Image from Ecogeek.org

The research company Solar Aero, located in New Hampshire, recently announced the patent of their bladeless wind turbine. The design is based on a patent issued to Nikola Tesla in 1913. The Fuller Wind Turbine, which the bladeless wind turbine is called, has only one rotating part, the turbine-driveshaft. The entire assembly is contained inside a housing which has several advantages compared to a blade-style turbine. For starters, this turbine does not present a danger to wildlife such as birds and bats.

According to Solar Aero, the turbine is expected to deliver a power output comparable to a coal-fired power plant. Total operation costs over the lifetime of the unit are expected to be about 12 dollar cent per kWh. The company estimates the final costs will be about 1,50 dollar per watt or roughly two-thirds the cost of comparable bladed wind turbines.

It will be interesting to see if this technology will take off and if the technology can be scaled up to provide utility level power production. My opinion about this bladeless wind turbine is that it is an interesting alternative to bladed wind turbines and we will see if it grows into the mainstream energy market or will remain a niche system.

Source: Solar Aero

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