Harness the Wind with 3D Printed Mini Turbines

Necessity is the mother of invention, and, regardless of the current glut of oil, eventually mankind will be forced to turn to alternative forms of energy to power the machinery of civilization. Solar, wind, geothermic and other forms of natural power will eventually be tapped to provide heat and light, propulsion and momentum. Ever adaptable, humanity has already begun to develop and produce alternative energy sources, but has yet to fully invest in the future.

For less developed countries, the drive for innovation is more compelling. Places with shoddy or missing infrastructure are already looking to alternative energy for their needs, and a number of organizations are assisting with these ventures. A partnership between Orange Silicon Valley and Omni3D has resulted in the development of miniaturized wind turbines that can be quickly and inexpensively produced via 3D printing.

Nearly any location with reasonable amounts of wind can benefit from employing wind turbines to provide for at least some of its energy needs. According to the United Nations, 1 in 5 people worldwide can be considered energy poor. Most individuals meeting that description live in areas that aren’t financially capable of producing or erecting full-scale wind turbines, but the miniaturized version developed by the partnership is a different story.

When the time came to test its work, Orange Silicon Valley sent CAD files to Omni3D for printing. The turbine blades were designed to be constructed in multiple parts, with each piece measuring around half a meter in length. To further reduce costs, and assist with ease of construction and transportation, each segment was printed in ABS plastic in a honeycomb pattern, resulting in a blade that is 93% hollow.

"Industrial 3D printing creates an opportunity for milling workshops to fabricate parts cheaper, faster and easier. Fabricating large ABS parts is a task that can be accomplished by only few printers in the world and we're happy to be a part of this project," said Konrad Sierzputowski, board member of Omni3D.

In addition to providing for the energy needs of poor, rural areas, the miniaturized turbines could also be put to use in urban environments. Since a layer of paint has almost zero impact on a turbine’s function, it would also be possible to decorate the turbines to either hide them among a city's skyline, or use them as standing works of art.

Below you’ll find a video about wind turbines.

Source: MarketWatch