Bladeless turbines: a more economical method for the production of electricity from wind

Startup company from Spain thinks that, despite all advantages of wind generators, there is a cheaper method of producing electricity from wind. Their project is called Vortex Bladeless, and at first glance it may seem that wind turbines, which are used here, they look like normal poles, buried in the ground.

These pillars-turbines also use the wind to generate electricity. However, the wind here is not used to spin the blades. There are no blades at all. Instead, the wind here is used to create oscillations of the wind turbine. Usually structural engineers when designing various high-rise buildings are trying to find ways to avoid the impact of such forces on the structure. However, the creators of the Vortex turbine, in contrast, found a useful application of this feature of oscillations.

As a rule, the structure can be optimized to vibrate only at specific frequencies, at a certain wind speed, but Vortex say that the "setup" for any turbine type and wind right at the time work is possible through the use of magnets. When the structure vibrates, the generator based on the turbine converts the mechanical motion into electricity.

What is the advantage of new turbines compared to traditional turbines? In Vortex's claim that the cost of their turbines produce energy will eventually be about 40 percent lower in comparison with the cost of energy produced is now conventional wind generators. The fact is that a huge part of this savings depends on the cost of maintenance of wind turbines. As the Vortex turbine have no moving parts and drives, then: first, they are much longer they will be able to serve; second, does not require periodic maintenance. In addition, the simple design means lower cost in construction and installation. Costs are reduced by approximately half, compared with traditional wind turbines (where a large part of the cost falls on the huge blades).

In an interview with Wired, the Spanish company said that their turbines produce about 30 percent less energy compared to conventional. The company please note that due to the design of their turbines in the same area, you can install much more wind turbines. Bonus bladeless turbines are completely silent.

Currently the company is working on several sizes of turbines. The "mini version" is a turbine with a height of about 12 meters. For commercial use it will be ready next year. Larger, industrial version of the turbines is scheduled to begin producing in 2018.published



 

Source: hi-news.ru