When you think about wind energy, the first thing that comes to your mind is the wind turbine, rotating as the air propels it. Vortex Bladeless Wind Turbine is one them. With the rapid use of wind energy all across the world, it’s necessary to take a close look at the various ways it is causing harm to the environment. It poses a threat to wildlife, occupies a large space, causes noise pollution, and has limited scalability. It’s also expensive and location-specific, and cannot be installed unless you have access to a wide and open space.
But what if we told you that it’s possible to get access to wind energy without a turbine?
This is the main idea behind the Spanish sustainable energy company Vortex Bladeless. With their path-breaking ideas, they are about to launch a solution that doesn’t require blades to harness energy from the wind. The bladeless wind energy is clean, safe for the environment, and requires low investment.
Wind Turbines (Source: pexels.com)
About Vortex Bladeless Wind Turbine Company
Vortex Bladeless is a tech startup based in Spain, co-founded by David Yáñez and Raul Martín. They have come up with an innovative solution that is sure to bring a major shift in the sustainable energy industry. The company began its tentative journey in 2014, with an idea to create a bladeless wind. As strange and impossible as it sounds, Vortex Bladeless has made this possible. The company has been successful in obtaining the ISO 9001 certification. They look forward to commercializing the solution by the end of 2020.
The company has received several awards and accolades, including EU’s SME instrument Seal of Excellence (2016) and the Innovation SME of the Spanish Government (2017).
The Solution
Vortex Bladeless has designed a cylindrical structure that will replace the wind turbines. This simple design doesn’t need any blades to operate, and also doesn’t need gears and bolts. How does the Vortex turbine capture bladeless wind energy? It makes use of a phenomenon called the Vortex Shedding Effect.
How Does It Work?
The turbines developed by the company aim to harness ‘vorticity’, or the spinning motion of the wind. The cylinder is fixed with an elastic rod vertically, and the passing wind causes the cylinder to vibrate. The kinetic energy from the moving cylinder is transformed into electricity with the help of a generator.
Vortex Tacoma (Source: Vortex Bladeless)
The alternator system that Vortex Bladeless uses is more efficient than regular wind turbines. It operates with the help of magnets and coils and uses the vortex dynamics to function. Alternators are an innovative solution, as they need less maintenance.
Features of Vortex Bladeless Wind Turbine
Here are some of the unique features of Vortex Bladeless that set it apart from wind turbines.
Vortex Tacoma Prototype (Source: Vortex Bladeless)
Environment-friendly
Vortex Bladeless is a solution that you can install in a residential area, or on the roof of your house. These are small-sized turbines that can help you switch to a more environment-friendly option. It can work both on-grid and off-grid. Since there are no blades involved, vortex turbines don’t cause trouble for birds, bats, or other animals. There is no need for oil or any other lubricants, and therefore, there is almost zero production of waste. The turbine weighs about 15 kgs, which is almost negligible for a turbine.
Easy Installation
The wind is a great option for leveraging sustainable energy. But installing wind turbines is a tedious process. Vortex turbines, on the other hand, are easy to install.
Performance
A vortex turbine can work even when the speed of the wind is low. This feature makes it an appropriate solution for urban residential areas, where you don’t have access to heavy wind flow.
Material
The wind turbines that you see today, heavily depend on gears, bushings, brakes, and bearings. Due to heavy wind, these parts are exposed to constant movement, which leads to wear and tear. The bladeless wind turbines are made from plastic, steel, carbon fiber polymers, copper, and neodymium. It doesn’t use any materials that can wear off with regular usage.
Capacity
The vortex turbine is not as efficient as a regular wind turbine, as it has a smaller swept area. But you can install a number of turbines in the same area to get more efficiency at a low cost. The Vortex Tacoma gives 100W power output after installation.
Quiet Operation
There are no moving parts in this design. You can experience a smooth, noiseless operation, just like a solar panel.
How Much Does It Cost?
Vortex turbines offer low levelized cost energy (LCOE). If you compare it with the cost of normal wind turbines or conventional energy production, the vortex technology is way ahead in the race. Thanks to its cost-effectiveness, this can be the next alternative to wind turbines. Whereas conventional wind turbines need expensive components, Vortex uses only lightweight and inexpensive raw materials to keep the cost low.
Bladeless Wind Devices: Upcoming Projects
Vortex bladeless wind turbines are not yet available in the commercial market. The company is currently working on two small models that will be available for sale in 2021.
Vortex Nano
This model has a proposed height of 1 meter. It is designed for a 3W nominal power output. The target of this project is to bring bladeless wind energy to off-grid locations. This system is supposed to work with solar panels to get access to sustainable energy. Vortex Nano is in the pre-production stage of the first beta series.
Vortex Tacoma
The second project from the house of Vortex Bladeless is the Vortex Tacoma. This model has a higher capacity than the Vortex Nano. This one is 2.75 meters high and gives 100W nominal power output.
Vortex Atlantis/Grand
The company is yet to begin working on this project. The proposed height of the Vortex Atlantis turbine is approximately 9 to 13 meters, with 1kW nominal power output. This design is made for rural areas, residential areas, and also for factories and buildings.
Vortex Bladeless Wind Turbine: Pros & Cons
Vortex Tacoma (Source: Vortex Bladeless)
The solution offered by Vortex Bladeless wind turbine has its own share of pros and cons.
Pros
- Doesn’t need lubricants
- The cost is lower than traditional wind turbines
- Reduces carbon footprint
- It doesn’t cause any harm to birds or other animals
- The solution is easy to install
- Designed for self-production
- Easy to remove if the need arises
- Functional design
- No moving parts or gears
- Highly scalable
- Safe for the environment
- No requirement of heavy raw materials
- Standalone
- Small in size
- Low maintenance
- Low investment
- Weighs 80% less than traditional wind turbines
- Adapts to wind changes
Cons
- Vortex Bladeless’ capacity to capture wind is 30% less than regular wind turbines
Conclusion
The solution proposed by Vortex Bladeless is promising. It is here to revolutionize the way we perceive wind energy. With less cost involved, and considering how safe this solution is for the environment, this can be the next big undertaking in the world of sustainable energy.
If you want more information about the company, or want to install their solution, here are the contact details of Vortex Bladeless.
Official website: https://vortexbladeless.com/
Address: st/ Zagreb 4, 28232 Las Rozas
Madrid, Spain
Contact Number: (+34) 91 051 14 80
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vortexbladeless
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vortexbladeless
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VortexBladeless
Facebook: https://facebook.com/vortexbladeless/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/vortexbladeless