Darrieus Wind Turbines
Darrieus wind turbines are unlike many other similar wind generators
on the market and has captured so much attention since its invention.
|
|
Darrieus wind turbines in action |
Wind is a driving force behind guiding ships and permitting airplanes
to fly in the air. While wind energy is relatively clean and free
from any pollutants only 1-percent of wind energy is actually
utilized by the to power the grid.
Darrieus wind turbines have been considered as an alternative
means of resolving the growing issue of global warming and energy
independence. The main rotor shaft in a Darrieus Wind Turbine
runs vertically and its design dates back to the year 1972. Georges
Jean Marie Darrieus presented this design in 1972 with an aim
of providing a suitable alternate source of energy to the global
population.
The Functionality
The Darrieus wind turbine contains a gear box which can be placed
next to the generator and there is no need for another mechanism
to run the machine. Alternatively termed, the lift-type vertical
axis turbine, the Darrieus Wind Turbine is powered by lift forces
which helps it function effectively regardless of the win direction.
With the aid of airfoils, the turbine can generate speeds which
are far greater than the actual speed of the wind. This helps
in generating electric power. When the airfoils move in the direction
of the air, an angle of attack is created by the air flow which
provides a positive torque to the turbine's shaft and helps in
spinning the wheels at a greater speed. The energy thus generated
is converted into electricity.
The Modifications
Darrieus wind turbines have undergone several modifications in
the past. For starters, its eggbeater design has been replaced
with a giromill design, which permits vertical blades to be connected
to the central tower. While this design is cheaper in comparison,
the rotor blades are unable to maintain a steady rotational rate.
The Cycloturbine is the second design modification which permits
mounting of blades over the central axis. This allows the angle
of attack to become self starting. Mariah Power has designed the
latest alteration to the original Darrieus wind turbine. Termed
as Windspire, this design is sleeker and more efficient in comparison
and starts at just $6,500 USD per unit. This design is ideal for
hotels, numerous commercial settings and even for home use.
The Global Application
The Darrieus Wind Turbine as well as the eggbeater design turbines
is still functional yet most of them are being merely utilized
to prolong the overall life of the concerned turbine. The Eole
is considered to be the largest turbine and it is located in Cap-Chat,
Quebec. It has a length of 100 meters and stands 60 meters in
width. A smaller turbine standing 42 meters in length and 34 meters
in width is located in the Sandia Laboratory, Texas. Darrieus
wind turbines were also promoted by the FloWind Corporation located
in California before the organization filed bankruptcy.
The Scope of Research
It is a well known fact that the original Darrieus wind turbine
when it was first invented was not effective in generating electric
power in a suitable manner, nonetheless, it proved to be the benchmark
for initiating research and development purposes with special
regards to turbines located throughout the world. Apparently,
time and resources would need to be invested in developing the
technology to ensure that the Darrieus wind turbine design is
utilized and maximized as a suitable alternate energy resource.
|
