Saturday, September 19, 2009

Windmill Efficiency.

I have been searching for articles on making efficient wind mills.

This seems like a really obvious thing, but apparently no one is doing this right!

Some articles below show this.

http://nov55.com/wdm.html
http://www.energyadvocate.com/fw91.htm
http://www.appropedia.org/Savonius_rotor


This seems like a perfect problem to put to a genetic algorithm search.
If I could find a good simulation code, then many different designs not just of blade shape but orientations, configuration. Both horizontal and vertical can be simulated and tested quickly.

I am definitely seeing a trend where very old wind mill designs are cheaper easier and more efficient then these modern high tech mega windmills.

Where modern windmills seem skewed towards large construction projects.
It would seem something is broken in the wind industry.


Some additional interesting articles:



A few more ideas.
  • You know about shark skin has dimples that reduce drag, Using these in water pipes, ship hulls and propellers should make these more efficient.


    Its dermal denticles decrease drag and turbulence by directing water flow over the body, which allows surrounding water to pass over the shark more effectively. SPEEDO Introduces Fastskin -- the Fastest Swimsuit Ever Made

    Would this work with Air? For Windmill blades, and aircraft propellers and wings?


  • Energy storage is a big deal. Can we store compress air underground generated from a windmill or solar (sterling cycle) and then have generators that convert this compressed air in to power on demand?
UPDATE:
  I found a few more good links on this.
http://zebu.uoregon.edu/disted/ph162/l11.html
http://www.energyadvocate.com/fw91.htm

    No comments:

    Post a Comment