http://www.homeenergyamericas.com/energyball.htm

My brother sent this link to me as something they are considering for Acadia National Park in Maine. It’s an artistic approach to harvesting useful energy from the wind. They have an interesting interpretation of the energy content in the swept area of the machine.

“Due to the unusual and exceptional aerodynamics characteristics of the Energy Ball^®, it creates a wind flow pattern that converges first and is then accelerated through the rotor, resembling the rapids in a river (the so-called Venturi effect). This translates into a higher aerodynamic efficiency compared to conventional wind turbine designs.”

The small swept area and the inflated power ratings of the power curve again relegate this machine to the “artistic toy” category in my opinion. It’s interesting how the emphasis of these innovative machines is how they can start in winds of 2 MPH or so. There is so little energy in those wind regimes that this claim can only impress those potential customers with little knowledge of the physics of wind power.

One reason that the park was considering a machine like this is that they want nothing intruding above the tree line. They can’t take a chance of offending all the tourists that come to coastal Maine, expecting a wilderness experience just outside of rural Bar Harbor. Placing any wind machine in the midst of trees with resultant turbulence is just asking for trouble. It’s too bad, because that part of the coast of Maine should have an excellent wind potential for power. However, I accept the aesthetic limitations, given the beautiful vistas along the parks waterline. It may be possible to do something at the visitor center, but my recollection is that it is in a quite protected part of the park.