A look at Mariah Power's new vertical axis wind turbine

The Windspire is a low cost, attractive, plug-n-produce wind power appliance that provides a safe and attractive method for harnessing power from the wind. At only 30 feet tall and 2 feet in radius, Windspire is distinguished by its sleek propeller-free design, ultra quiet operation, rugged construction, and affordable pricing. Designed for operation where we live and work, it comes complete with a high efficiency generator, integrated inverter, hinged monopole, and wireless performance monitor.

Typical wind turbines are mounted on a tower, perhaps are taller than local zoning ordinances allow, make noise, have an effect on bird populations, etc. Vertical axis wind turbines are done differently and can be more easily integrated with the urban landscape.

Durable, Simple Installation, Low Maintenance - Rugged yet simple construction means durability - Windspire is rated for winds up to 100 mph - and low maintenance for customers. Installation is simple, and can be completed by a professional installer in a matter of hours.

Virtually Silent: Windspire is nearly silent. According to an independent acoustic study by Summit Engineering, the Windspire is "imperceptible" in a 10 mph wind, and 8.8 dB above ambient in a 50 mph wind. Compare this to the 65 to 100 dB noise levels of many turbines on the market!

Because of its small size it can fit into more settings than can larger turbines. Obviously that may mean lower power output per turbine. But if it's truly affordable then the lower price can mean more turbines to install. The company suggests you can use one or more to power your home, such as placing them in the back yard. However their siting suggestions say there should be a 50-100 foot circumference around the Windspire where there are no buildings. This is not possible in a residential area but there are plenty of places this can be done, such as along the edge of a parking lot, along a highway, etc.

The currently available units are rated for 1.2 kW. This is not quite enough to power a household, meaning the typical house will require several of them. Also since wind is gusty a power storage mechanism is required such as batteries.

The Installation Steps

1. Choose a suitable Windspire location.
2. Auger a 6-foot deep, 2-foot diameter hole (typical foundation).
3. Install the foundation form and secure the threaded anchor rods.
4. Pour the concrete, and wait for it to fully cure.
5. Dig a trench to your electrical connection for wiring.
6. Assemble the Windspire horizontally, connected to the hinge plate on the base.
7. Raise the Windspire with a winch or motor, using the cable and gin pole set.
8. Run the electrical wire and connect your Windspire to your house or building.

Links: 

http://mariahpower.com/

External Media

10,000 kW Electrical Power Generation in Your Backyard

Want to get off the grid? the Electric grid that is. The QR5, from U.K.-based Quietrevolution, is a residential-scale wind turbine that generates enough electricity to power a standard U.S. home or a small office. It also looks like a piece of wind-powered sculpture. Unlike the shape of a conventional windmill propeller, it’s a Vertical-axis wind turbine.

Prior coverage of vertical axis wind turbines: Vertical axis versus horizontal axis wind turbines

The maker: quietrevolution

Article Reference: 

10,000 kW Electrical Power Generation in Your Backyard

An interesting twist on wind energy

The typical wind turbine is a propeller sitting atop a tall pole. It makes a fair amount of noise, apparently from vibrations that also require frequent maintanence of the turbine. It's difficult to get this kind of wind turbine installed in urban settings because of the noise. Yet, wind energy is inexpensive and becoming cost competitive with the major power systems.

Urban Wind Visionary University of Illinois professor says the answer to cities’ energy needs are blowin’ in the wind (Conscious Choice, August 2005)

Bil Becker, a University of Illinois professor, has invented a radically different sort of wind turbine. One that's ultra simple, ultra reliable, small enough to be installed anywhere, flexible in orientation, dead quiet, able to operate over a wide range of wind speeds, and rather safe for wildlife. Sounds great!

His company is Aerotecture, Ltd., and the turbine is this spinning sculpture (it's so beautiful and graceful, "sculpture" is the only word I have for it) inside a cylindrical cage. It can easily run in wind blowing from any angle. It is meant especially to capture the gusting winds that occur around tall buildings in urban settings.

Part of the story is distributed generation of electricity. This idea is being fought by the major power companies because, well, obviously it would render them somewhat obsolete. But it makes a lot of sense.

With distributed generation you create the electricity near where it is going to be used. For example a factory with a large rooftop could have these turbines or solar panels on the roof.

Among the advantages is that you avoid the power loss that comes when you transmit electricity long distances over wires. This loss is unnavoidable due to resistance in the wires, unless you come up with some kind of high temperature superconductor. The transmission power loss can be pretty dramatic, and if you stop to think about it, rather consternating. See, most ways of generating electricity involve some kind of environmental degradation like poisinous exhaust from burning fossil fuels, toxic waste from nuclear plants, or dammed up river valleys. To think that a large portion of that environmental degradation is attributable to transmission loss is, well, making me angry. You can avoid all that with local generation.

This turbine seems especially suited to local generation.