Back in 2011, Festo created a natural-flight mimicking bionic seagull with flapping wings dubbed SmartBird. The company is now looking to apply similar principles in order to convert wind power into electricity with its DualWingGenerator system.
The DualWingGenerator system is comprised of a vertical column supporting a bottom and top pair of "wings" that measure 250 cm (98.4 in) across. The pairs are fitted to separate sliders and then driven up and down as the air flows across the surfaces.
As the wind blows, the wings move in opposing directions, the bottom wings moving upwards as the top move downwards, or vice versa. This motion is then converted into rotary movement inside the column using two timing belts and two free wheels. The rotary force is then transferred to an electricity generator to complete the kinetic to electricity power transformation.
Festo tested the effectiveness of the DualWingGenerator alongside two similar-sized conventional wind turbines. The team says that the system achieved "remarkableoutputs compared to small wind power stations," observing a 45 percent fluid-mechanical effectiveness level when used in wind speeds between 4 and 8 meters per second (with the maximum, or Betz' limit being 59.3 percent). The system also demonstrated a marginally higher energy output when used at similarly low wind speeds.
While the output of the DualWingGenerator, like all wind turbines, is related to the strength of the wind, Festo aims to lessen its dependence on the elements with what it describes as intelligent control technology.
This technology is designed to enable the system to self-optimize and adapt to different wind conditions. It involves two servomotors and a sensor built into the central column to dictate the angle, amplitude and frequency of the flapping.
While there is no indication of when or if the system might reach the marketplace, Festo is continuing to develop the technology and cites potential applications such as small scale installations on buildings or for generating compressed air or a water.
Source: Festo
Building mounted wind is able to deliver electricity without transmission losses right where the user lives & works. Presently about 50% of electric energy is lost at the rate of 5% per 100 miles of transmission line from central generating sites (nuclear, hydro, most-wind, coal, etc.) including EMF loss & infrastructure capital costs. Such extensive transmission lines massively destroy habitat because of EMF harmful effects to humans & wildlife in wide swaths along 100,000s of miles.
The built environment has massive untapped concentrations of wind, water, compost (soil), fecal (methane & alcohol), urine (nitrogen) & refined materials etc which being thrown away & unharvested are presently damaging & polluting health, wildlife & our enjoyment of our worlds. These complementary sources when harvest both clean up our world as well as provide all & more of the energy human require are the priority of where we must be concentrating our energy harvest investment.
I conceived something like this years ago. Shoulda woulda coulda...
In order to extract energy with that efficiency you need.. highly polished front flat faced blades, 10 in a 12 position configuration tilted at 8deg.
It seems as if we have grown into being dolts and no one addressing the solution poperly... the proper configuration is that of a fan as it has been for hundreds of years.
Humanity is not progressing at all despite the HTC and iPhone 5s.
And this is the real problem... fie on this junk.
Bill
1. Many communities restrict turbines because of noise both in residential and commercial areas. I suspect these are much quieter. Unfortunately the Festo video does not show wind tunnel information with sound to compare.
2. Many communities are beginning to restrict do to killing of birds. As I have seen the monster systems in action, I am not sure why birds cannot avoid the slow moving blades or are hurt by them but they cannot and are killed by them. Home systems spin much faster so definitely dangerous to the birds (why not a screen??). This system may be more bird friendly.
3. It appears it would be easily mounted to buildings, at least buildings where there is a single basic direction for most winds. I am not sure how well this would work if the direction of the winds varies a lot. Maybe the production models would have a large tail like most turbine systems to keep it facing into the wind and adjust out of the wind if the speed gets too high.