wind power

[steev]

Two things I've been mulling:

Since global warming is increasing the amount of energy in the atmosphere, contributing to stronger storm systems, does it make sense that wind-power installations reduce the energy of wind movement, contributing to the solution thus, as well as replacing heat-adding power sources?

Since one objection to wind-farms is that they produce collateral damage among birds and bats, would it make sense to surround propeller turbines with a funnel sort of cowling which might ward off flying critters, as well as maybe increase the air velocity to the turbines?

Having trained as a zoologist, not an engineer, I'm just speculating.

[mnjrutherford]

Savonius built a vertical axis wind turbine that produces energy without the negative impact to wildlife because the blades present a solid wall when spinning rather than a blank, as do the sort on the Altamont. There are several companies producing them.... can't think of the names at the moment... But, Google "vertical axis wind turbine". You'll get quite a bit of data. Building a VAWT is on our "TO DO" list but a bit in the future. They take less space and produce less noise than the horizontal axis type as well.

[steev]

I was just thinking the cowling would increase the wind velocity like a penstock does for water.

[Joseph Lofthouse]

May 1, 2011 23:03:24 GMT -5 steev said:

I was just thinking the cowling would increase the wind velocity like a penstock does for water.

Around here we often place wind farms at the mouths of canyons. The canyon walls act as cowling and increase the wind velocity. (As long as the canyon is aligned with the prevailing winds.)

[steev]

JUst so. The two big ones I know are placed in canyon-passes, which is what started me thinking of these things, those places tending to be fly-ways, and wondering about weather effects downwind.

[bertiefox]

I hate the death of any wild thing, but when you compare the probable kill rate of wind turbines with road kill, or even birds flying into our double glazed windows and conservatories, then it is infinitessimal. We lost a thrush to the latter just a couple of days ago, AND our windows are covered with cut outs of hawk shapes recommended by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Wind in the right place where the turbines work most of the time, is the real future for alternative energy (until truly economic solar cells are developed.)