Fort Myers, Florida- based Golden Ratio Turbine Concepts, LLC (GRTC), a Golden Ratio wind and hydro rotary apparatus developer, has successfully wind tested its newest Golden Spiral vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) prototype.
GRTC stated the new Golden Spiral VAWT design conforms to its patented extended spiral leverage arm technology that increases torque. The design is based on Golden Ratio geometry and elements that create a wind turbine of superb balance in motion.
“The new VAWT is graceful, quiet, and begins spinning in a only a breath of air flow,” said inventor and GRTC founder James Walker. “The new Golden Spiral VAWT prototype has repeatedly proven the design concept.”
The new rotor configuration differs in its elements and appearance from previous GRTC models, but it is deeply rooted in the inventor’s patented concept, which creates more torque than a traditional radial rotor due to its Golden Ratio Spiral.
“Popular small wind horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) devices are often rated at 12.5 m/s or 28 mph, but average wind speeds are only 10-12 mph (or less) and their rated power outputs are rare,” Walker said.
Wind energy is calculated by the cube of the velocity and whereas a 28 mph wind has a certain amount of energy available in the turbine’s swept area — a 14 mph will only have 1/8th of that energy, according to Walker. As an example, devices rated at 1 KW in 28mph will only produce 0.125 kW at 14 mph (at best). In addition, HAWT machines must constantly hunt the wind direction in order to point into it. This seeking action causes loss of RPM and power.
Walker adds that winds are not sources of constant air flow but rather contain moments with puffs, lulls, and variations in direction, any of these being problematic to a HAWT device while the new GRTC Golden Spiral VAWT prototype uses a 3D Golden Ratio Spiral logarithmic convex and concave surface that converts these air flow changes into a rotational force at the turbine’s rotor shaft regardless of air flow variations.
Typically, wind turbines are designed to obtain their rated outputs at higher wind speeds (between 25 to 28 mph), while GRTC is working on providing better results in lighter winds speeds more common in normal, real-world, onsite conditions such as a house, cabin, boat, or camper. It is in this environment that the silent and attractive new GRTC device has a place in the future of the small wind turbine industry.
GRTC is working to improve its Golden Spiral prototype with a slightly different wing mold, new materials, and innovative construction techniques to make the next model more efficient in the more common light winds and superior in infrequent higher winds.
More info www.goldenratioturbineconcepts.com
