New York design firm Atelier DNA has developed a form of wind energy capture using stalks instead of the more traditional blades. Yes, it seems counter-intuitive to think that wind turbines without blades could generate as much energy per square metre as standard wind turbines, but this this is claimed, based on scientific observation.
Atelier DNA’s “Windstalk” project came in second in the Land Art Generator competition which is an international contest sponsored by Masdar to identify the best work of art that generates renewable energy. Resembling thin cat tails, the Windstalks generate electricity when the wind sets them waving. The designers came up with the idea for the planned city Masdar, a 2.3-square-mile, car-free area being built outside of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The output would be comparable to that of a conventional wind farm covering the same area. However there would be no danger of bat and bird kills that can sometimes dog traditional wind turbines in certain locations. Also the site would be almost silent, avoiding some complaints that the noise of turbines can adversely
affect people and animals in close proximity to them.
“The idea came from trying to find kinetic models in nature that could be tapped to produce energy,” explained Atelier DNA founding partner Darío Núñez-Ameni (left). He continued “Our system is very efficient in that there is no friction loss associated with more mechanical systems such as conventional wind turbines.” That should also mean reduced maintenance costs.
The proposed design calls for 1,203 tapered carbon-fibre stalks reinforced with resin, each 180-feet high with concrete bases that are between 33 and 66-feet wide. Each stalk will contain alternating layers of electrodes and ceramic discs made from piezoelectric material, which generates a current when put under pressure; the discs will compress as they sway in the wind, creating the charge.
To complete an eco-friendly area, each base will be slightly different, and sloped so that rain will funnel into the areas between the concrete to help plants grow wild. The vision is that these bases and the accompanying vegetation will form a public park space.
Núñez-Ameni says that two large chambers below the whole site will work like a battery to store energy. This idea is based on existing hydroelectric pumped storage systems. Water in the upper chamber will flow through turbines to the lower chamber, releasing stored energy until the wind starts up again.
It’s planned that the top of each tall stalk has an LED lamp that glows when the wind is blowing more intensely during strong winds and not all when the air is still. The firm anticipates that the stalks will behave naturally, vibrating and fluttering in the air, and creating a visual spectacle.
“Windstalk is completely silent, and the image associated with them is something we’re already used to seeing in a field of wheat or reeds in a marsh. Our hope is that people living close to them will like to walk through the field — especially at night — under their own, private sky of swarming stars,” said Núñez-Ameni.
After completion, a Windstalk should be able to produce as much electricity as a single wind turbine, with the advantage that output could be increased with a denser array of stalks. Density is not possible with conventional turbines, which need to be spaced about three times the rotor’s diameter in order to avoid air turbulence. But Windstalks work on chaos and turbulence so they can be installed much closer together, said Núñez-Ameni.
If that wasn’t enough, Núñez-Ameni also reports that the firm is currently working on taking the Windstalk idea underwater. Called Wavestalk, the whole system would be inverted to harness energy from the flow of ocean currents and waves. The firm’s long-term goal is to build a large system in the United States, either on land or in the water.
Inspired by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (above), Masdar City aims to be the world’s first carbon neutral and self-sufficient city via clean energy technologies like wind and solar and is being built by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company.
Spacious skies and amber waves of grain . . . how beautiful, but
let’s get real. The tail does wag the dog. All things that reciprocate in a compressible media generate sound. You may not hear such low frequencies, but ALL noise, chaos, is the sound of wasted energy.
For the sake of art,aesthetics, and some entertainment go build it.
In the end, you will spend well over $50 for each measly watt in return.
Conventional wind machines, 55% efficient, cost about $4 per watt installed. Accordingly they can’t pen out except in select wind locations.
Beauty & Prosperity reigns below a dollar per watt. Aspire to that goal.
Arthur Devine, Sc.D.
Have land available Here in Pa.USA.Mt.Range Poss.put up a 100 or more Stalking Wind Units Next to major Power Co.Transformer site To East coast.only120 miles away. 2500-3000 ft.high Mt. Regards Edward J.Kozel truck & Eq.Inc.Pa.USA.P-570-587-2548..Would work with you to market Them in My Area.