To reduce costs and increase efficiency, design engineers have been coming up with great new ideas for wind turbines. From aerodynamic properties to mechanical design, every aspect of a wind turbine has been and still is, the subject of research today. Here is our list of 6 of best high-efficiency wind turbine ideas.
6. Vortex Bladeless wind turbine
This is a really great new invention. The turbine uses the energy of vorticity where wind bypasses a fixed structure, generating a cyclical pattern of vortices which then causes the structure to oscillate. Since it has no blades and far less moving parts, wear & tear is reduced along with the noise.
5. Liam F1
This was designed by a dutch tech firm Archimedes, primarily for domestic use. The wind turbine took inspiration from Archimedes screw pump which was used in Ancient Greece to pump water. The spiral-shaped blades allow it to swivel and collect wind energy at angles up to 60º from the central axis. An average of 5 meter per second wind turbine can generate 1,500 kilowatt-hours per year.
4. Invelox
This turbine was made by Sheerwind, a company based in Minnesota, USA. The wind turbine is omnidirectional, meaning it can take winds from any direction. The turbine is shaped like a funnel and utilizes the Venturi effect. Venturi effect is the reduction of fluid pressure when fluid flows to a considerably narrow region of the pipe. This process actually increases the velocity of the fluid, the energy of which this machine harnesses.
3. The Tubercle
This was developed by firm called Whalepower. And Yes, as the name suggests, the design was influenced by strange bumps on the leading edge of a whale’s fins through which they utilize the fluid dynamics of their marine environment. The company created versions of these bumps on the leading edge of its rotors to overcome the limitations of fluid dynamics.
2. GE 2.5-120
This a conventional rotor wind turbine made by a well know firm, GE. The turbine has 120m rotors and incorporates the latest technology for load managing control systems, low acoustic emissions, efficient electrical power conversion and robust performance. This was designed for low wind areas and as per stats, offers a 25 percent increase in capacity factor and a 15 percent increase in Annual Energy Production (AEP).
1. EWT DW61
Direct Wind 61 was developed by EWT. The significantly large rotor was a result of development upon DW54. The company expects that this can increase efficiency. “The company focused its development on the global requirement for localized generation, both on-grid and off-grid, for high yield and competitive costs with regard to local grid supply.“