Vortex Wind Turbines (Bladeless Wind Turbines )

Vortex Bladeless S.L is a wind energy Spanish startup that was founded in 2013
by David Yáñez, David Suriol and Raúl Martin, exclusively dedicated to the
development and marketing of Vortex.
This multi-patented wind turbine without blades is able to capture the kinetic
wind energy by 'vortex shedding' and transform it into electricity.
The idea emerged in 2002 when David Yáñez, the inventor, saw a video of the
Tacoma Narrows Bridge disaster and led him to the idea of a bladeless wind
turbine. This new technology seeks to overcome issues related to traditional
wind turbines such as maintenance, amortization, noise, environmental impact,
logistics, and visual aspects.[1]

Bladeless wind turbines are a new type of wind turbine rapidly gaining
popularity due to their many advantages over traditional wind turbines. Unlike
conventional turbines, which have large blades that rotate to generate power,
bladeless turbines use a phenomenon known as aerodynamic induction to
generate electricity.
The turbine consists of a tall tower with a small platform at the top. A series of
magnets are attached to the platform and arranged in such a way that they can
capture the energy of the wind.
As the wind passes through the magnets, it creates a rotating field that drives an
electric generator, which produces electricity.

The Upsides of Bladeless Wind Turbines

Bladeless turbines are much quieter than their blade-based counterparts. They
have no gearboxes or other moving parts that can create noise. Additionally,
because there are no blades, there is no risk of bird or bat collisions, which is a
significant problem with traditional turbines.
They are less expensive to maintain than traditional bladed turbines. Bladeless
wind turbines have no moving parts that can wear out over time. Additionally,
bladeless turbines can be made smaller than traditional ones without sacrificing
power output, which makes them more suitable for use in urban areas.
Another promising aspect of bladeless turbines is their increased efficiency.
Traditional turbines typically have efficiency levels around 40-45%, while
bladeless turbines have been shown to boost efficiency levels as high as 60%.
This increased efficiency comes from bladeless turbines’ ability to capture low-
pressure air pockets that traditional turbines cannot reach.
Finally, bladeless turbines have a much smaller environmental impact than
traditional turbine technologies. They don’t require concrete foundations or
access roads, and we can completely recycle them at the end of their lifespan.
[2]

Structure and Design of Bladeless Wind Turbines[3]

The cylinder on the outside is designed to be rigid and vibrate while being
anchored to the bottom rod. The apex of the cylinder is unconstrained which
allows it to oscillate at maximum amplitude. The structure is built using resins
that are reinforced with carbon or glass fiber. These materials are similar to the
ones used in conventional wind turbine blades as well.
The rod’s top supports the entire mass while the bottom of the rod is anchored
to the ground. It is built from carbon-reinforced polymer which provides it with
excellent fatigue-resistance and minimal energy losses into the surrounding
during its oscillation. The design of these bladeless turbines is very unique and
different from traditional wind turbines. Instead of tower, nacelle or blades; the
device only consists of a mast made of lightweight material over a base. This
avoids digging and building a deeper foundation or utilizing more raw materials.
How do Bladeless wind Turbines work? [4]
The bladeless wind turbines capture energy from the wind sing resonance
(shake to generate energy). This is produced through the aerodynamic effect
termed as vortex shedding. The wind passes through a blunt body, and the flow
is modified and can generate a cyclic pattern of vortices. Once the frequency of
these forces is similar or near to the structural frequency of the body, the body
will then oscillate (vibrate in a specific manner) and enter into resonance with
the wind. This is referred to as Vortex-Induced Vibration (VIV).

The VIV phenomena are used in architecture, aeronautics engineering and it’s
potential is carefully utilized in these turbines to capture energy.
The geometry of the mast is designed in such a way to achieve maximum
performance at average wind velocities. It is highly adaptive to the change in
wind direction and turbulent airflows commonly seen in urban areas.

The disturbance of the downstream wind current is why we may need to install
regular wind turbines far away from each other; this isn’t the case for these
bladeless wind turbines as the “wake effect” is avoided. The devices work much
better when close together and in coherence with each other.

Advantages of bladeless turbines:[5]

Safety: Bladeless turbines do not have rotating blades, which reduces the risk of
injury to wildlife or people.
Efficiency: Bladeless turbines are more aerodynamic, which results in improved
efficiency compared to traditional blade-based turbines.
Quiet Operation: Bladeless turbines produce less noise than traditional blade-
based turbines, making them more suitable for urban areas and densely
populated locations.
Lower Cost: Bladeless turbines have fewer parts and are easier to manufacture,
which can result in lower costs compared to traditional blade-based turbines.

Disadvantages of bladeless turbines:[6]

Limited Power Output: Bladeless turbines are currently limited in terms of their
power output, making them suitable for smaller scale applications only.
Unproven Technology: Bladeless turbines are a relatively new technology and
have not yet been widely adopted, so their long-term reliability and durability
are still unknown.
Complex Design: The design of bladeless turbines is complex and can be
challenging to repair if they break down.
Limited Operating Conditions: Bladeless turbines may not be suitable for harsh
operating conditions, such as extreme temperatures or high wind speeds.
http://ir.aiktclibrary.org:8080/jspui/bitstream/123456789/2556/1/pe0380.pdf
[1]
https://greenerideal.com/guides/renewable-energy/bladeless-wind-turbines-
the-future-of-wind-energy/ [2]

https://www.environmentbuddy.com/energy/wind-energy/vortex-bladeless-
wind-turbines/ [3][4]

https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-a-
bladeless-turbine [5][6]