Oregon Wind Helyx™ Vertical Axis Wind Turbine, a.k.a. "The Urban Turbine"
Toby Kinkaid - Inventor, Director of Technology
Eric Kaster - Principal, Director of Manufacturing
Sattie Clark - Principal, Director of Marketing & Sustainability
Brad Malsin - Principal, Director of Finance
Timothy Ray - Principal
Eric Kaster - Principal, Director of Manufacturing
Sattie Clark - Principal, Director of Marketing & Sustainability
Brad Malsin - Principal, Director of Finance
Timothy Ray - Principal
I think everyone today is aware that the people of the Earth need to find new sources of energy—clean, renewable, safe sources of energy. Global warming is a real threat, as is the depletion of the world’s oil and coal reserves. Not only is our environment threatened, but the political stability of the world is undermined as well. We need a breakthrough, a small shift that will forever change our course, and we need it now. I believe that the Helyx “Urban Turbine” could be the invention
that will trigger a critical turning point for this planet—the quiet, peaceful revolution we’ve been waiting for.
We at Oregon Wind Corporation are not alone in trying to create the solution to this urgent, global problem. The last few decades have seen the introduction of many new energy technologies—nuclear, solar, wind and wave to name a few. All of them have failed so far to deliver safe, clean, renewable power at a cost point that is competitive. Solar power, for instance, has shown immense promise from the beginning but has yet to clear the cost/watt hurdle that would allow it to naturally dominate the market for energy (hence the subsidy programs).
While the big propeller-style wind turbines that dominate the market today have cleared that cost/watt hurdle, they present other problems that are not easily dismissed (wildlife kill especially) and characteristics (noise, vibration, sensitivity to wind direction and turbulence) that make them unsuitable for most environments. They are especially unsuitable for urban areas where the market for energy is most concentrated. This means that power has to be transferred from where it is generated to where it is needed when it would be much more efficient to generate power where it is needed. HAWTs tend to be giant, expensive contraptions that are extremely difficult to transport and maintain. They have been able to clear the cost/watt hurdle largely because of their scale and the resulting efficiencies. It is their size and industrial aesthetic, however, coupled with the turbulence and vibration they create, which makes them unpopular in populated areas.
Nuclear energy clears the cost/watt hurdle unless you take into account the long-term environmental cost of managing the radioactive bi-product it creates. A safer solution must be found.
The Helyx™ “Urban Turbine” is a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) of the Savonius style (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_turbine for an excellent and succinct overview of wind turbines types and their relative advantages and disadvantages in general). Our VAWT overcomes the shortcomings of horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) and other VAWT designs in many significant ways:
1) HAWTs create noise and vibration that people find unpleasant. Vibration emitted by HAWTs and some VAWTs causes fatigue and structural failure to the turbines themselves as well as other turbines located downwind. The Oregon Wind Helyx™ runs silently and with negligible vibration, making it appropriate for mounting on top of homes and commercial buildings. Its smooth operation and simple design should make it durable and low-maintenance for decades. Because the Helyx™ creates no turbulence, other turbines nearby remain unaffected. Multiple Helyx™ turbines can be mounted on the same pole or on the same plane (to form a “wind wall” for instance).
2) People complain that the immense size and industrial aesthetic of HAWTs mar natural views. This is also true of many VAWT designs. The Oregon Wind Helyx™ offers flexible sizing and an elegant aesthetic that people find appealing for all settings.
3) Birds cannot see the moving blades of HAWTs and are frequently killed by them. Some of these birds are endangered species. This is also true of some of the VAWT designs. The Oregon Wind Helyx™ appears to birds as a solid object whether it is spinning or still so that birds naturally avoid it.
4) HAWTs require relatively clean, laminar wind flow in order to operate efficiently, requiring high towers to reach the least turbulent air. Installation is difficult and expansive, often requiring expensive cranes and skilled operators. These tall towers, as well as the long blades (up to 180 feet) are difficult to transport. Transportation can now cost up to 20% of equipment costs. The FAA has raised concerns about how these tall installations affect radar and, therefore, the safety of aircraft. The Oregon Wind Helyx™ can be mounted on top of buildings or close to the ground, allowing for easy installation and maintenance.
5) Because of the enormous costs in building, transporting and installing large HAWT’s, siting is critical. They can only work efficiently where the wind is laminar and of a consistently high speed. Because of its double-winged helical shape, the Oregon Wind Helyx™ is self-starting and will spin in any type or direction of wind that reaches a minimum speed of 4 miles per hour. It can be sited almost anywhere. It is also lightweight, portable and easy to install. It does not need a separate system to keep it turning into the wind.
6) VAWTs have yet to produce enough power to justify their relatively high cost. We believe the Oregon Wind Helyx’s design and engineering will allow us to keep the cost of manufacturing low while making the product extremely durable. It is our hope that this combination will allow our product to clear the cost-per-watt hurdle without government subsidy.
It is our intent to manufacture the helical wings of the Helyx™ from a recyclable TPO plastic (high impact- and UV-resistant, commonly used in car bumpers). We are working with several polymer companies to source and test clean recycled content to add to our TPO blend. The turbine will be made of components that are individually replaceable and recyclable at the end of their lives.
The wings will be injection molded or vacuum formed, depending on the scale of production. Our director of manufacturing, Eric Kaster, is a third-generation pattern maker with extensive training in industrial patternmaking. He will guide the manufacturing process and coordinate with the engineers as needed to fine tune the design or certify their safety (all current components including the mounting system have received engineer approval). Kaster will also be sure that every stage of manufacturing is well documented and replicable.
The Oregon Wind Helyx™ is the product of many years of research and testing. It was invented by Oregon Wind’s technical director, Toby Kinkaid, in 2002 to fill the need for an efficient wind turbine that would work well in an urban environment. In 2004, Kinkaid teamed up with Brad Malsin and Timothy Ray, both of whom brought capital and business expertise to the project. They hired engineers and manufacturing experts in order to produce and test their first models. Eric Kaster and Sattie Clark were brought on as consultants in 2006 and then became shareholders and board members in 2007 (still in process).
A computational fluid dynamics study of our current Helyx™ model was performed by Dr. Baojun “Paul” Song in March of 2007. The Computational Fluid dynamics study proved (or predicts) a 17% efficiency at 14 mph wind speed. This is significant because usuall wind generators are rated at 28 mph (14 mph represents 1/8 of the actual wind power as compared to 28 mph). Therefore, by having high efficiency (17% which is higher than photo voltaic!) at the beginning of the power curve, it proves that the output at higher wind speeds will have an even higher efficiency. Usually 14 mph represents the most anemic of responses in propellers. At this wind speed the Helyx is actually more efficient than a propeller, or at least comparable.
The next steps to bring this product to market are as follows:
1) Initial fundraising for feasibility testing. In order to cover the costs of initial feasibility testing (see section two below), we are pursuing every option including grants and prizes such as the Buckminster Fuller Challenge. One funding option that is very promising entails creating a partnership with local government agencies who will provide funding to help get this product to market in exchange for demonstration units they can mount on their facilities now. For instance, TriMet, the Portland Metro region’s public transportation agency wants one of our turbines on top of every new bus kiosk as well as every station on the new light rail line. Metro wants one at the Oregon Zoo. The Port of Hood River Oregon wants several on a new project they are building. All of these partners are willing to support the project to some degree in return for being allowed to tap into the iconic power that this turbine already offers. This partners are well connected and prepared to support us in other ways as well.
2) Feasibility testing supervised by Dr. Gerald Sheblé at Portland State University’s Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science: We have a team in place that includes seven PSU faculty and staff. This effort is 99% ready to go (negotiated, contracted, etc.). PSU will donate Dr. Sheblé’s time but we will need to cover $72,000 of PSU’s other costs plus approximately $40,000 in equipment and manufacturing costs, including tooling up for step three below. Feasibility testing at PSU will mark the first time the performance claims of a VAWT manufacturer have been certified by an independent third party. We believe this will set a new benchmark for the industry and spur innovation.
3) Second stage fundraising: If the feasibility testing results are as we expect, it will be time to get prepared for large scale manufacturing and the development of a matched generator. Armed with the credibility of the test results verified by PSU, we intend to seek investment funds.
4) Development of matched generator: We have generators now that will work with the Helyx™ but they are not ideal. With the information we gain from the PSU feasibility tests we will be able to have a generator developed specifically for our turbine. We estimate that this will cost approximately $50,000.
5) Manufacturing and assembly are to take place in the Portland area in order to avoid the environmental impact of overseas manufacturing and in order to support the local economy. Recycled content will be as high as practical without sacrificing durability.
6) Bringing our product to market: Oregon Wind’s director of marketing and sustainability, Sattie Clark, has twelve years of marketing expertise and a strong commitment to sustainability and values-driven business practices. The company she owns with her husband, Eleek Inc., has gained national recognition and many awards for its innovative designs and sustainability leadership.
We at Oregon Wind Corporation are not alone in trying to create the solution to this urgent, global problem. The last few decades have seen the introduction of many new energy technologies—nuclear, solar, wind and wave to name a few. All of them have failed so far to deliver safe, clean, renewable power at a cost point that is competitive. Solar power, for instance, has shown immense promise from the beginning but has yet to clear the cost/watt hurdle that would allow it to naturally dominate the market for energy (hence the subsidy programs).
While the big propeller-style wind turbines that dominate the market today have cleared that cost/watt hurdle, they present other problems that are not easily dismissed (wildlife kill especially) and characteristics (noise, vibration, sensitivity to wind direction and turbulence) that make them unsuitable for most environments. They are especially unsuitable for urban areas where the market for energy is most concentrated. This means that power has to be transferred from where it is generated to where it is needed when it would be much more efficient to generate power where it is needed. HAWTs tend to be giant, expensive contraptions that are extremely difficult to transport and maintain. They have been able to clear the cost/watt hurdle largely because of their scale and the resulting efficiencies. It is their size and industrial aesthetic, however, coupled with the turbulence and vibration they create, which makes them unpopular in populated areas.
Nuclear energy clears the cost/watt hurdle unless you take into account the long-term environmental cost of managing the radioactive bi-product it creates. A safer solution must be found.
The Helyx™ “Urban Turbine” is a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) of the Savonius style (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_turbine for an excellent and succinct overview of wind turbines types and their relative advantages and disadvantages in general). Our VAWT overcomes the shortcomings of horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) and other VAWT designs in many significant ways:
1) HAWTs create noise and vibration that people find unpleasant. Vibration emitted by HAWTs and some VAWTs causes fatigue and structural failure to the turbines themselves as well as other turbines located downwind. The Oregon Wind Helyx™ runs silently and with negligible vibration, making it appropriate for mounting on top of homes and commercial buildings. Its smooth operation and simple design should make it durable and low-maintenance for decades. Because the Helyx™ creates no turbulence, other turbines nearby remain unaffected. Multiple Helyx™ turbines can be mounted on the same pole or on the same plane (to form a “wind wall” for instance).
2) People complain that the immense size and industrial aesthetic of HAWTs mar natural views. This is also true of many VAWT designs. The Oregon Wind Helyx™ offers flexible sizing and an elegant aesthetic that people find appealing for all settings.
3) Birds cannot see the moving blades of HAWTs and are frequently killed by them. Some of these birds are endangered species. This is also true of some of the VAWT designs. The Oregon Wind Helyx™ appears to birds as a solid object whether it is spinning or still so that birds naturally avoid it.
4) HAWTs require relatively clean, laminar wind flow in order to operate efficiently, requiring high towers to reach the least turbulent air. Installation is difficult and expansive, often requiring expensive cranes and skilled operators. These tall towers, as well as the long blades (up to 180 feet) are difficult to transport. Transportation can now cost up to 20% of equipment costs. The FAA has raised concerns about how these tall installations affect radar and, therefore, the safety of aircraft. The Oregon Wind Helyx™ can be mounted on top of buildings or close to the ground, allowing for easy installation and maintenance.
5) Because of the enormous costs in building, transporting and installing large HAWT’s, siting is critical. They can only work efficiently where the wind is laminar and of a consistently high speed. Because of its double-winged helical shape, the Oregon Wind Helyx™ is self-starting and will spin in any type or direction of wind that reaches a minimum speed of 4 miles per hour. It can be sited almost anywhere. It is also lightweight, portable and easy to install. It does not need a separate system to keep it turning into the wind.
6) VAWTs have yet to produce enough power to justify their relatively high cost. We believe the Oregon Wind Helyx’s design and engineering will allow us to keep the cost of manufacturing low while making the product extremely durable. It is our hope that this combination will allow our product to clear the cost-per-watt hurdle without government subsidy.
It is our intent to manufacture the helical wings of the Helyx™ from a recyclable TPO plastic (high impact- and UV-resistant, commonly used in car bumpers). We are working with several polymer companies to source and test clean recycled content to add to our TPO blend. The turbine will be made of components that are individually replaceable and recyclable at the end of their lives.
The wings will be injection molded or vacuum formed, depending on the scale of production. Our director of manufacturing, Eric Kaster, is a third-generation pattern maker with extensive training in industrial patternmaking. He will guide the manufacturing process and coordinate with the engineers as needed to fine tune the design or certify their safety (all current components including the mounting system have received engineer approval). Kaster will also be sure that every stage of manufacturing is well documented and replicable.
The Oregon Wind Helyx™ is the product of many years of research and testing. It was invented by Oregon Wind’s technical director, Toby Kinkaid, in 2002 to fill the need for an efficient wind turbine that would work well in an urban environment. In 2004, Kinkaid teamed up with Brad Malsin and Timothy Ray, both of whom brought capital and business expertise to the project. They hired engineers and manufacturing experts in order to produce and test their first models. Eric Kaster and Sattie Clark were brought on as consultants in 2006 and then became shareholders and board members in 2007 (still in process).
A computational fluid dynamics study of our current Helyx™ model was performed by Dr. Baojun “Paul” Song in March of 2007. The Computational Fluid dynamics study proved (or predicts) a 17% efficiency at 14 mph wind speed. This is significant because usuall wind generators are rated at 28 mph (14 mph represents 1/8 of the actual wind power as compared to 28 mph). Therefore, by having high efficiency (17% which is higher than photo voltaic!) at the beginning of the power curve, it proves that the output at higher wind speeds will have an even higher efficiency. Usually 14 mph represents the most anemic of responses in propellers. At this wind speed the Helyx is actually more efficient than a propeller, or at least comparable.
The next steps to bring this product to market are as follows:
1) Initial fundraising for feasibility testing. In order to cover the costs of initial feasibility testing (see section two below), we are pursuing every option including grants and prizes such as the Buckminster Fuller Challenge. One funding option that is very promising entails creating a partnership with local government agencies who will provide funding to help get this product to market in exchange for demonstration units they can mount on their facilities now. For instance, TriMet, the Portland Metro region’s public transportation agency wants one of our turbines on top of every new bus kiosk as well as every station on the new light rail line. Metro wants one at the Oregon Zoo. The Port of Hood River Oregon wants several on a new project they are building. All of these partners are willing to support the project to some degree in return for being allowed to tap into the iconic power that this turbine already offers. This partners are well connected and prepared to support us in other ways as well.
2) Feasibility testing supervised by Dr. Gerald Sheblé at Portland State University’s Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science: We have a team in place that includes seven PSU faculty and staff. This effort is 99% ready to go (negotiated, contracted, etc.). PSU will donate Dr. Sheblé’s time but we will need to cover $72,000 of PSU’s other costs plus approximately $40,000 in equipment and manufacturing costs, including tooling up for step three below. Feasibility testing at PSU will mark the first time the performance claims of a VAWT manufacturer have been certified by an independent third party. We believe this will set a new benchmark for the industry and spur innovation.
3) Second stage fundraising: If the feasibility testing results are as we expect, it will be time to get prepared for large scale manufacturing and the development of a matched generator. Armed with the credibility of the test results verified by PSU, we intend to seek investment funds.
4) Development of matched generator: We have generators now that will work with the Helyx™ but they are not ideal. With the information we gain from the PSU feasibility tests we will be able to have a generator developed specifically for our turbine. We estimate that this will cost approximately $50,000.
5) Manufacturing and assembly are to take place in the Portland area in order to avoid the environmental impact of overseas manufacturing and in order to support the local economy. Recycled content will be as high as practical without sacrificing durability.
6) Bringing our product to market: Oregon Wind’s director of marketing and sustainability, Sattie Clark, has twelve years of marketing expertise and a strong commitment to sustainability and values-driven business practices. The company she owns with her husband, Eleek Inc., has gained national recognition and many awards for its innovative designs and sustainability leadership.
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