Sheer Wind Innovation Promising

This is a serious contender for wind energy aforethought the real obvious problem is how to handle extreme winds.

I would attempt to build a larger device and to extend the height to ensure that the exit tube remains vertical and surrounded by the tower structure itself. I would then attempt to actually design the funnel component out of retractable sails to allow retreat in the face of extreme winds. Then if we are doing all that anyway it may be possible to set up a simple arced spar pair and forms a capture vee for the rising sail to naturally expand its capture area as it extends. Of course is would also naturally rotate into the wind. It should work as well if not better that the present design concept.

Even better the design may allow internal controlled adjustment and computer optimization also. It could easily behave like a gorgeous flower.

SheerWind Reports Its Commercial-Grade Field Unit Significantly Outperforms Traditional Wind Generation and is Competitive with Natural Gas and Hydroelectric Generation

February 20, 2013

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130220006085/en/SheerWind-Reports-Commercial-Grade-Field-Unit-Significantly-Outperforms

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SheerWind, Inc., an innovator in high-performance, cost-efficient wind energy technology, announces initial field-testing results, which comparesINVELOX commercial-grade wind energy generation with the same turbine on a traditional tower-mounted system. The test results indicate that INVELOX significantly outperforms the traditional turbine and is competitive with natural gas and hydroelectric generation by:

• Producing 600% more electrical energy (kWh)
• Operating at wind speeds as low as 1 mile per hour and in low wind regimes (class 1 and 2)
• Reducing installation capital cost to less that $750 per KW
• Increasing energy production capacity to record high of 72%

“This exciting performance superiority over traditional wind and competitiveness with natural gas and hydroelectric generation is attracting significant interest from Fortune 500 and moderately sized companies; government entities; industry experts; and others,” states Dr. Daryoush Allaei, CEO of SheerWind, Inc. “Our ability to operate efficiently and effectively in areas never considered viable with traditional wind energy and at costs as low as $10 MWH makes SheerWind a true game-changer in electric power generation.”

SheerWind’s INVELOX wind energy system captures the breeze from an above ground portal and funnels the wind through a tapering passageway that naturally accelerates its flow. This kinetic energy drives the INVELOX generator that operates at ground level. INVELOX has the following advantages:

• Costs less than 1 cent per KWH, making it competitive with natural gas and hydroelectric powered generation
• Requires no government subsidies to be profitable
• Reduces operating cost by 50% of current wind turbine technology
• Minimizes environment, animal, bird and human impact

About SheerWind, Inc.

SheerWind’s breakthrough wind technology is changing the course of power generation. The patented INVELOX electricity generation technology operates efficiently at wind speeds as low as 1 mile per hour, requires no government subsidies, is price competitive with traditional energy and has far less environmental impact than traditional generation technologies. The US electric power generation market is $250 billion and globally exceeds $1 trillion. The high performance and efficiency capabilities of INVELOX offer a global renewable energy solution that easily integrates with the power grid for small and commercial operations. For more information go to www.sheerwind.com

How it Works

http://sheerwind.com/technology/how-does-it-work

Capture, accelerate, concentrate. These three words express the essence of SheerWind’s approach to wind power. The name INVELOX comes from this dedication to INcreasing the VELOcity of wind. What the technology produces—energy that is affordable, abundant, safe, and clean—is nothing short of revolutionary.

Conventional wind turbines use massive turbine generator systems mounted on top of a tower. INVELOX, by contrast, funnels wind energy to ground-based generators. Instead of snatching bits of energy from the wind as it passes through the blades of a rotor, wind is captured with a funnel and directed through a tapering passageway that naturally accelerates its flow. This stream of kinetic energy then drives a generator that is installed safely and economically at ground level.

Bringing the airflow from the top of the tower to ground level allows for greater power generation with much smaller turbine blades. It also allows for networking, allowing multiple towers to direct energy to the same generator. The unit is about 50% shorter than traditional wind towers and uses a ground-based turbine with blades that are 84% smaller. Fewer generators are required, so equipment and maintenance costs are lower. Most importantly, energy output is greater.

INVELOX is scalable, equally suitable for use in major wind farms or micro-generation settings. It will produce power effectively at much lower wind speeds than current systems do, which means it will have a dramatically wider geographical range of use.

SheerWind’s value proposition is clear: facilitating inexpensive, efficient power generation with less impact to the environment and surrounding community.

Technology Validation

INVELOX technology has been reviewed and validated by a technical advisory board, a team of experts from major research universities and agencies. Prototypes were tested under controlled laboratory conditions, and test results were used to build and validate full-scale computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models.

Several demonstration units are being field tested during 2012. The first small-scale unit was installed in a field near SheerWind’s facility in Chaska, Minnesota. The unit incorporates the instruments for full speed and power data collection. Preliminary speed data have validated CFD model predictions.

A larger-scale (Commercial-grade) field demo unit has also been completed. Data collection and testing has exceeded expectations.

COMMERCIAL-GRADE FIELD UNIT REPORT

Comparing INVELOX commercial-grade wind energy generation with the same turbine on a traditional tower-mounted system. The test results indicate that INVELOX significantly out-performs the traditional turbine and is competitive with natural gas and hydroelectric generation by:

• Producing 600% more electrical energy (kWh)
• Operating at wind speeds as low as 1 mile per hour and in low wind regimes (class 1 and 2)
• Reducing installation capital cost to less that $750 per KW
• Increasing energy production capacity to record high of 72%

SheerWind’s INVELOX wind energy system captures the breeze from an above ground portal and funnels the wind through a tapering passageway that naturally accelerates its flow. This kinetic energy drives the INVELOX generator that operates at ground level. INVELOX has the following advantages:

• Costs less than 1 cent per KWH, making it competitive with natural gas and hydroelectric powered generation
• Requires no government subsidies to be profitable
• Reduces operating cost by 50% of current wind turbine technology
• Minimizes environment, animal, bird and human impact