|
This talk will describe recent efforts using bio-inspired arrays of
counter-rotating vertical-axis wind turbines to reduce the cost, size, and
environmental impacts of wind farms. Full-scale field tests of 10-meter
tall vertical-axis wind turbines in various counter-rotating
configurations have been conducted under natural wind conditions over the
past four years. Whereas wind farms consisting of propeller-style,
horizontal-axis wind turbines produce 2 to 3 watts of power per square
meter of land area, these field tests indicate that power densities an
order of magnitude greater can be achieved by arranging vertical-axis wind
turbines in layouts inspired by the configurations of schooling fish and
seagrass beds. The higher power density is leveraged to achieve meaningful
power generation at lower altitudes than required by existing systems.
Notably, this improved performance does not require higher individual wind
turbine efficiency, only closer wind turbine spacing and a sufficient
vertical flux of turbulence kinetic energy from the atmospheric surface
layer. The results suggest an alternative approach to wind farming and
pose a broad array of interesting, unanswered scientific questions related
to the modeling and control of canopy flows.
|
|