Tyer Wind – a wind generator that flaps its blades like a bird – its wings
Wind generators seem to have long ago acquired their traditional look, which is considered the most optimal design. However, engineers working in this field have many new ideas, some of which can surprise us quite strongly. Such an idea can be safely attributed to a new wind turbine created by Tyer Wind from Tunisia. This generator, instead of making rotational movements, flaps its “wings”, imitating the movements of the wings of a hummingbird. And its rather compact design is ideal for organizing the supply of electrical energy even to small residential buildings.
Anis Aouini is the designer of the Tyer Wind turbine. And it should be noted that this is not his first “paradoxical” construction. In 2012, his company, Saphon Energy, created the Saphonian turbine, which does not have traditional blades. And this time Anis Aouini turned his attention to one of the most effective “flyers” in nature – to the hummingbird, which can hang in one place for quite a long time. After studying hummingbird flight principles and the trajectory of the wings of this little bird, Aouini designed a highly efficient wind turbine that converts linear wind movement into rotational motion transmitted to the generator shaft. T
he two wings of the Tyer Wind turbine, made of carbon fiber, are 1.6 meters long. And the total “wingspan” of this generator is 3.56 meters. However, the area of space occupied by the Tyer Wind is less than the area required for a traditional wind turbine of comparable power, which in this case is 1 kW.
According to the information available, Tyer Wind generates less noise compared to traditional generators. In addition, it is safer for the environment and does not pose a threat to birds flying by. The design of the wind turbine allows for an increase in its size and capacity to the level necessary to combine wind turbines in power plants located on land or
offshore. Tyer Wind has already created several prototypes of the new design wind turbines, which are now undergoing extensive testing. During the tests, energy efficiency, aerodynamic behavior, reliability of the generator and mast design are evaluated. The company has yet to release any data regarding the key specifications of their generator. This will probably be done upon completion of the tests, and at the same time, perhaps, the estimated cost of small-sized Tyer Wind turbines for
personal use will become known.