Whizzyrd Wind Turbine - Hydrocarbon fuel on the run?

The idea is for the Whizzyrd to be a scalable system, from small toys, to commercial scale power.

Each Whizzyrd turbine is very simple in construction, with a vertical axis of spin and low height profile.

Whizzyrd Turbine Diagrams

The low height profile avoids the problems with conventional vertical spin axis turbines, or 'eggbeaters'. Utility scale power is achieved through numbers rather than size. This allows for commercial scale power output to be built up gradually as turbines are added to a networked grid.

The project would have several possible angles, or divisions. One could start a cartoon series with little Whizzyrd robots from outer space coming to Earth and doing environmental good as they try to establish a home alongside Humankind. Small toy Whizzyrd robots could be manufactured with spinning turbines to catch the interest. The Whizzyrds would use wind like people do food, and also be able to use their turbines for powered flight.

Lawn ornaments could be made into decorative sidewalk lights or outdoor lights that fluctuated with the wind around the home. This would give one a direct visual sense of being connected to the wind around the home.

Household scale power generation could be made scalable through erecting a 'Whizzyrd Tower' and beginning with one turbine, adding more as finances permit.

Commercial power projects could utilize multiple Whizzyrd towers and continually increase power output as construction progressed on a commercial scale facility.

The great wind resources of the coastlines and Great Lakes could be tapped as sources of both wind and hydrogen and oxygen fuel production via wind-powered hydrolysis. The net result would allow the storage of wind energy in the form of hydrogen during high wind, low use cycles, and the direct transmission of electricity if desired. Level of flexibility could be dependent upon the plant operating company's desires / business model. This scheme also allows land-based utility companies to adopt a strategy of buying power from multiple off-shore independent producers of wind power / hydrogen, or building their own fleets. The hydrogen when burned for fuel produces near pure water vapor, which could be tapped as a source of fresh water. It is somewhat feasible that wind power / electrolysis could be used to treat urban wastewater and produce energy at the same time.

The use of hydrogen conversion not only opens the possibility of wastewater treatment, it adds potential for use as transportation fuel, and also acts as a buffer against the inherent variable nature of using wind as an energy source. Hydrogen could easily be stockpiled in periods of wind energy surplus and used to satisfy peak demand during times of low overall wind or calmer weather trends.

It also opens the possibility of bypassing existing utility companies and selling hydrogen to alternative fuel suppliers nationwide. There are many avenues of exploration, and automotive manufacturers are working on fuel cell powered vehicles currently. And fuel cells love pure hydrogen, but the production and distribution networks aren't in place.

So here we have a fuel source with the potential to impact the following modern urban needs:
1.) Non-polluting energy source.
2.) Alternative transportation fuel source. (Non-polluting)
3.) Water treatment and fresh water needs.
4.) Industrial / medical oxygen supplies.

All this comes at the cost of installation and maintenance only.
The fuel is free and there are little or no hidden costs from environmental fouling.

Here's our chance to veer sharply away from petroleum and oil dependence...?

Whizzyrd Turbine enhancement ideas for low wind speed / greater power output

© 02/02/2002 by Daniel A. Stafford

Back to AquarianM's World