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Green Week: MagLev wind turbines could be most efficient yet
Why are there so many wind turbines becoming available lately? Wind energy is irresistible because it's so clean and cheap. But if the wind's barely blowing, we're just tilting at windmills. Even in a light 3.3-MPH breeze, this new design by Arizona-based MagLev Wind Turbine Technologies can crank out electricity. The company claims its design is so efficient, it can produce power for around a penny per kilowatt hour.
This design concept uses magnetic levitation (maglev) to keep the fiction between the moving parts of the turbine at near zero. Using this technology, the moving parts hover near each other, repelled by magnetic force. It's big, and when the tech is scaled up, its makers claim it will generate 1 gigawatt of electricity, enough power for a community of 750,000 houses.
If this actually works as advertised, this will be a breakthrough. The company says the turbine's operational costs are 50% less than comparable large-scale wind turbines, can create 20% more electricity, and doesn't kill birds. Sounds too good to be true.
Via Ecotility
By murcielago05 at 7:28 PM ON 11/09/07
wow...i'm impressed.
I would like to 2 more things though....how much $, and when? 08,09,10,+
It seems like magnets work for every solution.
some concepts that would be great (off the top of my head) are:
-maglev trains (not concepts anymore...but none in the US :(.
-a tracks a few miles long then at the end it goes straight up, for space (cargo, not people) launches.
-Magbeam (look it up), it has the possibility to get a spacecraft to Mars in just 45 days! today, it takes roughly 7 months.
-and of course this one....big ass wind turbines.
I would like to see one of these turbines help power my home town Sioux Falls......since after all, I live in the windiest state.
By DanMihu at 6:12 PM ON 11/10/07
All seems fine, but how do they perform this (magnetic) levitation? A maglev train eats up a lot of energy. How much will consume a maglev windmill? Nevertheless, may the Force be with them...
By nature man at 9:51 AM ON 11/29/07
I love this idea because it makes sense, does anybody know how soon they will be available, I need one now. The inverted design for windmills has been out for a while and I would incorporate this into the greenplanetsp products immediately.
By Tushar Koli at 10:24 PM ON 07/01/08
I am impressed by its pure design. How much initial cost setting up, and operational costs, life span and when will it be available? Can i impoert in to Australia or India?
By Allforit at 7:27 PM ON 08/20/09
I've been studying this type of windmill for a while. They are very effeicent in fact I'm going to build one on a small scale, only I'm going to use bearings. Now if the power company's build this how much beauruecratic bullcrap will get in the way. Take for instance I know they can make cars that get more than 36 mpg. But they don't because that would mean less oil consumption. And we all know the oil people are making a gazillion dollars on us even though the government is getting all excited about greenhouse gases. If a privet company don't build this guess who comes out of it with the short stick paying the bill? You got it US!! Show me! That's the state I'm from. They used to have an electric car that worked very well but it mysteriously went away. So who pulls the strings I ask? The oil companies. Cheap effeicent power? Maybe in about 50 years. I dare somebody to try & build this.
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Allforit:
I've been studying this type of windmill for a while. They are very effeicent in fact I'm going to build one on a s...More »