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The Guardian reports that Vortex Bladeless has developed a new bladeless wind turbine that promises to be more efficient, less visually intrusive, and safer for birdlife than conventional turbines. Using the principle of natural frequency and vorticity, the turbine oscillates in swirling air caused by the wind bypassing the mast, and then builds exponentially as it reaches the structure's natural resonance. It's a powerful effect that famously caused the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940, footage of which inspired David Yáñez to try to build a structure to harness this energy rather than prevent it. The turbine "floats" on magnets, which as well as significantly amplifying the oscillation, also eliminates any friction and the need for expensive lubricating oils or mechanical parts. "Wind turbines now are too noisy for people's backyard," says David Suriol. "We want to bring wind power generation to people's houses like solar power."
On the minus side the oscillating turbine design will sweep a smaller area and have a lower conversion efficiency. "The best wind turbine will collect around 50% of energy from the wind," says Suriol. "We are close to 40% with bladeless turbines in our wind tunnel laboratory." To offset this disadvantage, "you can put four, five or six 4kW turbines in the space of one conventional turbine, which need 5 meter diameter space around them," he says. In fact, wind tunnel tests have shown they perform even better placed closer together as they benefit from the vortices each of them creates.
Original Submission
(Score: 2) by VLM on Wednesday June 03 2015, @12:02PM
"Wind turbines now are too noisy for people's backyard," says David Suriol.
Hmm OK leafblowers and lawnmowers are too noisy for people's backyards but it doesn't even slow down my neighbors. Also screaming little kids. You get enough little kids and there's a continuous scream over a geographic average, pretty annoying.
you can put ... six 4kW turbines in the space of one conventional turbine
So a big fan is too loud (yeah whatever) but quantity six, four kilowatt subwoofers is not going to be disruptive. Well, uh, I'm not convinced.
(Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 03 2015, @12:05PM
> Hmm OK leafblowers and lawnmowers are too noisy for people's backyards but it doesn't even slow down my neighbors.
And they only run for a couple of hours a week at most, not 24x7. Try running a lawnmower at night every night all night and you'll get arrested for violating noise ordinances.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by VLM on Wednesday June 03 2015, @06:24PM
Hmm yes interesting climate based issue.
Where I live the natural flow of things means not much wind at night. Its actually kinda creepy at night when the wind stops when you're camping in the dark.
Another good noise example is air conditioning, although it isn't that loud.
It also helps living in a bad climate where you need to keep your windows closed maybe 10 months out of the year so you don't freeze / roast.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 03 2015, @01:19PM
I can guarantee you that if I tried moving my lawn while I was trying to sleep, I would go out and beat the crap out of me.
(Score: 2, Funny) by TWX on Wednesday June 03 2015, @04:01PM
I guess that having clones isn't working out so well for you, is it?
IBM had PL/1, with syntax worse than JOSS...
and everywhere the language went, it was a total loss.
(Score: 2) by vux984 on Wednesday June 03 2015, @05:10PM
Clearly not. The poor sap has been kicked out of his own bed. I'd run the mower at night too if my clone stole my bed. Or were you going a different direction with that? :)
(Score: 1) by Pax on Wednesday June 03 2015, @06:15PM
Somebody call the Wambulance !! " rel="url2html-28487">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIikqPmbgvI