Flying Power
Canadian Company Magenn Power has tested a new device that does not resemble conventional windmills. This device is a hybrid of balloon and water mill. Inflatable turbine with helium inside can climb to a height of several tens of meters, and unwinding a flow of air to generate electricity.
A container filled with helium, is bent at an angle of the blade, very similar to the wheel of the watermill. The air flow acts on them as well as a stream of water on the wheel, and air construction begins slowly rotate.
Generator power flying shortcomings inherent in existing designs of impeller power, for example, it does not emit infrasound and does not harm the bird's propeller blades. Denial of expensive masts is another advantage of this wind turbine.
Wind turbine called Magenn Power Air Rotor System (MARS) and completed its first successful test in the U.S. state of North Carolina .
Installation and operation of the new device is much easier than terrestrial wind. To set a flying wind turbine requires only a small foundation with a winch and transformer station. With the help of ropes device rises to a height of 300 m , where the flow velocity can reach 100 km / h. In the case of a threat of hurricane can pull the balloon to the ground and hide in the hangar.
For comparison, the existing mast, wind turbines can not work with gusty winds over 60 km / h, because their blades are in resonance, the load grows and the structure collapses.
However, these wind farms have restrictions on use. Thus, these windmills will be able to work only in countries with warm climates, at zero temperature and strong winds balloon begins cover by ice and break down the elements of design. In addition to construction, continuous monitoring of staff, in contrast to the mast windmills. Such objects are very unstable behavior in the air. In good weather, everything is normal. But in other circumstances may cause difficulties in the proper orientation. Because reactance wind, they can ill-spun, turbulent flows are beginning to shake the balloon, resulting in system efficiency decreases.