Picture by Tannis Toohey/Toronto StarWhalePower Corp. is a Toronto based company who with the help of nature has developed a more efficient fan blade. Scientists in the US have long studied whales and found that the tubercles on the Humpback Whales fins create 32% less drag and 8% more lift then the smooth fins found on other species of whales. Using this idea WhalePower Corp. has taken the “million years of field testing” done by the Humpback Whales and brought the tubercle design to fan blades. It is estimated that while pushing more air then the normal fan blade design the blade developed using tubercle technology uses 20% less power.WhalePower Corp. has taken the design into the wind tunnels to test its Tubercle Technology on wind turbines to produce electricity and they’ve found that “they overcome certain fluid dynamic limitations that were once thought unavoidable laws by scientists, engineers and designers”. I truely believe designs will continue to be improved if designers keep going back to nature for hints and ideas.Source: Treehugger and The Star
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April 16th, 2008 at 8:05 am
In a wind of 120 mph., twisters on the leading [edge] of the Tacoma Ripids bridge, caused it to
TWIST through 90 degrees, break and go to meet its master….never under estimate the wind.
April 16th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
@ Don Hourahane:
Wind is an absolutely powerful force and I believe in years to come will be harvested much more efficiently then it is now. Thank you for coming by Don Hourahane I hope you visit again.