Comments on: HELIX WIND TURBINE: Small Wind Gets Smart

By: RogerBrown

RogerBrown — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:51:28 +0000

you have to be very careful with your expectations – vertical helix turbines are chronically inefficient because they are mainly mounted on roofs, where the air is chaotic.

with the current state of helix technology, it is much more cost effective to stick with horizontals until efficiencies improve.

By: Namuha

Namuha — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:48:46 +0000

Interesting thoughts and comments. Keeps in mind that the sun only works when the sun is up. Nothing ever works by itself. You have to almost always use something else in conjunction with it. So Solar and wind with hydro and grid tie as a last resort… or do you do a generator to last through the night till the morning? Decisions … decisions…(wink)

By: z24zig

z24zig — Tue, 04 May 2010 05:10:08 +0000

very cool
Idea – line the jersey berriers between the opposing traffic lanes on highly traveled highways and the wind created by the passing trucks and cars will create electricity

By: arasu

arasu — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:30:54 +0000

very stylish

By: river rat

river rat — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:28:55 +0000

Wind in general is one of the poorest methods for power generation. Pros Free— Cons not free, intermitent , unreliable, not even close to being cost efective. Solar and geothermal are the only way to go green. Look at the life cycles of this system. Because one ran for a week, month,year or five years. We need systems that can run for fifety years, be tuned up and run for another fifety. We need stone age tech. like hydro. No I don’t mean build more hydro. Just systems robust and dependable as hydro. We don’t need banks and stock traders selling carbon futures. Sorry to say it’s all about the money. Lets start a group (Energy for Earths Survival). No I don’t have all the answers, just a wish that our leaders had a few.

By: Helix-Turbines

Helix-Turbines — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:52:57 +0000

That’s because VAWTS are a hoax. Ever ride a bicycle into a stiff wind? Ever drive your car and forgetting to take off the parking brake? That’s a VAWT. As one side catches wind, the other is being resisted by wind. Wind does not blow in a circle. Wind blows in a single direction, so as a VAWT has 2 sides, they cannot both go WITH the wind.

Ever see a big utility company use VAWT turbines in a wind farm. NO. That’s because they have to make profit and perform. That means the blades must harness wind without being resisted by the wind, like a real wind turbine. I build home energy systems and I would never recommend a VAWT. Maybe for a artistic look but if you need actual productivity look at that new HO-4.2kW that that just came out. It’s proven wind/solar hybrid and in the scenario that Jeff8 outlined above, that system would be cranking. Since it has that patented rooftop turbine kit by WindEnergy7 it’s stable and silent on the home roof.

By: Jeff8

Jeff8 — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:52:27 +0000

I saw the 5k Helix VAWT in action at Hampton Airfield in Hampton, NH today. According to weather.com, the wind was 10-15 gusting up to 25-30 so I figured it would be a good day to go down and check it out. I got there and the wind socks were 3/4 to fully straight out. The Helix VAWT was barely moving and a times with the wind blowing quite briskly in my face it was literally not moving at all! The inverter was on the outside of the building so I checked out the output. With the exception of one brief burst into the 70 watt range, the thing was literally producing < 15 watts the whole time I was watching it. I spoke to the owner and she showed me their loggs over the past 2 weeks (it just got hooked up). The highest day was 19 kwh with an average of 10-11! That’s maybe 4,000 kwh/year based on those numbers and these are windy Spring numbers so we’re talking probably something closer to 3,000 kwh/yr! That BLOWS for a $30k, 5 kw rated machine! Needless to say I was VERY unimpressed and would NEVER but one of these based on what I saw today.

By: Elffin

Elffin — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:04:58 +0000

The company is selling at a big discount to Southeast Asia, why not here at the home front.

By: foobar123

foobar123 — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 01:44:08 +0000

It is interesting to note the ratio of comments that point out that vertical axis mills are fundamentally inefficient (this is basic physics) compared to horizontal axis machines — versus all the wishful thinking. We need to do a better job of teaching physics in high school.

These machines are just a novelty and not a serious way to produce wind energy.

By: mab139

mab139 — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 06:50:51 +0000

Awsome, the next step is to replicate it using recycled parts and spend less than 5bills.

By: thewhale

thewhale — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:44:57 +0000

Way too expensive. I live in over taxed New Jersey. We are looking for reasonably priced wind generators that we can install everywhere. They have to pay for themselves and generate additional income. Any Suggestions?

By: Frank

Frank — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:55:32 +0000

Manzar you should go to their website. http://www.helixwind.com

By: Manzar Masud

Manzar Masud — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:16:38 +0000

hi.. my name is manzar.. i am doing aeorspace engineering from institute of space technology,islamabad. I have been assigned design of wind turbine as my final year project. I have searced for many horizontal and vertical axis wind turbine and found this helix wind turbine. I need guidance if i can manufacture this wind turbine as my final year project. I have limited resources. If some one could tell me about the components used in makind this wind turbine and all details..

regardz

Manzar Masud

Institute of space technology pakistan

department of aeronautics and astronautics

By: EFG Wind

EFG Wind — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:44:18 +0000

The Helix Wind, wind turbine is a well designed product, I know I have the demo in my possession right now and I have to say they have their product is designed to capture the wind that sets the standard. The design is sleek and well refined. Yes, the Savanious design does not match its horizontal brothers in power production, but in the residential market I can tell you that this is welcomed and long awaited tubrine that performs nicely in its class and your neighbors won’t complain…they will want one. This turbine already meets the zoning laws in almost every city. So you won’t have to fight to produce your own energy. We belive for the following reasons people will choose their design.
-The audible noise signature is 5db higher than normal ambient noise levels. It has noise signature significantly less than you homes air conditioning unit. You will hear the wind through the trees and howling past the power lines before you will hear the turbine!
-The look is very unique, artistic and it will produce affordable power.
-The cost is still cheaper than solar and qualifies for rebates. Plus it can produce 24 hours a day.
-It does a great job in turbulent wind areas like residential communities, it does not have to search for the wind, and it captures it from all directions.
-Low wind start up speed.
-Last of all this is a complete system to include the inverter, tower, and turbine. You just need to install it and connect it to your house and grid connect.

By: at802

at802 — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:52:40 +0000

Steve and Ray make an excelent point. The whole problem with the green movement is that it is too damned expensive! I do not know anyone that does not want to reduce their energy usage and save the planet. The only thing holding most of us back is the initial cost. Solar panels and wind turbines are way too expensive for the masses, and way too expensive for the technology involved. That average computer has ten times the technology involved it it and they are cheap. Bought a high end H&P last summer for $1300, compare that to what it would cost to power even a small home with wind or solar. If you want to save the planet get the cost of this stuff down to where the masses can afford it! The same with energy efficient electric and hybrid autos, if you can afford one of them you dont need them.

By: vjeko72

vjeko72 — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:53:36 +0000

please do yuo have a distributor in europa

Vjekoslav

By: Albert

Albert — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:48:46 +0000

I’m impressed! My first concern would be how it would stand up to the rigors of a Canadian Winter. Zoning laws and neighbour’s opinions re asthetic appearance would be my next concern and last, but not least, cost effectiveness. I have no doubt the larger model would be the perfect adddition/replacement to the traditional windmill at the farm/farmhouse out in the country, but in the city, between neighbor’s houses? I am as curious about these concerns as I am intruiged by the technology.
yours truly,
Albert, a boyhood admirer of Popular Science/Mechanics magazines.

By: chip w.

chip w. — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:58:47 +0000

i need to know the realities of savings if i have a 300 dollar a month electric bill. obviously i am new to the whole green movement.

By: tieole

tieole — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:46:07 +0000

What a piece of crap. Savonius machines have been around for centuries, but they are not as efficient as horizontal wind turbines. Ask yourself why large wind turbine manufacturers with large engineering offices don’t build these, because they are not sound designs. A machine built by losers for losers – can capture the wind from all directions, defies the betz law. I think you all need to go back and take a look at your high school physics courses.

By: whodoes

whodoes — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:16:18 +0000

In response to the worn out and road weary “return on investment” argument, i say… HOGWASH ! POPPYCOCK ! and… hmmmmm ,… BALDERDASH! This argument completely ignores how markets and consumers actually function. This is similar to claiming that I wont buy locally grown produce until I can get it for a comparable price. WRONG, I’ll buy it now.I’ll pay more for a product that tastes much like the imported stuff from walmart’s grocery. Ill do it happily and regularly and as many other locals do the same I’ve noticed that there is a growing selection and increased availability. It is well understood that the “overpriced” (yet somehow still purchased) runway/fashion magazine apparel of today will be the source material for the mass produced, and almost universally affordable, walmart / J.C.Pennys merchandise of tomorrow. This holds true for the P.C. gamer who will pay twice as much for a video card which is only 20% better or tenfold as much for a sports car which is only twice as fast. First adopters are those willing to pay a premium beyond that of your average consumer ( lets go WAY back and remember the iPhone <–sarcasm.) . These early adopters help encourage and kick start the mass production which allows the average consumer to benefit.I’m willing to pay extra for the option to have recycling service for my household waste rather than insisting that it “pay for itself” before I opt in. I’m willing to pay the “first adopter” premium for green technologies that allow me to step outside the cycles of pollution and dependency on foreign energy.
sorry for the length… happy day to you all !