Laser Sensors Increase Turbine Efficiency

[Windguy]

Just when wind technology has slowed to a near halt, someone gives it a heart starter again.

Laser Sensors Increase Turbine Efficiency | EcoGeek - Clean Technology

The laser, set for production in 2010, works by pulsing three invisible beams in front of the turbine that measure horizontal and vertical speeds and changes in direction. The turbine gets 20 seconds notice of the information gathered by the lasers, enough time to adapt to catch more wind and reduce mechanical strain.

[addict]

Good to see some advancements in wind technology. When is this likely to hit the markets Wobs?

[include]

Originally Posted by addict

Good to see some advancements in wind technology. When is this likely to hit the markets Wobs?

Don't worry, I still love ya Windguy

[World]

Very interesting. I'm glad the wind energy is in constant developing. Many countries would take benefit exploiting this green energy, and that advancement might make their task easier.

[Windguy]

Originally Posted by include

Don't worry, I still love ya Windguy

Well Wobs posts are quite talented so I should take Addict's post as a compliment.

The laser, set for production in 2010,

Laser Sensors Increase Turbine Efficiency | Calais for Drupal
Technology Review: Laser Sensors for Wind Turbines

The Vindicator

™ Laser Wind Sensor —
The Case for 10% More Power

http://www.catchthewindinc.com/files...20InsertR3.pdf

First let’s examine one major factor affecting wind turbine

power output efficiency — yaw, or rotor misalignment with
the wind. Page 96 of the “Wind Energy Handbook,” 2001,
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., describes the changing nature of
the wind environments in which wind turbines normally
operate:

“The rotor axis of a wind turbine rotor is usually not aligned
with the wind because the wind is continuously changing direction;
the rotor is not capable of following this variability
and so spends most of its time in a yawed condition. The
yawed rotor is less efficient than the non-yawed rotor and so
it is vital to assess the efficiency for purposes of energy production
estimation.”
The Vindicator

™ wind sensor effectively and significantly

decreases yaw error — and the result can be quantified.

There are two important sources that support Catch the
Wind, Inc.’s claim that a Vindicator

™ wind sensor can provide

a 10% improvement in performance for wind turbines

that have modern control systems. A modern control system
is one that can translate real-time, accurately predicted
wind data into yaw and blade pitch control, allowing a
turbine to more effectively “catch the wind.” This capability
will reduce the amount of time that a wind turbine generator

spends misaligned with the wind.

[addict]

Sorry mate, dunno what happened there. Must have posted with my eyes shut 2010 isn't too far off, that's an encouraging sign. I wonder what kind of price they'll enter the market at, ie when they'll become competitive against other turbine designs.

[Windguy]

Originally Posted by addict

Sorry mate, dunno what happened there. Must have posted with my eyes shut 2010 isn't too far off, that's an encouraging sign. I wonder what kind of price they'll enter the market at, ie when they'll become competitive against other turbine designs.

I hope it can be retrofitted to the older wind generators, then we would see a near 10% jump in wind power without another wind turbine needing to be built. The other thing is it should open up the amount of areas that would be viable for wind power.