Its creators say that it generates up to 50% more energy at the same cost. It can be placed in any high place, such as a terrace or a roof. And although it obtains electricity from the force of the wind, has no moving parts. It is a windmill without blades. Or rather, a bladeless wind turbine. And it is that its appearance is more reminiscent of an air conditioning machine than a classic wind turbine.
After animal strength, the wind energy was one of the first external sources used by humans to reach beyond than his arms and legs would allow. For move boats in the sea, for pump water or for grind cereals. In this sense, the mill is one of the oldest human devices. And its form has evolved little. What’s more, the wind turbines that we find more and more frequently in different landscapes also use the classic vanes or blades that move by wind action.
However, for a few years now, researchers from all over the world have been trying to improve an invention almost as old as stone but which has been very useful to us for centuries. Precisely, with the help of all the knowledge that we have accumulated in a matter of aerodynamics and how the force of the wind can be convert into electricity without the need for mobile elements that suffer wear or breakage over time. And, consequently, with less environmental impact.
A rising source of energy
The windmills have become popular in recent years. And it is common to see them in certain places. Normally, in sparsely populated areas or far from big cities. Unlike the sun, which does not shine with the same intensity and during the same hours in all countries, the wind is present all over the planet. In addition, amortizing the wind turbine installations requires less and less time for the large electric companies.
Hence, in the TOP 5 of countries with greater capacity of energy production from the wind include giants such as China, the United States and India, but also countries such as Germany either Spain. Without going any further, there are European countries that frequently obtain between 20 and 40% of its electrical energy from the wind.
However, much remains to be done. At the moment, the windmills are installed in rural areas or far from large cities. The main reason is that it is cheaper to occupy large agricultural or natural extensions with dozens of wind turbines that must keep distance from each other. and we can also find them in the seain areas where strong winds help generate electricity without occupying land.
But little by little the possibility of using windmills or wind turbines to domestic or industrial use. The power obtained is less. But, in return, they can be installed on terraces and rooftops instead of allocating empty land. These are smaller devices that use blades or blades of different shapes and sizes. even start to see vertical axis wind turbines that little resemble the classic windmills. And the next step is in the bladeless windmills.
Bladeless wind turbines for commercial use
An example of a wind turbine without blades is called Aeromine. The owner company, Aeromine Technologieshas developed bladeless windmills that have little or no resemblance to traditional wind turbines. It is intended for Commercial use, in companies or industrial facilities. And it can be used separately or integrated into energy systems that also use solar panels. One way to ensure that there will always be electricity available.
With a look reminiscent of aerodynamic wings of Formula 1 cars, precisely these bladeless wind turbines are based on this knowledge of aerodynamics to capture the wind and amplify its force. Without making noise or generating movement. At least on the outside. What makes them perfect for installing on roofs. An alternative to solar panels that requires less maintenance Y less surface of installation.
To install on any roof or terrace
What’s more, it also seems to overcome the obstacle that prevents windmills from working in conditions of excessive wind. The more the better. Up to a maximum of 53 meters per second or more. And, on the other hand, it can also work with low wind speeds such as 2.5 meters per second.
Hence, on its official website it indicates that these bladeless wind turbines can be install on large flat roofs warehouses, factories, office buildings, department stores and even residential buildings. And as an example, those responsible for Aeromine say that one of their units is equivalent to 16 solar panels in terms of electricity generation.
On the operation of these wind turbines without blades, it is explained in an interview in Interesting Engineering. In this specialized medium, Dr. Carsten Westergaard, founder and CTO of Aeromine Technologies, briefly summarizes what makes your bladeless windmill so special. “Unlike any type of wind turbine, Aeromine has two separate flow streams (…) The outer fins oriented towards the wind produce a low pressure potential. low pressure potential drives an internal flow current from a separate inlet via an internal helix that extracts energy and then expels the residual fluid into the free stream.”
Westergaard also clarifies that “the internal helix It’s not really a wind turbine, it’s a fan running in reverseor in the abstract of water flows, is a Kaplan turbine in a hydroelectric dam, driven by the differential pressure and the flow caused by the differential pressure.
For sale in the near future
On the official page of Aeromine Technologies no buy link appears. It is not possible to contact a commercial. For this to be possible we will have to wait. To make the chain production of these bladeless wind turbines, Aeromine has partnered with BASF, the German giant considered the most important chemical company in the world. The goal is to manufacture tens of thousands of units. by the end of 2023.
Until then, we don’t know the prices of these innovative wind turbines. Or if we can install them on our roofs. Or if what they promise is true. On plan, everything is advantages and a big change of perspective of the place that wind energy occupies, usually outside the cities. We will see if this change becomes a reality.
Bladeless windmills ‘made in Spain’
Aeromine It is not the only wind turbine without blades in operation. In Spain we have Vortex Bladeless. A Project who has been working on oscillating wind turbines instead of having spinning blades. I talked about it a couple of years ago. And after researching, prototyping, and testing them under various conditions, they recently announced that they were going to start manufacturing the latest version of their devices.
the last we know of Vortex Bladeless is that they have installed a prototype of their bladeless wind turbines with the name of tacoma and which is integrated into a previous photovoltaic installation in Las Navas del Marqués, in Ávila. With this prototype they will continue collecting data to continue improving their wind turbine.