I think that wind energy is about to get a boost from a really unlikely source –a modest Canadian company.  We’re not talking about billion dollar corporations here, but a modest Canadian company with a really big idea. They call it the Vortex Wind Funnel. Its unique funnel shape is the reason for its amazing results. For years people have known that funnelling the wind could increase its power on a focused point. But the common logic was that a funnel would be heavy and difficult to align with the wind. Well, the guys at Master Flo Technology didn’t think so. They learned that by making the turbine the funnel they could actually automatically align the turbine into the wind with no steering mechanism. Plus with this totally concentric design the funnelling turbine weighs way less than you could imagine. This is due to the same technology that makes a bird light enough to fly. Many small parts attached together where the sum of all the parts equals strength, without the weight. And the most amazing thing about this technology is that it requires no braking mechanism. In a test done in April, the Vortex Wind Funnel had the load removed from the generator during a sustained 80 mph wind storm - with no damage! They tell me that the Vortex Wind Funnel can continue to produce power in even higher wind speeds with no need for a furling mechanism or brakes.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMw0lP7RwUw

Now, let’s talk about installation. This funnel turbine also has an advantage over others when it comes to installation.  Most wind turbines require that the wind turbine be mounted way up in the sky where winds are stronger and less turbulent. This can double the cost of the wind turbine and wreaks havoc on radar systems. It can also be dangerous to small aircrafts and migratory birds. But because of the funnelling effect the Vortex Wind Funnel can be mounted as low as 20 feet off the ground in windy areas. This can save a lot of money on installation. And the goal of the folks at Master Flo Technology is to sell the most efficient wind turbine per dollar spent which is a pretty simple equation. Now, I honestly have not compared the cost of the Vortex Wind Funnel with other wind turbines but I’m totally impressed with the concept. And when you witness this technology up close you realize that these guys are onto something big. On my visit to Hawkesbury, Ontario I witnessed a wind turbine that could produce some power at very low wind speeds. My first question to Master Flo was:  “Sure, this is great technology but how could you ever ship something like this around the world in a usable size like an 80-foot turbine? Well, they assured me that it was designed to be shipped in parts and assembled very simply in the field with very little special equipment. One engineer explained the assembly process and I was truly amazed at the simplicity, truly genius.  As I stated earlier, one modest Canadian company is about to give a boost to the Wind Energy Industry and that’s through this funnel turbine.

Tags: Wind Energy Renewable Betz Nuclear Green Solar

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