The importance that capturing low winds -- a far too common occurrence -- that hitherto have been lost, could have a big impact on the commercial viability of wind power.
Definitions are important here: in wind-energy production, the term “low wind speed” typically means winds of up to 15 knots.
Well here's a development of interest. A 'breakthrough' turbine by Stormblade Turbine can capture winds as low as 7mph. But also as high as 120mph. A range that's twice the current average turbine range. Stormblade claims it "can convert up to 70% of wind power into electricity, double the current average."
And while capturing low winds is important, grabbing higher winds is equally so.
Stromblade believes that the future operational wind speed for the turbine will be from seven to 120mph, allowing much more efficient energy generation.
'For every extra 15mph over 60mph, you get eight times as much electricity,' he said. 'So at 90mph you get 64 times as much, and at 120mph more than 4,000 times as much.'
They also tout their new low-wind/high-wind speed design as having less maintenance, less drag, more power per rotation and to top it all off, it's smaller in size. Oh, and its even quieter!
You can see a picture and get the details here: stormbladeturbine.com
Mind you, this a wind power generation development, not an advancement in storing such power. Still anything that makes wind more economic is good news for next step storage providers such as VRB.
Too good to be true?
Perhaps it best to take this with a pinch of salt. Stormblade seems to be the brainchild on one engineer. And having a "yahoo" e-mail address doesn't really ring too corporate.
Still if it can do what he says...
He's also looking for investors...Hmmmm... |
