FARGO, N.D. – A newcomer to the field of wind power generation is gaining notice for its unique look.
It’s a vertical axis generator that uses airplane style wings instead of a propeller.
The Wind and Renewable Energy Solutions (WindRES) product has a vertical shaft with vertical blades, which create power in much the same way an airplane wing creates lift.
As wind passes over a blade, the difference in air pressure between the inner surface and outer surface forces it to move, said WindRES president Mark Rouse.
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“Wind passes over the blade surface and it has to move. Instead of lift, we turn the wind energy into rotation,” said Rouse.
“It’s omni-directional. It doesn’t matter which way the wind comes from, the blades always catch it. So we don’t need any sort of pivot or adjustment to face it into the wind. Once it’s installed, it stays put.
“There’s no need for pitch adjustment on the wings, and no brakes.”
He said when the wind reaches 80 km/h, it spins faster and produces more power.
When the wind hits 110 to 130 km/h, Rouse said an electronic brake in the magnets engages to slow the shaft.
Safety is a key factor in the WindRES. Because it produces power in relatively small winds, it can go on the roof of a regular building and doesn’t need a tall tower.
“If it’s 25 feet off the ground, that’s all you need. The height of a grain bin.
“But the main feature is simplicity. There are only two moving parts. Conventional, propeller-driven horizontal generators have more than 50 moving parts.
“It’s called a permanent magnetic generator, which means it floats on alternating polarity magnets. There’s virtually no maintenance. The wind blows and the shaft turns and that’s all there is to it.”
A six kilowatt generator measuring 13 feet tall and 13 feet in diameter costs $50,000 US.
That unit would produce about 1,200 Kw per month, enough to power a typical household, said Rouse.
Sizes range from one Kw up to 50 Kw. He said a typical 30 Kw farm installation would cost about $120,000 US. That unit has blades that are 28 feet tall and measures 28 feet in diameter.
For more information, contact Mark Rouse at 763-463-8900 or visit www.windrespower.com.
