Increasing wind turbine efficiency is one major goal in the renewable energy field. Increased efficiency would lead to increased energy attainment and fewer turbines to accomplish the same energy output. Largely the focus has been on how to make existing types of turbines more efficient, however, changing the very way turbines are built and arranged may be the answer.
A new study published in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy has focused on making turbines more like a school of fish. While the two may sound like they have little in common, according to those behind the study mimicking schools of fish will increase wind turbine efficiency. However, the turbines themselves do not quite resemble the ones we are all familiar with.
Engineers have designed turbines that appear more like egg beaters which have been placed in the ground. The engineers designed turbines which rotate vertically rather than like a propeller, which is the common turbine type available today. In addition, the turbines are only approximately 10 meters in height, which is about ten times shorter than the average propeller turbine.
However, these vertically spinning turbines are not as energy efficient as their propeller counterparts. But, when arranged to mimic formats found in schools of fish, the wind turbine array is up to ten times more efficient than arrangements on current wind farms. The vertical turbines are grouped in pairs which are closely grouped with other pairings. Each pairing contributes air to the others, reducing turbulence and increasing efficiency.
Typically designed wind farms today generate approximately two watts per square meter. However, tests of the school of fish style found that 20 to 30 watts could be generated on the same area of land. In addition, rather than turbines towards the back of the design generating limited energy, turbines in the study were found to generate ninety-five percent of the energy of front-row turbines even when they were five rows back.
In addition to the efficiency, the height of the turbines is also considered a plus. Current turbines are often pointed to as eyesores, as harmful to wildlife such as birds and can be a concern for pilots. However, the turbines in this study only reach a height of 10 meters and are said to alleviate all of the above concerns.
Currently the array continues to be tested in California. It is unknown whether the turbines in the study or the design of the array will become common in the future. However, the research is being highly touted and could lead to increased efficiency if not also different turbine formats.
