Coupled Vortex Effect
Windstar turbines are built in arrays of three or more turbines in order to take advantage of the "coupled vortex effect." The coupled vortex effect was identified through field tests of Windstar 530G turbines and is made possible by the fact that straight-bladed vertical axis wind turbine blades passing in close proximity to one another in opposite directions create lift and torque on their neighboring blades, boosting the energy production of an array in comparison with a single turbine's performance. See patent US6784566. A mathematical model of the phenomenon and its effect on Windstar turbine performance was made possible by grant funds from the California Energy Commission in 2010., Research on similar vertical axis turbine configurations have independently confirmed the effect, linking the phenomenon's boost of performance to the fluid efficiency observed in schools of fish.
Read more about this topic: Windstar Turbine
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