Man-Made Wind For The Wind Turbines Of The Future

February 2, 2013Tina Casey

Low cost wind power is extending its reach throughout the U.S., even in regions where wind conditions aren’t exactly optimal for powering a wind turbine. New transmission lines like the Grain Belt Express are helping to make that happen, and there could be a third option on the horizon if all goes well for Clean Wind Energy Tower, Inc. The company has developed an energy efficient way to generate wind in a steady, reliable stream, and the technology is promising enough to catch the eye of ARPA-E, the Energy Department’s cutting-edge research funding arm.

Low Cost Wind Power from Man-Made Wind

Clean Wind calls its technology the “Solar Wind Downdraft Tower,” and that pretty much describes what it’s all about: a hybrid system that harnesses solar energy to create wind.

The infrastructure basically consists of a large cylindrical tower in which a fairly powerful downdraft is created when water meets hot, dry air.

To heat the air in the tower, the system relies on ambient energy from the sun. The water is introduced as a fine mist across the top of the tower. As it evaporates the air becomes cooler and denser, and this air fall through the tower at a pretty good clip, reaching speeds in excess of 50 mph.

Clean Technica (http://s.tt/1zhRH)
Read more at http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/02/low-cost-wind-power-from-manmade-wind/#HOvOFtPiMOMqjdTJ.99