By Charles Carter, 21/10/22
US startup Aeromine has developed a novel way of harvesting rooftop wind energy that features aerofoils and an enclosed turbine.
The device generates up to 50 percent more power than other sustainable rooftop energy systems, at the same or lower cost, according to its inventors
How does it work?
Two curved aerofoils create a low pressure zone in-between them and to the rear of a central tube, which is semi-circular in profile.
The pressure difference sucks air up through the tube which spins an enclosed turbine situated at its base.
The innovation can operate in wind speeds as low as 5mph and is placed at the edge of the building roof facing the dominant wind direction.
An enclosure at the bottom also captures prevailing wind, increasing the pressure difference and pushing more air through the turbine.
It is designed for use on buildings with large flat roofs such as warehouses or multi-unit residential blocks.
An earlier prototype was estimated to produce around 14MWh of energy per year. An average household in the US uses 11.7MWh of electricity per year according to the US Government.
What are the potential benefits?
The design decouples the swept area used to extract wind energy, from the power generation, which could be more efficient.
The company says their wind harvester is quieter, cheaper to make and has less moving parts than conventional wind turbines.
And combined with solar, could provide 100 percent of a building’s energy needs
Questions for you. Comment below
- First thought that comes into your head?
- Pros and cons according to you?
- Other applications of this approach?
- What could this be combined.with?
Links
https://www.aerominetechnologies.com/
Any innovative solutions on power utilities?