Wind Turbine Without Blades

Energy from the wind without the use of turning blades?

mdk wrote:

I've worked a few places that sold those. They're a lie. There's a fan in the base that pushes air up into the circular part that simply redirects it out. Somehow that's worth $400. The worst part is that enough people buy them that the company is still in business and can still afford to manufacture them. One of the most depressing things about working retail is seeing what exactly people are willing to spend money on and what they aren't.

As far as the new turbines, the design seems weird to me, but I'm not a physicist or an engineer of any sort so maybe it'll change the world.

Goken wrote: The worst part is that enough people buy them that the company is still in business and can still afford to manufacture them.

Yeah, but have you ever used a Dyson hand-drier? Those things are beautiful

Akkarin wrote:

Goken wrote: The worst part is that enough people buy them that the company is still in business and can still afford to manufacture them.

Yeah, but have you ever used a Dyson hand-drier? Those things are beautiful

Fair point. Those are fantastic.

This is really cool. While I think solar arrays are the main future of large-scale energy creation, wind power can really be a powerful tool in various areas for local communities. Indiana and a few other central states would do great with these. I've seen a few other nifty designs floating around; it makes me happy to see basically any serious development of non-standard energy systems.

It's doubtful it will beat the energy to waste ratio of nuclear or hydro though. I'd certainly love to see thorium on base load with engineered reservoirs for storage and peak.