Browsing the internet, I came across your company and it’s innovations in wind energy. I’m currently looking forward to retirement from Hudson Valley Community College located in Troy, NY. My point for contact is, that in the mid 70’s I worked through a federal grant for design of a vertical axis wind turbine featuring a “Cross-Flow-Blower�? design. Your literature suggest a similar concept and is actually what caught my interest.

I have no ambition to continue my concept, the original prototype failed due to a welding fracture on the main shaft. I do know have proven that the theory of a Cross-Flow-Blower will accent extracting power from a given wind as you have found. Good luck with your commercial endeavors.

Attachment enclosed [image below]

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Follow-up

On Nov. 9, 2006, Frank Raymond wrote:

I have sent forward the original mail in hopes that perhaps someone may continue a similar approach to VWT efficiency. The original work was done between 1980-1981 under assistance from a grant by the Department of Energy. I had no chance to attach a generator before the main shaft failure. Financial considerations terminated the project.

Efficiency was only measured by comparison of smaller prototypes with/without the Vortex Blower shrouding. Documentation and prints were lost due to domestic changes.

Specs that I can remember:
1. Four blades vertically located on center of 20 foot diameter, 12 feet in length, 22 inches wide.
2. Two manually adjustable azimuth control blades.
3. Tower height 60 feet.
4. Vortex housing and blades were .0625 galvanized steel.
5. Aircraft DC generators, 5KW (2).

The turbine reacted to 8-15mph winds as expected (without generator) concluding the concept of high torque and low rpm would be an advantage.

Blade noise was not even noticeable, however, the sheetmetal shrouding supported by 4 bearings running a metal ring caused a rumble as wind changed. With today's composites applied to both housing and blades, the weight reduction and density would be a definite noise reducing advantage.

Looking back and at the concept of Cross-Flow-Blowers, investigating the turbine diameter to height ratio would suggest (since noise was not really a factor) an decrease in diameter and increase in height. This of course would evolve into a higher RPM turbine. With today's generator innovations (as posted on PESWiki), a gearbox could be eliminated.

One other plus for the design is that it need not be elevated 60 feet as I did, due to tree line (see pic).

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Q/A

Any patents on this? IP? Blueprints?: NONE

What was the efficiency?: NO TECHNICAL DATA

How would this compare to other wind technologies?: INTERESTING, NEEDS TO BE TRIED AGAIN

Bird interaction?: NO DATA, HOUSING WOULD SUGGEST AVOIDANCE BY BIRDS

Maintenance?: WITH DIRECT HOOK GENERATOR VORTEX HOUSING BEARINGS WOULD NEED TO BE MAINTAINED

Primary advantages/strengths? weaknesses?: STRENGTH - VERTICAL CONCEPT, NOISE LEVEL, EFFICIENCY, DIRECTION; WEAKNESS - VORTX HOUSING COST, SUPPORT STRUCTURE DESIGN

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