New Study Proves Wind Tower Works Even With Low Speed Winds

New Study Proves Wind Tower Works Even With Low Speed Winds

A new US study has confirmed the efficiency of INVELOX wind technology according to New Zealand energy company Pacific Wind's generation program manager Reza Sehdehi.

The study, which compared the performance of the 200KW Army National Guard INVELOX wind tower in Fort Custer Michigan, found that not only was the unit capable of running three turbines in a small tunnel with limited power loss it also allowed turbines to generate electricity from very light winds.

Announced in 2014 a 30m tall, 70m long INVELOX wind turbine was built at the Fort Custer military base in Michigan so that it could generate 80% of its energy through renewable means.

Construction finished in April 2016 with one turbine, with the tower being fitted with two more turbines soon after to theoretically double unit's power capacity.

However Sehdehi says the unit has gone past expectations, as engineers say none of the turbines have been hit with the levels of turbulence they expected.

With traditional wind turbine towers blades from wind turbines create turbulence which break up airflow making it impossible to place too many turbines in close proximity as units in the front of the cluster are likely to prevent units in the back of the cluster from working.

However Sehdehi says this didn't happen inside the National Guard INVELOX tower where he says engineers saw turbines generate efficiencies of speed ratio's between eight and 10 for much of the time it was running.

"The strength of air currents generated by the INVELOX system was not being dissipated irregardless of whether it was hitting the first, second or third wind turbine."

"This has given this unit a capacity almost equal to that of the more expensive oil and gas plants without generating any of the greenhouse gasses belched out by fossil fuel power plants."

Generating wind magnification of SR=10 also had big implications around the range of winds turbines could use according to Sehdehi.

While wind turbines on traditional systems only cut in at 3.5m/s turbines inside an INVELOX wind tower only needed 1.3m/s or less than one third required by traditional systems something Sehdehi has huge implications for the future of wind generation.

"When there's a lower cut in speed units will generate power for more of the year, which means a more reliable power source," he says. "And as far as I'm aware that has been one of the biggest criticisms of wind power."

And with the tower capable of being able to increase production with new hardware Sehdehi says the tower will be able to meet camp power needs right through the future without structural changes.

"This unit is an example of how INVELOX structures don't require wide spaces, offer incredible reliability as well as upgradable generation possibilities."

"This is the future of wind."

Find out more about the report by visiting http://pacificwind.co.nz/us-army-camp-invelox-wind-turbine-gets-the-most-out-of-wind/ or email info@pacificwind.co.nz to learn more about INVELOX.

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