Helix Wind Releases Nifty Performance Testing Video
We’ve written about vertical axis wind turbine company Helix Wind before at Green Options. In addition to being quiet, solid, and easy to place in urban areas, the company’s turbine is also aesthetically attractive. And if pictures don’t convince you, maybe a video of the turbine in action will.
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We have farmers in western New York that would love to get their hands on one of these turbines.
What is the roll out schedule?
Brewse - Many Helix Wind models are already available. Here’s the company’s page on agricultural applications:
http://www.helixwind.com/en/whoyouare_agri.php
I lived on a Sailboat for many years and relied on Wind Generators to keep my batteries charged and they were quite effective however, Mine never lloked as cool as these!
Jiff
http://www.privacy-tools.at.tc
Ariel, you’re always on top of the coolest stories in green energy.
This is terriffic. What are the dimensions of this? It might be possible to have a mini-wind farm on top of every major building.
Imagine what this will look like when they get creative with it. The colors of the blades can be alternated, etc. It could be possible to put an animation on them too. *Sigh* Yes, advertising will undoubtedly find their way to them.
Great story. I’ll look into it.
I like the modular design of the fins; makes the turbine scalable and lowers manufacturing costs.
I do wonder how that could be applied to the alternator, stabilization rod, and axle. A partitioned axle would be nifty, if they could find a way to ensure it wouldn’t wobble.
The alternator - well, hooking up the overall turbine to a CVT so that the turbine can hang out for a longer time at its optimal speed, while pushing a set of alternators as hard as it wants to - that would be pretty cool, too.
As for the stabilization rod, it would encounter similar engineering requirements to the axel, but less on the wobble, and more on the strength.
So, is that a Photoshopped image of the generator at the top, or is there actually one running in Kansas City?
This is the first time I have caught wind of these turbines. (haha no pun intended). I hope to see them gain more popularity in the press because it appears to be a perfect wind power solution, and everyone needs to know! The reduction of size and costs when compared to a traditional wind turbine should assist in bringing new markets (residential and commercial) into the wind power arena.
I look forward to the change it can bring.
@ John–Some of the most advanced sailboats in the world are using wind generators similar to the Helix one linked above. Team Puma a participant in the Volvo Ocean Race, looks like they are using a scaled down version on their boat as they race around the world. Follow the race here: http://www.volvooceanrace.org/. I noticed the turbine on one of the videos of puma. They are located at the aft end of the boat, above the helmsman. In the past they were the typical three spoke turbine, but with boat speeds in excess of 30 knots, and winds that can reach 60 knots, the traditional generators would spin so fast and so loud that people would typically lock them in place when things got hairy.
Geez, these people are smart. Why can’t I get people like you at my site? *sigh*
Well, here’s a question since you all seem much more informed than I, what about the noise level? That could hinder some applications such as residential etc. Does anybody know about that?
Cool. What’s it cost?