Solar Aero's bladeless wind turbine

Green.yahoo.com ^ | May 4, 2010 | Philip Proefrock

[Abathar]

A research company in New Hampshire recently announced the patent of their bladeless wind turbine, which is based on a patent issued to Nikola Tesla in 1913. The Fuller Wind Turbine developed by Solar Aero has only one rotating part, the turbine-driveshaft. The entire assembly is contained inside a housing, so that this turbine offers several advantages versus blade-style (primarily horizontal-axis type) turbines. With a screened inlet and outlet, this turbine does not present a danger to wildlife such as bats and birds. To an outside observer, the only movement visible is the entire turbine housing as it adjusts to track the wind. This also makes it a good candidate for use near military surveillance and radar installations, where moving blades would otherwise cause difficulties.

According to the company, the turbine is expected to deliver power at a cost comparable to coal-fired power plants. Total operating costs over the lifetime of the unit are expected to be about $0.12/kWh. The turbine also should have fewer maintenance requirements, leading to lower lifetime operating costs. The turbine itself can also be supported on magnetic bearings, and all of the generating equipment kept at ground level, which will also make maintenance easier. The company estimates "final costs will be about $1.50/watt rated output, or roughly 2/3 the cost of comparable bladed units."

[dennisw]

Tesla patented this almost 100 years ago, interesting concept if I understand it correctly. This could reduce the bird chopping ginsu blades and low frequency thumping of the current turbines we are using. It is probably much safer for all involved also if you have ever seen one of the current style turbines self destruct.

Vertical axis windmills should be looked into more. They go back thousands of years and I doubt they will chop up birds. Much simpler to build. Build them at ground level, don't mess with expensive towers. I would build two or three close to the ground instead of one tower. I would use tough nylon canvas for sails. It could be made very cheap 

And they are good for supplying a houses electricity...some of it at least

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnJ3apXUNcI

 

Figure 1 A Sketch of an early Persian Vertical Axis Windmill.

[dead]

This product is nothing like the Dyson bladeless fan.

Dyson's fan creates wind, this device catches the wind to generate power.

[Abathar]

I have seen sketches of those used for water pumping from a long long time ago. The only problem they have is if you have a Midwest thunderstorm come through without being there to stop it chances are you will be picking it out of your neighbors tree.

[dljordan]

It’s a Tesla Turbine. Experimenters have been building them for years. Google “Tesla Turbine” or look it up on YouTube.

[patton]

The problem with the Persians is that they really ARE engineers.

[dljordan]

“Wow. A squirrel cage blower in reverse to become a wind turbine. Big deal.”

No YoYo, it’s not.

[TMSuchman]

Bump for later reading

[dennisw]

I spent 3 minutes doing this screen capture for you. Thanks for at least being interested. You go to the Chinese for a really good vertical axis windmill. I believe we can do this design much better these days. Make them with sails that contract in high winds. Build close to the ground where wind speeds are more moderate

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[BwanaNdege]

It probably works like an ejector pump. Deep well jet pumps use this principle. A high speed jet of fluid (air, water) will accelerate the fluid around it thereby moving a larger quantity at a lower velocity.

Dyson uses a ring shaped jet to “pull” more air through and around the ring. Neat execution.

If you have access to a garden hose try this experiment. Run enough water on the pavement to make a puddle. Try for 6 feet diameter or larger and at least 1/2” deep. Set the hose nozzle on a high speed jet position, hold it close to horizontal and aim the stream at a point about 1/3 of the distance across the puddle. The stream will hit the puddle and continue, pulling additional puddle water with it and eventually emptying the puddle.

Voila! an ejector pump.

[Texan]

Well good luck with that (sneaking in another well). In parts of Texas irrigation wells are already metered with plans to meter domestic wells on the drawing board. You won't find a well driller anywhere that will drill an unauthorized well. It's illegal and they'd lose their license. Plus the authorities have GPS reading and aerial views of all property within their jurisdiction.
Big Brother is here.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Try a net search for their patent.

[patton]

Fascinating - looks just like the Persian one. Identical.

Who stole what?

[RobRoy]

Yup. Going Galt, one day at a time.

[Old Professer]

Do you have any idea what that would weigh on a plane?

[Tramonto]

Neither the picture, the diagrams or the explanation provide meaningful description of how this works. None demonstrate airflow transference to torque or even direction of flow. Can anyone explain this better?

There are parallel disks on a shaft that are spaced a small distance apart. Air is forced into the outer edge of the disks and makes its way out of the center where there are holes to allow the air to escape.

The basic principle is that it uses the boundary layer(friction) to rotate the disks. A typical turbine redirects air to generate torque while this turbine just uses the drag on the disks to generate torque.

There is tons of info about this on the web. Its a favorite project of Tesla junkies.

[roadcat]

I’ve got a birdbath that I clean by directing a stream of water at the inside edge. Amazes me that it spins all the water out within seconds, taking all the leaves and crud with it, resulting in an empty bowl. Similar idea to what you’re saying in your experiment.

[dennisw]

For something really interesting google -— maglev vertical axis

This design has much reduced friction because the wind catching part is magnetically levitated
http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rlz=1R1GGLL_en___US358&biw=1161&bih=803&q=maglev%20vertical%20axis%20wind%20turbine&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iw

[patton]

You know what I got from this thread?

I am going to get an old squirrel-cage blower, and a chevy alternator, and make a windmill for my cabin.

Hey, it will run a light! LOL!

[Cheetahcat]

Blade-less what is it a squirrel cage??

[Cheetahcat]

Wow. A squirrel cage blower in reverse to become a wind turbine. Big deal.

Exactly! I posted before seeing your post sorry.