Energy

Residential turbine design inspired by hummingbird wings

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Tyer Wind turbine mimics the figure 8 flapping motion of hummingbirds
Tyer Wind turbine is currently in test phase
Tyer Wind turbine mimics the figure 8 flapping motion of hummingbirds
Vertical axis wings of the Tyer Wind turbine are 5.25 feet in length (1.6m) for a total sweep area of 11.7 feet (3.56m)
Tyer Wind plans a large-scale version of the turbine for use in onshore and offshore wind farms
Tyer Wind machine is claimed safer for migrating birds compared to conventional three-blade, horizontal-axis wind turbines
Tyer Wind turbine’s rated power output is 1 kW
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As unconventional wind turbines go, the flapping machine introduced by Tunisian company Tyer Wind is on the far edge of quirky. Employing dual oscillating blades that mimic the figure-8 motion of the wings of a hovering hummingbird, the turbine's relatively compact design make it a potential fit for residential use.

For the Tyer Wind machine's inventor, Anis Aouini, this isn't the first unorthodox wind converter design. His company, Saphon Energy, developed the Saphonian bladeless turbine in 2012. This time around the firm looked to one of nature's most energy efficient flyers, the hummingbird, inspired especially by the bird's ability to hover in place for an extended period. From this, Aouini developed his "Aouinian 3D kinematics," a design he claims very efficiently "allows the conversion of a linear motion into a rotational one."

Constructed of carbon fiber, the two vertical axis wings of the Tyer Wind turbine are 5.25 feet in length (1.6m) for a total sweep area of 11.7 feet (3.56m). This relatively compact size is less than the sweep area for typical three-blade horizontal-axis wind turbines made for residential use. Though the Tyer turbine's rated power output of 1 kW is also less.

The turbine is said to give off less noise pollution compared to conventional wind turbines, be safer for migrating birds, less visually obtrusive, and allow for a higher density of turbines in a wind farm configuration. The company has plans for a large-scale version of the turbine, for use in either onshore or offshore wind farms.

The Tyer Wind turbine is still in the testing phase, gathering data on such things as power efficiency, aerodynamic behavior, material resistance and stress over the mast, so no word yet from the company on a number of key specs, including real world performance capabilities or price and release date. If it even gets to that point given that Aouini's Saphonian turbine has yet to hit the market.

Have a look at the promo video below and let us know what you think of the design in the comments.

Source: Tyer Wind

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24 comments
CzechsterMarek
Given the complex motion in which to deliver the force to activate the drive mechanism just what are the specs on failure analysis?
GeneMoore
put some VG's on those wings!!! geez make em really efficient! then they can get that system working better, I wonder if they read these comments?
Bob Flint
Too bad the noisy background music doesn't really help the cause for promoting this type of wind power generator.
Turbine typically refers to an single axial rotating device, this concept is more complex and therefore not as efficient.
LordInsidious
Cool design can see a lot of people wanting this on their house with solar panels. ridiculous video though
Chizzy
if this actually works, then it would be an excellent design for a balloon tethered wind energy generator. seems like it would be much lighter than a 3 blade design. balloon lofted wind power is the ultimate in constant grid available power design.
Mike Vidal
It looks like this won't kill birds like the current energy windmills.
RussMeure
Interesting design, I live in the desert where there are Highwinds daily and at times excessive heat, and also concerned about longevity wear and tear etc.
David Evans
I think this might actually attract some birds - or at least confuse them.
Tim Jonson
Pitiful, hopeless, non-starter. Ok? Perhaps millennials shouldn't be allowed to be engineers. What's your next move, Anis? Flapping jet engines?
Zappenfusen
It appears to be working itself to death. I can not imagine 20m wings duplicating the 1.5m wings motions longer than 30 minutes.
zapp