The
ridgeblade is the first
product from The Power Collective and is an affordable and effective way of
generating renewable electricity from wind, including within urban
areas.
It is
designed to be retrofitted easily and without significant visual impact. It
uses the existing roof area to collect and focus the prevailing wind using the
Aeolian wind focus effect. This is where the wind is forced to travel over the
roof surface and forms a pinch point at the roof ridge, accelerating the
airflow though the turbine.
As a result,
measured wind speed around the ridge is two to three times the actual wind
speed.
Placing the turbine in this high flow
area means that much more energy is available to it compared to traditional
systems. In addition, this means that the ridgeblade will work efficiently in much lower wind speed
conditions.
The
ridgeblade is designed to
self-start and produce electricity at wind speeds of 4 mph +.
|
This diagram, sourced from Delft University shows
the
"pinch point" where the wind speed is highest |
