The Fluid Dynamics Division of the American Physical Society is meeting in California this week, and the event promises a glimpse at the next generation of high-efficiency, low-noise wind turbines. Although it may seem like a case of gilding the lily – APS notes that the U.S. has been adding more wind generating capacity than coal for the past two years – researchers anticipate new advances in wind turbine design that will significantly lower the cost of wind power production. That’s not just great news for grid-connected power users, but it could also help boost micro-wind turbines into the affordability range for many more households and businesses.
Wind Turbines and Turbulence
Variations in air flow have a big effect on wind turbine efficiency. Turbines perform best when air flow is constant, a condition rarely achieved in nature. One new technology under development at Syracuse University addresses the issue with a “smart” flow controller, which adjusts the turbine blades to compensate for gusts, turbulence, and other variations. Researchers anticipate that the system could also help reduce noise and vibration.
Wind Turbines and Drag
Meanwhile over at the University of Minnesota, researchers are developing a unique blade surface to reduce drag, consisting of small, shallow triangular grooves or riblets. This approach has been used on the sails on America’s Cup yachts, as well as on aircraft. Though the factors affecting wind turbine blades will differ, based on a drag reduction of 6 percent achieved by the use of riblets on aircraft, the researchers expect a significant savings.
Image: Wind turbines by the russians are here on flickr.com.
I don't like paywalls. You don't like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Here at CleanTechnica, we implemented a limited paywall for a while, but it always felt wrong — and it was always tough to decide what we should put behind there. In theory, your most exclusive and best content goes behind a paywall. But then fewer people read it! We just don't like paywalls, and so we've decided to ditch ours. Unfortunately, the media business is still a tough, cut-throat business with tiny margins. It's a never-ending Olympic challenge to stay above water or even perhaps — gasp — grow. So ...
Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!
Have a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
