New Generator Wind Turbine Efficiency 50%+

[ecoenergy]

"A startup company based in Vancouver has developed a new kind of generator that could harvest much more energy from the wind. The design could not only lower the cost of wind turbines but increase their power output by 50 percent to as much as 100 percent, in some locations."

It is not only in Vancouver developments are happening. There is a massive investment being made in wind energy in Ireland as they believe the wind from the Atlantic can generate enough power to service the needs of the country. Nuclear was never an option for Ireland and they don't see enough sun to invest in solar. Wave is several years away as the cost is extreme. Governments are increasingly giving grants for home installations and in the UK there is a strong movement to these alternative sources of energy

[Ryland]

I always thought that it was the prop of the turbine that limited output the most, not the alternator.
Maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention in the wind turbine design class.

[chaster]

"The design could not only lower the cost of wind turbines but increase their power output by 50 percent to as much as 100 percent, in some locations."

Um, I didn't read the article, but this quoted claim is *highly* questionable in my opinion. Show me ANY mechanical energy conversion process that is 100 percent efficient (100 kilowatts go in, 100 kilowatts come out) and I will eat my hat. That is literally IMPOSSIBLE without breaking the laws of thermodynamics.

Now, I'm not saying that perhaps they have achieved an efficiency breakthrough (50% would definitely qualify as a breakthrough) but hyperbole is very bad for the cause.

I guess I need to read the article.

Eric

[NeilBlanchard]

It says increase efficiency BY 50-100%, which is very different than saying it is 50 or 100% efficient. So, if the old turbines were 30% efficient (pulling a number out of the air!), then this new generator would be 45-60% efficient; which is a 50-100% increase in efficiency...

[vtec-e]

Originally Posted by chaster

I guess I need to read the article.

Yes, you do. They said that the turbine would harvest 50% to 100% more wind, due to it being able to operate in a wider range of wind speeds.

It's good to see some progress in the wind turbine world though.
Wind turbines just got more attractive with this technology. Too bad it'll take forever to be available

ollie

[chaster]

Ohhhhhhh.... duh... Thanks for setting me straight folks... Now that is a lot more reasonable...

[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by vtec-e

Wind turbines just got more attractive with this technology. Too bad it'll take forever to be available

I can't wait for this to go mainstream. Keep me informed.

[Bicycle Bob]

A generator with a wider range of efficient operation is certainly nice. Not to hijack the topic, but I think that in the long range we will see tower-based turbines replaced by kites. The general field is aptly named AWE - Airborne Wind Energy. Development is still in the pre-cambrian period of trying all possible arrangements, sometimes backed by strongly-held opinions.
Given the need to match wind power to demand, we might also see rapid development of wind-powered pumps to replenish existing hydroelectric sites, using them as giant batteries. This may make up for reduced river flows, and keep existing infrastructure at capacity.