[Newsbot]

Title: The future of wind turbines? Bizarre-looking funnel produces SIX times more energy than traditional designs
Category: Tech
Posted By: DrCaleb
Date: 2014-02-13 07:03:20

[Robair]

I hat when obvious shit gets invented and I didn't invent it.

[Public_Domain]

[Jabberwalker]

That thar is a ram jet.

[N_Fiddledog]

$1:

This technique creates kinetic energy and is called the Venturi Effect. This kinetic energy turns the generator.

Sheerwind claims that due to this unique Venturi-based system, the turbine works with wind speeds as low as 2mph.

It can also produce 600 per cent more electrical energy (kWh) than blade systems by expanding the range of speeds at which it can operate.

I've always wondered why you couldn't hook something like that up to a car to re-charge a battery on an EV, and run without fuel.

I mean, I get it that you can't get more energy out of a thing than what you put into it, but I'm not sure there isn't a way around that, through energy management so that concentrated energy for specific purpose is enough for economic use.

[sandorski]

interesting

[Jabberwalker]

That is how an interstellar ramjet works. Hydrogen is scooped up in a parabolic magnetic field, sped up, pushed together until it fuses to helium, releasing a shit-pile of energy, pushing the craft ahead, sucking up more and more hydrogen and creating more and more energy. You keep accelerating ... getting closer, closer, ... closer to the speed of light but not actually getting there until you have sucked up EVERYTHING. I guess, viewed from a certain perspective, you would be seen as a black hole.



just sayin'

[Robair]

Yea but, this is stationary. Really it's just a funnel connected to a venturi with a turbine in the middle.

It's stupid simple compared to a ramjet.

Hence me angry me didn't think of it.

[Jabberwalker]

We have the identical apparatus for directing breezes down into sail boats through hatch covers. Boats are sealed up tight against the elements and they are notoriously stuffy, inside.

[Robair]

Ram air intake.



That also leads to a venturi on the other end... this is also a little different as the engine is creating a vacuum on the other side of the venturi. But yea, examples of this concept (or close to it) are everywhere. Simple simple.