New Bladeless Wind Turbine Claimed to be Twice as Efficient as Conventional Designs

[ScienceRocks]

New Bladeless Wind Turbine Claimed to be Twice as Efficient as Conventional Designs


Derek Markham
Technology / Wind Technology
August 3, 2012


© Saphon

When it comes to the future of wind power, one company thinks it looks a lot different than you would expect, and cheaper and more efficient to boot. Saphon, out of Tunisia, is interested in finding partners to mass-produce and market their unique wind energy device, based on their own Zero Blade technology.

"The Zero-Blade Technology is largely inspired from the sailboat and is likely to increase the efficiency of the current wind power conversion devices. The blades are replaced by a sail shaped body while both hub and gearbox are removed."

According to the company, their zero-blade technology devices are capable of overcoming the Betz' limit, which states that no turbine can capture more than 59.3 percent of the kinetic energy of the wind. An average wind turbine captures only 30 to 40%, while the Saphon turbine is said to be 2.3 times more efficient. Additionally, the cost is expected to be 45% less than a conventional turbine, mostly due to the fact that there are no blades, no hub, and no gearbox on the units.

PHOTO: Impressive Beast! World's Longest Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Measures 246 Feet!

The Saphon Zero Blade technology is different in other ways as well, most significantly being storage of energy. Most of the kinetic energy can be stored (via a hydraulic accumulator) or converted to electricity with a hydraulic motor and generator.

New Bladeless Wind Turbine Claimed to be Twice as Efficient as Conventional Designs : TreeHugger


I got to hand it to these people. Some of this stuff is really effin cool...The question really is will it be there when you need it?

 

[Trakar]

New Bladeless Wind Turbine Claimed to be Twice as Efficient as Conventional Designs


Derek Markham
Technology / Wind Technology
August 3, 2012


© Saphon

When it comes to the future of wind power, one company thinks it looks a lot different than you would expect, and cheaper and more efficient to boot. Saphon, out of Tunisia, is interested in finding partners to mass-produce and market their unique wind energy device, based on their own Zero Blade technology.

"The Zero-Blade Technology is largely inspired from the sailboat and is likely to increase the efficiency of the current wind power conversion devices. The blades are replaced by a sail shaped body while both hub and gearbox are removed."

According to the company, their zero-blade technology devices are capable of overcoming the Betz' limit, which states that no turbine can capture more than 59.3 percent of the kinetic energy of the wind. An average wind turbine captures only 30 to 40%, while the Saphon turbine is said to be 2.3 times more efficient. Additionally, the cost is expected to be 45% less than a conventional turbine, mostly due to the fact that there are no blades, no hub, and no gearbox on the units.

PHOTO: Impressive Beast! World's Longest Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Measures 246 Feet!

The Saphon Zero Blade technology is different in other ways as well, most significantly being storage of energy. Most of the kinetic energy can be stored (via a hydraulic accumulator) or converted to electricity with a hydraulic motor and generator.

New Bladeless Wind Turbine Claimed to be Twice as Efficient as Conventional Designs : TreeHugger


I got to hand it to these people. Some of this stuff is really effin cool...The question really is will it be there when you need it?

Regardless of the capture mechanism, wind energy systems and other variable and intermittant natural energy systems work best when they are used in conjunction with storage systems which allow one to smooth out the actual grid contribution. I prefer the use of pumped hydro systems, but there are lots of other suitable storage systems.

 

[Moonglow]

I like this design. I am close to putting up home made wind and soalr panel set up.