SeaTwirl
Encyclopedia
Sea Twirl is a vertical floating wind turbine
currently being tested off the west coast of Sweden
. The design enables the use of cheaper, heavier materials and continuing generation of power when the wind is low.
The design was developed by Daniel Ehrnberg. Chalmers University of Technology
built a prototype
and tested it at SSPA. A third-generation prototype was installed off the west coast of Sweden near Halmstad
in August 2011.
SeaTwirl is one of a few advanced designs in that it floats and can therefore be positioned far offshore and take advantage of the stronger winds there. The SeaTwirl design uses the seawater
itself as a roller bearing and stores energy in a water-filled torus. This enables the use of cheaper and heavier materials and the generation of energy even when the wind is not blowing.
Floating wind turbine
A floating wind turbine is an offshore wind turbine mounted on a floating structure that allows the turbine to generate electricity in water depths where bottom-mounted towers are not feasible...
currently being tested off the west coast of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. The design enables the use of cheaper, heavier materials and continuing generation of power when the wind is low.
The design was developed by Daniel Ehrnberg. Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology , is a Swedish university located in Gothenburg that focuses on research and education in technology, natural science and architecture.-History:...
built a prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
and tested it at SSPA. A third-generation prototype was installed off the west coast of Sweden near Halmstad
Halmstad
Halmstad is a port, university, industrial and recreational city at the mouth of Nissan in the province of Halland on the Swedish west coast. Halmstad is the seat of Halmstad Municipality and the capital of Halland County...
in August 2011.
SeaTwirl is one of a few advanced designs in that it floats and can therefore be positioned far offshore and take advantage of the stronger winds there. The SeaTwirl design uses the seawater
Seawater
Seawater is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world's oceans has a salinity of about 3.5% . This means that every kilogram of seawater has approximately of dissolved salts . The average density of seawater at the ocean surface is 1.025 g/ml...
itself as a roller bearing and stores energy in a water-filled torus. This enables the use of cheaper and heavier materials and the generation of energy even when the wind is not blowing.
External links
- SeaTwirl, Ehrnberg Solutions AB, 12 September 2011 (pdf)
- "SeaTwirl puts a new spin on offshore wind turbines" (Article with several images and a short film)