for the design of the Wells turbine. In order to analyze the self-starting performance of the Wells turbine in regular and irregular waves, a mathematical model was established to simulate the self-starting process of the Wells turbine Based on the turbine’s force coefficients and the restraint moment function of electric generator, the self-starting performance was investigated in different oscillating air flow conditions and the turbine’s inertia. Digit results show that the self- starting time is shortened with the increase of the amplitude of oscillating air flow or the decrease of the period of oscillating air flow and the turbine’siner tia. The key to the improvement of the starting performance of the Wells turbine is to improve the turbine’s performance in the stalling region.