Wind power stands as a potent option in the drive to decarbonize energy. Yet it faces challenges, notably the bulky generators and blades that can threaten protected birds each year. A Spanish invention, however, might shift that narrative with a blade-free windmill.
According to Jorge Piñero from the Vortex marketing team, the brand behind the new device, wind turbines without traditional blades offer a appealing path for both public and private sectors as well as research centers. They could enable micro energy generation and complement solar installations on a range of buildings for self-consumption.
Already a few buildings and campuses are piloting the concept, including the SEO/BirdLife headquarters in Madrid and other facilities in Ávila.
Vortex wind turbines leverage wind energy through a radically different mechanism. Instead of blades, the wind causes the mast to oscillate slightly, generating power.
Piñero notes that wind often creates air waves, which is why flags flutter and patterns appear in the air. When air or water flows through a circular structure like Vortex poles, eddies form along the way. When the frequency of those eddies matches the structure’s resonant frequency, energy begins to be absorbed. Press.
Through a sequence of advanced physical processes, Vortex has achieved notable air kinetic energy conversion. It is important to acknowledge that the vortex limit sits around 40 percent. Beyond that point, the device stops. Conventional mills typically reach about 49 percent. The team explains that this gap means current designs still have miles to go before matching traditional wind power, estimating a roughly ten-year horizon while conventional wind energy can recover faster. Press.
With these technologies and other mature fluid dynamics principles, the mast geometry and materials are optimized to maximize wind passage and eddy formation. The system begins absorbing energy through elastic resonance, oscillates perpendicular to wind direction, and converts movement into electricity. Press.
For small installations
These wind turbines are significantly smaller than standard mills, enabling installation in compact spaces without wings. The company emphasizes that the motion they generate is harmless; larger devices oscillate more slowly. They are hollow and produce noise close to ambient wind levels.
These traits allow placement in urban settings and even protected zones. They cause less radio interference than other renewables, allowing deployment near airports or military sites, according to the company.
Wind generators installed at the SEO/BirdLife center in Madrid. European Press.
One of the major advantages is the absence of gears to operate and the reduced wear associated with conventional mills. A carbon fiber rod provides swing capacity for years without replacement. Since there are no moving parts needing oil or gear changes, maintenance is minimal. Press.
100 watt smallest models
The production capacity varies with weather and environment. The smallest unit, about three meters tall, can deliver around 100 watts of power. In contrast, larger models scale with conditions, offering more output as wind and surroundings change. Press.
Developments are underway for even smaller options, around sixty centimeters, designed for precise placement or specialized applications such as road markings or signaling systems. These miniature units consume very little power but deliver meaningful output when needed.
Medium-sized variants are intended for rooftops on homes and buildings, designed to minimize the distance to other mills so that blade interactions do not disrupt nearby installations. Larger models target rural or industrial environments.
One established model exemplifies the approach. whirlpool. Press.
Jorge Piñero notes that market viability is still a few years away. While the team has been pursuing this for over nine years, commercial feasibility often requires 15 to 20 years for such projects. Press.
An upcoming testing phase may help gather data across various environments and conditions. Participants will not receive a commercial product, but they will have access to a small functional technological demonstrator called Vortex Nano, intended for testing.
Vortex website: https://vortexbladeless.com/es/
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