Often hailed as one of the most reliable sources of renewable energy, the wind energy has its weak spots too. Some recommended changes to blades and towers as well led designers to develop unconventional wind turbines to overcome the possible pitfalls. Accordingly, the unrelenting efforts to make them more efficient than ever before via some design-related modifications have been there this year also. Here, we are listing some of these most outstanding wind turbine designs of the year 2009.
FloDesign Wind Turbine prototype
Designer: FloDesign
What makes it innovative?
Drawing inspiration from a jet engine design, the FloDesign Wind Turbine prototype is three times more efficient at turning the wind into electricity than today’s towering, three-bladed models. The cowlings-made turbines direct air into patterns creating spinning vortexes and it accelerates the air when it passes through. The turbine works equally well at lower wind speeds and is indifferent to volatile wind patterns.
XBee wind turbine
Designer: Green Wavelength LLC
What makes it innovative?
XBee, an inventive 19-foot, prototype wind turbine, is still in R&D phase, where the Green Wavelength LLC is working on making it more resistant to overheating at times. It’s ground-breaking design is inspired by the movement of bumblebees, hummingbirds, and dragonflies.
Architectural Wind™
Designer: AV
What makes it innovative?
Architectural Wind™ is a modular wind turbine that integrates easily into new and existing commercial buildings. It employs AV’s patented design and innovative positioning method that increases turbines’ electrical power generation by more than 50%. It’s also less noisy when compared to conventional wind turbine designs and vibration are minimum possible.
Optiwind Accelerating Wind Turbine
Designer: Optiwind
What makes it innovative?
Thanks to a series of small, five bladed fans, the Optiwind Compact Wind Accelerating Turbine is ideal for high-density, low-wind areas. The turbine is just six meters in diameter and the blades too are shorter than traditional turbine blades extending to 80 meters.
Concept vertical axis wind turbine
Designer: Industrie-SA
What makes it innovative?
The concept vertical axis wind turbine has a diameter of 8m and a height of 3m. Once put into effect, it would generate up to 175MWh per year. Since it’s a vertical axis turbine, it’s safe for birds and are also less noisy. Moreover, the innovative design makes it insensitive to the wind direction and force.
GALE (VAWT)
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Designer: Tangarie
What makes it innovative?
The GALE™ line of vertical axis wind turbines produces up to 50% more electricity annually as compared to conventional turbines with the same swept area. These can withstand extreme weather such as frost, ice, sand, humidity and wind conditions. While its compact design reduces harm to wildlife, it’s non-reflecting surface makes it extremely easy on the eyes.
Fidu Rotor (VAWT)
Designer: Oskar Zieta and CAAD
What makes it innovative?
Standing on a three-armed pedestal, the prototype wind turbine is a freestanding wind turbine. It employs ‘free inner pressure deformation’ (fidu technology) to operate efficiently without any external assistance to orient its blades into the wind.
