Zero-Blade Wind Turbines Double Efficiency Of Wind Energy

David Quilty | 06 August, 2012 | Clean Tech, Wind

New wind turbines without blades and rotors could improve the efficiency of capturing energy from the wind and change the face of the industry.

Conventional wind turbines work by harnessing the kinetic energy of the wind to spin propeller-type blades at low torque. The blades rotate a shaft connected to a generator, which makes electricity. It’s a rather simple process but it’s not the most efficient way of generating the power that we need. Saphon Energy believes that it has a new technology which can change that.

The company has developed “Zero-Blade” wind turbines which operate without the typical blades, rotors, or gearboxes. The Zero-Blade design is inspired by sailboats, as turbine blades are replaced by a giant sail which harnesses the wind by following a non-rotational back and forth motion. According to the Saphon Energy website, this allows for the conversion of the captured kinetic energy into mechanical energy using pistons which creates hydraulic pressure. This pressure can either be stored in hydraulic accumulator or used to make electricity via a hydraulic motor and a generator.

Saphon’s studies project that the new technology could be 2.3 times more efficient than today’s conventional wind turbines while cutting costs by some 45 percent. In addition, it could eliminate the so-called “Wind Turbine Syndrome” reported by some residents living near or under wind turbine installations. If the studies hold true in the real world, wind farms could look a lot different in a few short years.

Check out a video of the technology from Saphon Energy:

[via Energy Matters]

Image Source: Saphon

Michael Bergey

This is complete bull hokey. Claims like these have bilked imprudent investors out of millions upon millions of dollars over the last decade. I’m a mechanical engineer and have 35 years experience in the wind energy business and my prediction is that when a “Zero-Blade” turbine is finally built and tested to industry standards (IEC 61400-12) it will prove to be no more than 1/10th as efficient as today’s name brand wind turbines. Furthermore, it will be more expensive to produce because it will take more structure to keep their full disk rotor on the tower when the storms roll in. I recommend you file this one with the claims that there’s a new miracle box you add to your engine that will allow your car to run on water instead of gas. Same level of engineering.
David Jones

It may be a good idea but please quit the bs and just tell us what’s different about it!
IAMTHEPROCESSOR

I hope this is real as this would fix a lot of problems we have with wind farms these can be put on top of buildings and houses or on street poles or next to high ways rather then view destroying wind farms solar panels and zero blade wind turbines will be great I have high hopes for this!I hope this is real I think it is but there are many doubters gets me weary but I believe this will work!