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domingo, 31 de mayo de 2015

The turbines WITHOUT blades: firm unveils radical “pole” design that claims to be quieter and safer than traditional wind farms

Published: 00:12, 19 May 2015.
Source: Ellie Zolfagharifard for mailonline.
Science field: Environment
Summary:
The technology takes advantage of voracity to generate electricity. Voracity is a wind effect that creates a pattern of spinning vortices. Bladeless design could reduce manufacturing costs by 53 per cent. Prototype “Vortex Mini” can capture nearly half of the wind’s power.
Glossary:
-          Vortex: a whirling mass or rotary motion in a liquid, gas, flame, etc., such as the spiralling movement of water around a whirlpool.
-          Blade: the thin flattish part of various tools, implements, etc., as of a propeller, turbine, etc.
-          Pattern: a standard way of moving, acting, etc.
-           
Review:
Today’s wind turbines have colossal blades that spin at speeds of more than 200mph (320 km/h). While some might consider them majestic structures, others argue they are a threat to bird life and a noisy blight on the landscape. Now a Spanish company has come up with a solution to ease opposition to the technology; a bladeless wind turbine that can generate more electricity for less.

Created by Madrid-based Vortex Bladeless, the technology takes advantage of something known as vorticity. This is an aerodynamic phenomenon that create a pattern of spinning vortices in a certain area. The company believes vorticity is the future of ‘green energy’. In their existing prototype, a long cone made from a composite of fiberglass and carbon fibre is designed to vibrate in the wind. Two rings of repelling magnets are positioned at the base of the cone, acting as a non-electric motor. When the cone moves one way, one of the magnets pull it another direction. This provides a boost to the mast’s movement, even when wind speeds are low. The movements is transformed into electricity using an alternator that increases the frequency of the mast’s movement.
Without the need for blades, the design could reduce manufacturing costs by 53 per cent compared to conventional multi-blade wind turbines. And the simple design means it doesn’t pose a risk to bird life or emit noise disturbance. The team claim their prototype ‘Vortex Mini’, at 41ft tall (12 metres), can capture nearly half of the wind’s power in normal conditions. This is 30 per cent less than normal wind turbines.

Written by Rebeca Mees


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