"A surprising aerodynamic innovation in wind turbine design called the
'wind lens' could triple the output
of a typical wind turbine, making it less costly than nuclear power.
Imagine: no more dirty coal power, no more mining deaths, no more nuclear disasters, no more
polluted aquifers as a result of fracking.
Our entire society powered by the quiet "woosh" of a wind turbine. Kyushu University's wind lens
turbine is one example of the many innovations happening right now that could in the near future
make this utopian vision a reality.
And think of the benefits of having our power production fed by a resource that is both free and unlimited. One downside often cited by advocates of coal and gas power is that wind turbines
require a lot more maintenence than a typical coal or gas power plant.
But in a lagging economy this might just be wind power's biggest upside —
it will create lots and lots of permanent jobs, sparking a new cycle of economic growth in America.
NOTE: Some major wind projects like the proposed TWE Carbon Valley project in Wyoming are already pricing in significantly lower than coal power -- $80 per MWh for wind versus $90 per
MWh for coal -- and that is without government subsidies using today's wind turbine technology."
http://www.mnn.com/g...per-than-nuclea
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17 replies to this topic
#2
Posted 19 February 2012 - 08:36 AM
wind.jpg 67.36K
31 downloadsWind lens is a modification made to a wind turbine
. . . to make it a more efficient way to capture wind energy.
The modification is a ring structure called a brim orwind lens
. . . which surrounds the blades, diverting air away from the exhaust outflow behind the blades.
The turbulence created as a result of the new configuration
. . . creates a low pressure zone behind the turbine,
. . . causing greater wind to pass through the turbine, and
. . . this, in turn, increases blade rotation and
. . . energy output.
Wind lenses are being mainly researched by
. . . Prof.Yuji Ohya,the chief of the Wind Engineering Section of Kyushu University in Japan.
Source: Windlens
#3
Posted 19 February 2012 - 09:01 AM
That is impressive. I watched the video showing the power output of a regular turbine and how much it increased when they put the brim around it. And I like the idea and design for floating wind farms at sea. And, since the turbine they used for testing is about the size of a home rooftop turbine, I wonder if it's something the manufacturers of small turbines are looking it. I'll have to go look that up...
#7
Posted 19 February 2012 - 07:41 PM
I read your posting and made some calls to friends I have working with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory wind section. I asked them about these technologies and also the new vertical turbines cal tech has been working on also. The consensus is that the numbers being given are indeed real and backed up by confirmed scientific review both here in the US and Europe. The only drawback that was mentioned was the issue of increased wind speeds being a problem with cavitations and noise. However since these are primarily designed for use with coastal wind that sit out in the oceans the noise would not be an issue for humans.
The only possible draw back I could come up with was the risk from hurricanes or typhoons as they are called in other parts of the world. The reason is that most current designs for ocean wind have the ability to remotely fold the turbines and lock in a down position to help in a hurricane, that said in a cat 3 or higher even this procedure has only a 50% chance of preventing damage.
As a designer I am intrigued by this type of advancement, by creating a low pressure zone area around the turbines blades resistance should be greatly reduced. Thanks for the posting.
The only possible draw back I could come up with was the risk from hurricanes or typhoons as they are called in other parts of the world. The reason is that most current designs for ocean wind have the ability to remotely fold the turbines and lock in a down position to help in a hurricane, that said in a cat 3 or higher even this procedure has only a 50% chance of preventing damage.
As a designer I am intrigued by this type of advancement, by creating a low pressure zone area around the turbines blades resistance should be greatly reduced. Thanks for the posting.
#8
Posted 19 February 2012 - 09:14 PM
It is actually a very elegant solution given that it provides such an increase in inefficiency with a small enhancement. At first glance, it reminds me of the Dyson fans. To E3 wise's comments regarding noise and cavitation, the next step would seem to be to stabilize the air after the fan to try to make the flow linear once again. However, given the performance of these turbines, that is completely a secondary problem if they can keep the turbines at a reasonable distance to avoid affecting people and animals that might be sensitive to the noise.
#10
Posted 20 February 2012 - 06:49 AM
Caltech Study Says Vertical Axis Wind Turbines 10X More Efficient Than Horizontal Axis Turbines
vertical-wind-turbines.jpg 25.53K
0 downloads
Inspired by the movement of schooling fish and the much noted inefficiencies inherent in wind turbines generally speaking, CalTech’s research team, led by John Dabiri, has been testing its theory at the Field Laboratory for Optimized Wind Energy (FLOWE), an experimental wind farm in the California desert.
Testing a wind farm configuration made up of 24, 10-meter tall VAWTs with 1.2 meter diameters spaced about 5 meters apart, the research team generated 21-47 watts per square meter of land. A HAWT wind farm of the same size would typically generate just to 2-3 watts per square meter.
The study also found that having each VAWT
. . . spin in the opposite direction of its neighbor allowed them to spin faster
. . . because the opposing spins reduced the drag on each turbine,
. . . which upped their efficiency even more.
To add to the list of benefits, VAWTs are also:
. . . . . . cheaper,
. . . . . . smaller and
. . . . . . less intrusive,
. . . allowing them to be installed in lots of places where large HAWTs just wouldn't do.
Source: cleantechnica . . . Fish-schooling.PDF
vertical-wind-turbines.jpg 25.53K
0 downloadsInspired by the movement of schooling fish and the much noted inefficiencies inherent in wind turbines generally speaking, CalTech’s research team, led by John Dabiri, has been testing its theory at the Field Laboratory for Optimized Wind Energy (FLOWE), an experimental wind farm in the California desert.
Testing a wind farm configuration made up of 24, 10-meter tall VAWTs with 1.2 meter diameters spaced about 5 meters apart, the research team generated 21-47 watts per square meter of land. A HAWT wind farm of the same size would typically generate just to 2-3 watts per square meter.
The study also found that having each VAWT
. . . spin in the opposite direction of its neighbor allowed them to spin faster
. . . because the opposing spins reduced the drag on each turbine,
. . . which upped their efficiency even more.
To add to the list of benefits, VAWTs are also:
. . . . . . cheaper,
. . . . . . smaller and
. . . . . . less intrusive,
. . . allowing them to be installed in lots of places where large HAWTs just wouldn't do.
Source: cleantechnica . . . Fish-schooling.PDF
#12
Posted 20 February 2012 - 08:12 AM
That was so nice and looks so futuristic. ;)
It will be great to know and find alternative for nuclear plants as it was dangerous just what had happened to Japan when unavoidable forces of nature hit the reactors. That wind lens kind of wind energy source was impressive and hope will really really works. ;)
It will be great to know and find alternative for nuclear plants as it was dangerous just what had happened to Japan when unavoidable forces of nature hit the reactors. That wind lens kind of wind energy source was impressive and hope will really really works. ;)
#13
Posted 20 February 2012 - 10:30 AM
All of these reports are very promising in all kinds of areas. The fact that there will be beter efficiency, cleaner methods and more cost savings, is fantastic. Reports are, that nuclear energy is losing support, so all this is right on time.
#15
Posted 10 March 2012 - 04:53 AM
Looking at these awesome solutions to the wind energy problem, it makes me want to give up on computer studies and take up engineering. I really hope the tests on all of those turbines turn up positive, I would love for my apartment building to have a few of those VAWTs on it's roof.
#18
Posted 30 March 2012 - 09:56 AM
I actually saw a TV documentary on this...
Too bad it was all in Japanese
But it's promising though, especially with last years nuclear disaster this would be a great way to help their energy shortage and have less dramatic effects for a future earthquake.
Too bad it was all in Japanese
But it's promising though, especially with last years nuclear disaster this would be a great way to help their energy shortage and have less dramatic effects for a future earthquake.
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