Magenn Power's MARS "Wind Power Anywhere" solution
Yesterday, we ran a little story on a new project in Japan to beam laser power down to earth. The laser is actually powered by solar rays and could be used to capture electricity. Thanks to Domenick, one of our readers, we can show you another possible way to generate electricity remotely, pretty much anywhere, and without needing much of an infrastructure. Magenn Power's MARS Wind Power Anywhere™ solution "is a lighter-than-air tethered wind turbine" which can be deployed anywhere that wind is present. The generator looks kind of like a big weather balloon and is filled with helium. As the device spins, electricity is generated and sent down a cable which tethers the machine to the ground, where the power can then be stored. I would expect that this technology will be ready for public consumption way before any lasers of energy are beamed down to earth.
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[Source: Magenn, thanks Domenick]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jack 3:52PM (9/06/2007)
This sounded like a great idea until I realized it would result in an Army helicopter crashing down on me. Those guys fly waaaaay too low over people's houses.
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Joseph 6:44PM (9/06/2007)
It's a great idea, and I can't think of any technical stumbling blocks for the company's product. But they might have a problem with air regulations.
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A.Brien 5:57PM (9/06/2007)
With a generator inside this thing won't fly. This is a joke as the lazer beam of yesterday, LOL.
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rgseidl 7:01PM (9/06/2007)
A. Brien -
couldn't disagree more. This thing is filled with helium, which will keep the thing airborne even in dead calm and can easily lift the associated generators. Ever heard of an airship?
It should be a doozy to piggyback an 802.16 WiMax broadband communications relay serving a 10km radius.
A large weight or else a pile driven deep into the ground will be needed to securely anchor the device. If a storm is predicted, the whole thing needs to be deflated and stowed on a truck before that becomes too dangerous for the ground crew. This is a serious drawback relative to regular wind turbines, which can simply and very quickly turn their vanes into the wind.
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A.Brien 5:20PM (9/07/2007)
A generator need to applied torque on a shaft and this device floating in the air doesn't have a fixed ground to take the torque.
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rgseidl 7:42PM (9/07/2007)
@ A. Brien -
the reaction moment is provided by a lever that is connected to the the tether at some distance from the rotating shaft. The tether can resist this bending moment because it is kept taut by the lift and drag forces acing on the whirligig.
It's a little like a high wire supporting a circus artist.
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