The WindMAX unit is 60Kw. I wonder if they'll scale it down to a more residential sized unit?

I didn't see anything on their site talking about turbulence. Does tunnelling the wind like this minimize turbulence issues?

3-7 year payback is sweet! Way better than solar today - can't wait to see what the actual financials are - that looks like a marketing number today. :) Gotta love marketing departments!

Brian

Justin, thanks for the link love.

Brian - it's not a marketing number. The 3 year payback is based on a 3.0 amplification. 2.5 amps = 5 years, 2.0 amps = 7 years. You see the range because wind isn't the same everywhere, so depending on wind speed and the amplification, you'll get a certain output.

With respect to the turbulence, I asked the CEO about it and he said noise and vibration is not a problem with the design (like some of the other building-attached wind turbine designs). Email him and he'll explain the engineering on why it isn't a problem. mark.cirone [a] getsmartenergy dot com.

With respect to the size of the unit, I asked the CEO about that and he said they're working on different sizes, but I don't know how small they're thinking.

Wind tunnels make the airflow more uniform as it approaches the narrowest point so turbulence should be reduced. I can't understand why it's taken so long for ducting to be used in urban situations.

Maybe I am not remembering my Thermodynamics class correctly, but the additional air velocity you gain with the Venturi effect here should be offset by the decreased air pressure inside the tunnel. Less air pressure means less force applied to the turbine, so even if it turns faster, it probably still produces the same amount of electricity a free-standing turbine does...

Preston -

I was just saying that because without knowing the price, stating a payback period is irrelevant. Payback period will vary from state-to-state as electricity prices vary. Residential pricing in TX is 13 cents/KwH - where in Washington State, it is 6 cents/KwH. Obviously, the payback will be drastically different depending on local electricity costs, average windspeed and the total cost involved with installing a unit.

Their technology seems pretty darn cool. A simple concept (I'm sure much more complicated engineering) like this is what's needed. I've been watching the solar and wind industries for a very long time - but haven't seen anything that makes financial sense for a single family home in a residential setting... yet. I'm hoping this company can change that. It's a very exciting time for alternative energy. When a product comes out that truely has a 3-7 year payback (installed price) and can be installed in a residential setting.... I believe consumers will begin mass adoption! I know from my conversations at work, there are several folks just in my office that would buy one today if it were available.

Brian

This smells like the Mag-Wind turbine that was in so many blogs recently. From what I read the Mag-Wind was primarily an invention to separate people from their money.

Q:

1. Other than Dr. Spera, who are these "Top aeronautical, mechanical and electrical engineers" who worked on the project? What work did they perform?

2. Is there any side by side comparisons of a windmill with and without this shroud? The energy gains in one direction (assuming that there is a gain) may be more than offset by wind from 45 degrees off of straight on.

3. The amount of available energy in the air is a function of the swept area of the turbine. The claims here, while vague, seem to state that by accelerating the air they can get more energy out than is available which is nonsense. Even if given the swept area + shroud area as the total available, there will be losses due to friction (which goes up with speed!) and turbulence.

New technologies have the burden of proving that they are better than what they intend to replace.

TH should demand test data rather than passing on PR platitudes.

I wouldn't chug any fizzy lifting drinks while under this...

Speaking of Mag Wind - they still have not provided a chart with real-world mesaured wind-speed -vs- electricity generation. It's all marketing hooplah. I live in Dallas, a short distance from their Plano, TX offices. They market it as a 1,100 KwH unit and the cost from a local supplier is $15K - installed. But they don't back up their claims with any statistics or real-world data. As far as I'm concerned... if you want me to plunk down $15K, then you better show me some real world tests and statistics - afterall, they are marketing an unproven technology - so the burden of proof is in their court.

I feel the same way about this company. Today, it's marketing hype. I hope they develop a product, do some good statistical gathering and then release those numbers so we can make an informed decision.

I will not drop my money on a pipe-dream. I need data so I can do a cost/benefit analysis. If it holds up to the financials - then you bet I'm interested.

Brian

It's true the surface area to the wind is square, meaning a broader cross-section of the air is captured, but the added casing could also be a new surface for friction, if not carefully designed, and the airflow could even be less efficient than a plain windmill, as a result. The numbers on the presentation aren't detailed on that. So we don't know what friction penalties this has. It's certainly an intriguing idea, if it's carefully designed.

There is also the risk that the giant square housing may not rotate into the optimum direction as quickly or easily.

I agree with Brian and jsbarrie. This looks like a total hoax, and thier website is all show and no substance. engineers have tried this before and and have found it inefficient.

TreeHugger, please stop posting every press release you receive on the site. It makes it harder every day to take the site seriously.

Imposable to create more energy where there is none. The only way this COULD be better than a normal wind turbine is if it had a higher efficiency, converting more of wind into electricity. Its very easy to reduce efficiency, not so to improve it.