1y ago

This startup is about to install bladeless rooftop wind turbines on box buildings

electrek.co

Hacker News @lemmy.smeargle.fans

bot @lemmy.smeargle.fans

BOT

1y ago

Startup is about to install bladeless rooftop wind turbines on box buildings

electrek.co /2024/05/24/bladeless-rooftop-wind-turbines-box-buildings/

10 comments

Holy shit this makes me happy. Now do home versions that combine with solar.
- Everytime I look into the same thing, it's always that these dont have a great turndown to small single unit scale.
  Where solar is quite modular, putting 1 or 2 of these turbines on a house, that are also not tall enough to get above all the wind blockers (other houses, trees), just won't make sense for a long time.
  Looks like covering big box stores gets around several of those barriers, which is great.
  
  Turns out I haven't looked in awhile, but they have personal wind turbines to power your phone. I think putting a bank on one side of some homes could be great. In Seattle, with all of the micro-climates, hills and wind tunnels, this surely is a thing.
  https://www.amazon.com/s?k=travel+wind+turbine
- I was thinking the same thing, how easily the two units could work together.
I wonder if they consulted structural engineers. Putting multiple 1000 lb loads on roofs that weren't designed for it doesn't seem like a good business plan.
- I think It’s safe to assume that an evaluation/inspection on the building is performed before installation.
  
  Should be, but my comment is more along the lines of I doubt many buildings can take additional multiple 1000 lb loads.
- Walls are made to support loads and TFA does say they are mounted on the edge so roof loads will be minimal
  Not to be confused with edge lords
  
  Commercial building like this have curtain walls. Curtain walls don't support loads, the columns are the ones taking the load.
- I'm not go worried about the load bit Zhou about vibrations.
  Wind turbines vibrate, especially of you install them on turbulent airflow such as just on top of a roof. I would be worried that it would cause some long term damage to the structure.

10 comments