General Discussion

electric_blue68

(23,326 posts) Sat Jul 26, 2025, 05:55 PM Jul 26

New Bladeless Wind Generators... [View all]

From brightside news:

"Now, a fresh approach is gaining attention. A bladeless wind turbine, designed by the Spanish startup Vortex Bladeless, uses a vibrating upright cylinder to harvest wind power. Nicknamed “the Skybrator” by the internet due to its shape and motion, this invention skips the blades, oils, and gears entirely. Instead, it turns wind into power through a well-known but rarely used concept: vortex shedding.

Vortex shedding happens when wind moves past a tall, cylinder-like structure. This motion causes the structure to sway back and forth. The Vortex turbine captures that motion and turns it into electricity using an alternator at its base."

It's quieter. Birds will be safe. It can work with light breezes, and changes in wind direction as well. Plus w/o the blades' width it can fit into more places.
So it's more versatile.

Sounds good to me. 🌬

(oooops, dbl posted)

83 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

New Bladeless Wind Generators... [View all] electric_blue68 Jul 26 OP

Except it produces piss poor power levels. Disaffected Jul 26 #1

Well, maybe it can be improved. electric_blue68 Jul 26 #6

physics doesn't work like that. NutmegYankee Jul 26 #7

Seems to me the way you phrased this (re: it's efficiency) was a bit snooty. Poster Diaffected had a similar view but electric_blue68 Jul 26 #19

snooty? NutmegYankee Jul 26 #46

I didn't explain this clearly enough...it's Not about the lack of effeciency electric_blue68 Jul 26 #52

Highly doubtful, Disaffected Jul 26 #14

TY for the explaination. Too bad. I see what u say Omitting the power stats. electric_blue68 Jul 26 #20

YW nt Disaffected Jul 26 #23

Right Progressive dog Jul 26 #13

I'm guessing the cost/Watt is pretty abysmal. Disaffected Jul 26 #15

There've been backyard vertical windpower generators for years. No vibrating whip action but... brush Jul 26 #36

Believe me you will get a lot more Disaffected Jul 26 #43

I did mention they can be as high as you like, no limitation to height and the bird kill and maintence of huge blades. brush Jul 26 #47

Yes but keep in mind that the power Disaffected Jul 26 #49

Shielding from the wind wouldn't be a factor if the field is designed to space units from blocking each other. brush Jul 26 #58

You said vertical blades "encased in a vertical metal cylinder". Disaffected Jul 26 #60

I didn't say that. Another poster said that. I eant it would be a vertical clindder shapedstructure supported on four .. brush Jul 26 #61

Huh?? Post #36 by Brush: Disaffected Jul 27 #69

vertical cylinder was meant to be vertical structure. brush Jul 27 #70

There were some vertical ones on a windfarm near Tehachapi in Caifornia. MineralMan Jul 28 #76

One of the big disadvantages of vertical turbines Disaffected Jul 28 #80

I did a few. MineralMan Jul 28 #81

Interesting. Technology changing and this time for the environment Deuxcents Jul 26 #2

Clever! And I do like the point that it can go in more places / more versatile. A nice fact too. SWBTATTReg Jul 26 #3

Again, the Skybrator The Madcap Jul 26 #9

It (the interwebs nickname) was mentioned in the article... electric_blue68 Jul 26 #10

Sorry. I was referring to Post 4, below. The Madcap Jul 26 #53

"Skybrator" mahatmakanejeeves Jul 26 #4

It might depend on the person. 😄 electric_blue68 Jul 26 #11

;-{) Goonch Jul 26 #5

Well, besides the obvious, it looks somewhat like a metal Saguaro Cactus without arms electric_blue68 Jul 26 #12

Cool! Paint em green and they become almost invisible in the SW. nt ihaveaquestion Jul 26 #29

Aha! Been to the SW, but northern AZ desert. No saguaro. electric_blue68 Jul 26 #32

Seen em in Tuscon and Flagstaff areas... I think they are found at certain elevations. ihaveaquestion Jul 26 #51

Ah, Flagstaff. Interesting... electric_blue68 Jul 26 #56

I know what that is Maru Kitteh Jul 26 #17

Ha! Could be. electric_blue68 Jul 26 #21

But not nearly as useful, Disaffected Jul 26 #45

Looks like a Bezos rocket sort of... The Madcap Jul 26 #8

Cool. Vertical turbines are not new. mahina Jul 26 #16

Ty. It Is the first I'd ever heard of them! And I've paid attention to Renewable Energies since the mid 80's. electric_blue68 Jul 26 #22

Re: wind TnDem Jul 26 #18

Got it, both the bladeless, and typical kinds electric_blue68 Jul 26 #24

I believe TnDem Jul 26 #27

What's the carbon footprint of a wind turbine? CentralMass Jul 26 #31

It's BS, read the article TnDem Jul 26 #37

Ohhh, well...not good for any secondary usage. electric_blue68 Jul 26 #34

New recyclable materials are being researched and are becoming available. CentralMass Jul 26 #30

That'd be an improvement! Ty electric_blue68 Jul 26 #35

Recycling of plastic TnDem Jul 26 #48

Stick with fossil fuels then. I'm sure burning oil and natural gas is much better. CentralMass Jul 26 #54

Thank you. I don't understand why some are so against wind turbines. thought crime Jul 27 #67

Agreed ProfessorGAC Jul 28 #77

RecyclableBlade Pioneering Technology CentralMass Jul 26 #50

Wind farms offset their carbon footprint in 2 years of operation NickB79 Jul 26 #62

Incorrect TnDem Jul 26 #63

No, the carbon payback is pretty quick. thought crime Jul 27 #68

Might there be any renewable power generation method that you would approve of? mahina Jul 28 #72

Hydro TnDem Jul 28 #73

True, but it is facing real problems as rainfall declines. mahina Jul 28 #74

No objections TnDem Jul 28 #78

I don't disagree but compared to what? mahina Jul 29 #82

Fossil fuels are cheaper, but they emit obvious carbon TnDem Jul 28 #79

A welcome innovation... ancianita Jul 26 #25

! LudwigPastorius Jul 26 #65

I work in this industry, live among the wind turbines and in a major migratory route for birds between Canada and SA. Sogo Jul 26 #26

Ty for info. As NYC'r I do know about tall buildings w mirrored windows, and bird problems. electric_blue68 Jul 26 #38

LINK: progree Jul 26 #28

From the headline, I expected to see a cartoon of trump. n/t spike jones Jul 26 #33

Heh...i was going to make a comment about turning his comments ie hot air into energy...at least he'd be useful electric_blue68 Jul 26 #39

There are plenty of them out there. spike jones Jul 26 #44

So it looks like a big vibrator standing Figarosmom Jul 26 #40

I think they're rather rarher lovely but u can see problem pointed out... electric_blue68 Jul 26 #42

It's rather a shame that this sort of thing is taken seriously. NNadir Jul 26 #41

Thank you for this welcome dose of Reality. ancianita Jul 27 #71

Just did a Google image search. I can see the jokes flooding in!! :-) nt LAS14 Jul 26 #55

No kidding! electric_blue68 Jul 26 #57

Innovation in the wind industry is incredible. thought crime Jul 26 #59

Yes, and TnDem Jul 26 #64

I think your information is incorrect, at least for offshore wind turbines. thought crime Jul 27 #66

5 months payback I think... mahina Jul 29 #83

Nice Scott Alan Swaggerty Jul 28 #75