This wind turbine has no blades — and that’s why it’s better

Grist.org ^ | 20MAY2015 | Amelia Urry

[Farmer Dean]

Plus it won’t slice and dice birds.

[Bidimus1]

I note that the article does not mention if any FULL SIZE ones have been built. The “specs” for standard turbines are great .. its reality that gets in the way.

[Fiddlstix]

Tacoma Narrows Bridge footage via You Tube

[Pikachu_Dad]

Sure about that.

Go back and look at the Tacoma Narrows Bridge disaster.

Think ‘rods whipping about in the air’.

It might be more like the Whomping Willow from Harry Potter.

[Jonty30]

I think the narrow base in a strong windstorm could be a problem.

[GraceG]

Screwing with the wind will eventually affect earth’s rotation, or so the greens will be whining in 100 years...

[oldbrowser]

Plus it won’t slice and dice birds.

With all of the magnetic forces at work, the birds may have a difficult time navigating.

[Flick Lives]

The plus is that their are no minced birds. What kind of sound does it produce? If these “straws” are oscillating in the wind, it might create a subsonic humming that makes dental fillings drop out.

[dalereed]

Burn gas and oil and coal!!!!!!

[Yardstick]

This thing might tickle earthworms with its vibrations.

[ClearCase_guy]

each Vortex turbine is also 30 percent less efficient at capturing energy

That's awesome! I was hoping someone would invent a wind mill which sucked even more at capturing energy!

[NormsRevenge]

No moveable parts??

Much like CONGRE$$

[saintgermaine]

You also may want to look for “Galloping Gertie”

[Flick Lives]

Screwing with the wind will eventually affect earth’s rotation, or so the greens will be whining in 100 years...

At a certain level, with enough turbines, they will effect local weather. Wind turbines act as a sort of "air brake" reducing overall wind velocity. By definition they are syphoning energy out of the wind. Just as damming up a river for hydro power effects the river, damming up the wind would have to effect weather patterns.

[Zeneta]

That's awesome! I was hoping someone would invent a wind mill which sucked even more at capturing energy!

We all need to make some sacrifices.

/s

[Jack Hydrazine]

“This thing might tickle earthworms with its vibrations.”

If it was invented by a French guy we could call them French ticklers!

[gov_bean_ counter]

Well since these devices could look like Asherah Poles, some sacrifices may indeed be made...

[Zeneta]

Well since these devices could look like Asherah Poles, some sacrifices may indeed be made.

---

Or...

They could be “Maypoles” and we could all sing;

Ring-a-round the rosie,
A pocket full of posies,
Ashes! Ashes!
We all fall down

[dsc]

How long is it going to take for these systems to pay for themselves, I wonder.