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Wind turbines based on condor wings could capture more energy [View all]
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2427062-wind-turbines-based-on-condor-wings-could-capture-more-energy/Wind turbines based on condor wings could capture more energy
Curved wing tips inspired by the world's heaviest flying bird could enhance the efficiency of wind turbines by of 10 per cent, according to simulations
By James Woodford
19 April 2024
A curved tip, or winglet, for a wind turbine blade, based on the shape of condor wings
Khashayar Rahnamaybahambary
A design modification inspired by the wings of the Andean condor could increase the energy generated by wind turbines.
Various bird species have upturned tips on the end of their wings, which help maximise lift. Similar features, known as winglets, are commonly used on aircraft wings, but haven’t been tested on the giant turbine blades used in power generation.
Khashayar Rahnamaybahambary at the University of Alberta in Canada says gathering experimental data on winglet-equipped wind turbines is very difficult because of their size.
His team designed winglets based on the world’s heaviest flying bird, the Andean condor, which can cover vast distances despite weighing as much as 15 kilograms.
[...]
Curved wing tips inspired by the world's heaviest flying bird could enhance the efficiency of wind turbines by of 10 per cent, according to simulations
By James Woodford
19 April 2024
A curved tip, or winglet, for a wind turbine blade, based on the shape of condor wings
Khashayar Rahnamaybahambary
A design modification inspired by the wings of the Andean condor could increase the energy generated by wind turbines.
Various bird species have upturned tips on the end of their wings, which help maximise lift. Similar features, known as winglets, are commonly used on aircraft wings, but haven’t been tested on the giant turbine blades used in power generation.
Khashayar Rahnamaybahambary at the University of Alberta in Canada says gathering experimental data on winglet-equipped wind turbines is very difficult because of their size.
His team designed winglets based on the world’s heaviest flying bird, the Andean condor, which can cover vast distances despite weighing as much as 15 kilograms.
[...]
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