Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

tethered balloon wind generator

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread		 This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Political Videos Donate to DU
 
yurbud Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-13-07 02:39 AM
Original message
tethered balloon wind generator
 
Run time: 01:19
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6vgWP5U5Ew
 
Posted on YouTube: May 10, 2007
By YouTube Member:
Views on YouTube: 0
 
Posted on DU: May 13, 2007
By DU Member: yurbud
Views on DU: 2177
 
I've seen a similar idea with a helicopter type rig, but this seems simpler and more foolproof.

Now if they could just make a personal blimp I could fly to work....
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
monarch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-13-07 02:52 AM
Response to Original message
1. Pretty neat !! Helicopter idea is too. n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
yurbud Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-13-07 03:16 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. the helicopter one has four rotors and goes all the way up into the jetstream.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Texifornia Donating Member (399 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-13-07 08:56 AM
Response to Original message
3. This eliminates one of the biggest cost
in construction of a wind turbine: the tower.

I'll be watching this technology.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
yurbud Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-13-07 01:08 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. that was my first thought too. It also gives this a smaller footprint on the ground
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
yurbud Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-13-07 01:10 PM
Response to Reply #5
6. and it gives you more flexibility if you live in a shelter area to "reach up" to the wind
like if you are surrounded by trees or you're at the bottom of a hollow
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
yurbud Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-13-07 01:14 PM
Response to Reply #3
8. $250 towerless option (I haven't checked my electric bill to quantify this in terms of use)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
gristy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-13-07 11:58 AM
Response to Original message
4. Not a wind generator
Thanks goodness. We have plenty of wind. It's an electricity generator.

For that to work in a 200mph wind, it will have to generate a lot of lift just to stay up in it. The helium helps, but kite action will be needed too, since forces from the tether will be pulling it down. All we need to really make this practical is a sky hook to attach it to, rather than the ground. ;)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
yurbud Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-13-07 01:12 PM
Response to Reply #4
7. if you paint it black and/or have a heating element inside, you could keep it aloft with hot air too
you're right. I meant to say wind religious extremist who sometimes but not always rely on terror as a method generator.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Thor_MN Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-13-07 09:34 PM
Response to Reply #4
11. Forces from the wind will be forcing it down. The tether will not be pulling it at all.
The tether will be static relative to the ground attachment so it will not be pulling anything.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
gristy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-13-07 10:33 PM
Response to Reply #11
14. Yes, the tether is static, but it is pulling.
Since the tether is static, it it can't consume or generate any energy, but it is applying a force to the balloon. Depending on the angle of the tether, a portion of that force is into the wind, and another portion is straight down.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
thereismore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-13-07 06:12 PM
Response to Original message
9. Problem: torque will try to wind the tethers around the mount points.
Remember Newton's 3rd law?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
yurbud Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-13-07 10:12 PM
Response to Reply #9
12. what? I assume the designer put the whole deal on an axle or something like that.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
gristy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-13-07 10:24 PM
Response to Reply #9
13. You could have multiple sections which are designed to rotate in opposite directions
Kind of like a dual-rotor helicopter, which doesn't need a tail rotor. I think that would solve that problem
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
thereismore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-14-07 09:22 AM
Response to Reply #13
16. Yes, that would help. The graphics certainly did not show that. nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-13-07 07:39 PM
Response to Original message
10. k&r'd...
:kick:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Mr_Jefferson_24 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-13-07 11:15 PM
Response to Original message
15. K & R Nifty idea.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Mon Apr 29th 2024, 06:52 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Political Videos Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC