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The energy that is circulated by the wind is a natural resource that is just beginning to be utilized to produce more electricity and to operate other equipment that needs an energy source. Wind turbines have been created to harness the wind’s energy and they are becoming more effective, because research is discovering how the wind changes based on the terrain and other conditions, such as bodies of water, vegetation and rock formations. Nature and location play an important role in deciding what kind of wind rotors should be used to efficiently capture as much energy as possible. Rotors, which are the blades and the hub of the turbine, are becoming hi-tech in terms of shape, size and angle movement. The wind blows at different speeds, in different directions and causes the blades to lift and rotate, so one rotor style would not be effective in all wind herding situations.

Multi-rotor turbines are being manufactured with carbon fiber drive shafts, aluminum hubs and carbon-reinforced polypropylene blades. A seven foot diameter turbine with six rotors can produce a lot of power. At sea level with a wind blowing at 32.5 mph a 6 rotor turbine can produce 6000 watts of energy. At 30mph it produces 5400 watts and at 25mph, 4000 watts of power is harnessed. That’s at a tower height of only 60 feet. Even at low wind speeds these multi-rotor turbines perform superbly. Another important feature of the multi-rotor design is the size of the rotor. Small rotors rotate faster than larger ones, weigh and cost less, are easier to produce, plus they experience less material fatigue.

New technology is revealing that the Danish Design, which has been around for centuries has certainly been effective and has advanced in size, shape and materials, but there are several issues with their effectiveness for all twenty-first century needs. The Danish Design rotors are heavier, need more maintenance and they rotate slower. The big ones may only rotate at less that one revolution per second. Today’s smaller rotors can rotate at 1800 to 3600 rpm. These new rotors are 18” in diameter and are part of a hub that contains six rotors, which are set at different angles in order to catch the updraft, as well as the downdraft of the wind. There is some wind shadowing, but the combined power of multiple rotors offsets these slight losses.

The future of rotors and wind turbines is an exciting one. Multiply rotors that are attached to helium or hydrogen filled kite-like lifting structures instead of towers and are capable of being tethered so they can reach higher altitudes, are in the development stage in Europe. These new turbine could provide power for cities as well as industry. Rotors and turbines will play a major role in providing energy to light the world in the next generation.



Jason Grace
on behalf of the
BascoTec Internet Limited
Technologie Park 13
33100 Paderborn
Germany

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