Building-integrated Wind Turbine
As illustrated by the examples below, EFFECTIVE wind turbines cannot be incorporated into conventional buildings as the power they generate is tiny compared to the power the buildings actually consume.
IMO, they are examples of “Green Virtue-Signalling”.
3 x 29m diameter wind turbines in Bahrain’s World Trade Centre building (2008) – see HERE for article.
More “Green Virtue-Signalling” (Strata SE1, London)
Tower height is perhaps the most important factor in the design of horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs). The wind blows faster at higher altitudes, free of surface drag and air viscosity. Doubling the height can increase wind speed by 20% to 60%, and even a 10% increase in wind speed will increase output by more than 30%.
Tower height is perhaps the most important factor in the design of horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs). The wind blows faster at higher altitudes, free of surface drag and air viscosity. Doubling the height can increase wind speed by 20% to 60%, and even a 10% increase in wind speed will increase output by more than 30%.
Why litter the landscape with wind turbines when, if incorporated into Oasis-Cities they wouldn’t occupy any land and the power-source for each city module would be on-site, exactly where it is needed?
How could a LARGE wind-turbine be incorporated into an Oasis City?
Its easy to see how a pyramidal building’s angled walls could be utilised as a Solar PV platform, but wind turbines are more problematic as buildings create erratic air-flow. I originally toyed with 2 ideas – #1) siting 4 medium sized turbine towers, one on each corner (bastion) of the plinth, where they would be more out in the open. #2) a dozen or more smaller turbines on rail bogies (as used in ports to move cranes about) on the podium wall, thus enabling them to be moved to the best position to catch the wind. Unfortunately, both ideas break the golden rule of wind-turbine siting – they should not be close to buildings that might block the wind or cause erratic wind flow. They would also interrupt the views and create noise, but most importantly they would not be high enough above ground.
How could a LARGE wind-turbine be incorporated into an Oasis City?
Its easy to see how a pyramidal building’s angled walls could be utilised as a Solar PV platform, but wind turbines are more problematic as buildings create erratic air-flow. I originally toyed with 2 ideas – #1) siting 4 medium sized turbine towers, one on each corner (bastion) of the plinth, where they would be more out in the open. #2) a dozen or more smaller turbines on rail bogies (as used in ports to move cranes about) on the podium wall, thus enabling them to be moved to the best position to catch the wind. Unfortunately, both ideas break the golden rule of wind-turbine siting – they should not be close to buildings that might block the wind or cause erratic wind flow. They would also interrupt the views and create noise, but most importantly they would not be high enough above ground.
A BETTER SOLUTION
If the central elevator pillar were extended skyward it could support a turbine with 30-50m long blades, with a possible output of 2-3MW or even more.
A wind turbine could “piggy-back” atop the central lift shaft, gaining “free height”, thus greatly increasing it’s efficiency and less affected by building-induced turbulence
This achieves several important objectives….
- Turbine is raised to a height of c.250m, thus greatly increasing its efficiency.
- The first 175m of the height is “free” as it sits atop the central lift-shaft.
- Wind flows smoothly and consistently, unaffected by turbulence
- It is not directly attached to the building so it doesn’t stress the structure.
- Noise is carried horizontally away from the building.
Although this permits only ONE turbine per building, it would generate more power than several smaller turbines close to ground level, with far less visual and aural impact. When factoring in a 60-80% reduction in per-capita power usage which OA-Cities would facilitate, the combined power output from solar PV and wind turbine could provide ALL the power needs of an Oasis City module. That said, in order to go completely “off-grid” there would need to be a good power storage capacity – and that remains the “Holy Grail” of green energy.
Although this permits only ONE turbine per building, it would generate more power than several smaller turbines close to ground level, with far less visual and aural impact. When factoring in a 60-80% reduction in per-capita power usage which OA-Cities would facilitate, the combined power output from solar PV and wind turbine could provide ALL the power needs of an Oasis City module. That said, in order to go completely “off-grid” there would need to be a good power storage capacity – and that remains the “Holy Grail” of green energy.
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