US researchers at Sandia National Laboratories say they are working on a design for gigantic wind turbine blades that are longer than two football fields which could support 50-megawatt-- more than six times the power output of the largest current turbines --offshore wind farms in the future.
+More on network World: Energy Dept. wants big wind energy technology in all 50 states+
Sandia researchers said most US wind turbines produce power in the 1- to 2-MW range, with blades about 165 feet (50 meters) long, while the largest commercially available turbine is rated at 8 MW with blades 262 feet (80 meters) long. A 50-MW turbine requires a rotor blade more than 650 feet (200 meters) long, two and a half times longer than any existing wind blade, the researchers stated.
Such exascale blades could be cost-effectively manufactured in segments, avoiding the unprecedented-scale equipment needed for transport and assembly of blades built as single units, said Todd Griffith lead blade designer on the project and technical lead for Sandia’s Offshore Wind Energy Program in a statement. The exascale turbines – called Segmented Ultralight Morphing Rotors (SUMR)-- would be positioned downwind, unlike conventional turbines that are configured with the rotor blades upwind of the tower.
At dangerous wind speeds, the blades are stowed and aligned with the wind direction, reducing the risk of damage. At lower wind speeds, the blades spread out to maximize energy production. (Illustration courtesy of TrevorJohnston.com/Popular Science)
“At dangerous wind speeds, the blades are stowed and aligned with the wind direction, reducing the risk of damage. At lower wind speeds, the blades spread out more to maximize energy production.” Griffith said.
+More on Network World: +
The SUMR project is funded by the Department of Energy's (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program and is led by the University of Virginia, Sandia and researchers from the University of Illinois, the University of Colorado, the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Check out these other hot stories:
Say hello to The Matrix: DARPA looks to link brains and computers
CIA: 10 Tips When Investigating a Flying Saucer
TSA: Gun discoveries up 20% between 2015 and 2014
The Big Hang-up: IRS customer call center service stinks
High-tech plays big role in transportation safety wish list
Will your car become a mini-data center? IBM thinks that’s just the beginning
Should the US change metal coins?
Intelligence agency wants computer scientists to develop brain-like computers