“We don’t spin, we swing.” Thus, with a simple but direct and effective slogan, Katrick Technologies presents the invention with which it wants to give a new twist to the use of wind energy: instead of using large windmills with blades tens of meters long or wind turbines more than 200 meters high. m of land, and this start The Scots chose channels equipped with small fins that moved with the gusts of air. It’s not the usual choice, but its creators argue that the model, called Wind Panel, has a series of advantages that make it particularly interesting in certain contexts.
At the moment, officials are already talking about minimal impact on the environment and visually, lower cost and even high efficiency.
There is no dagas mill, by wind plate. This is how Katrick Technologies named their Wind Prototype, a system that differs from conventional wind turbines visually and, above all, in terms of its operation: instead of using rotors that rise to great heights and enormous blades to capture the force of the wind, their device includes… On a type of fin, “oscillating aerodynamic profiles” capture low wind energy.
Therefore, the key to its design lies not in tall towers, but in channels with independent fins that oscillate in the wind. Thanks to them, they confirm that “their 10 kW solution can save more than 5.5 tons of CO2 per year.”
Take advantage of the wind…in another way. Cattery devices consist of several guide channels with different aerodynamic shapes that are responsible for capturing the kinetic energy of the wind and converting it into mechanical oscillations. It then collects them together and turns them into electricity. “Our wind panels capture large amounts of kinetic energy by having a relatively large working surface and density,” he explains. Since each profile operates independently, the company asserts that its technology is able to instantly capture changes in storm speeds and directions.
“The scalable and flexible wind panels can be installed on existing structures, green sites and microgrids,” he says. “Catteric wind panels provide a new solution for urban wind energy where traditional turbines are impossible.” In showcasing its technology, Catterick insists that its model is able to adapt to wind conditions “at ground level” while rotary movements are better suited to higher altitudes, above 10 meters above ground level.
Chest protrudes. The Scottish company claims that its wind technology offers some valuable advantages – operational, economic and logistical. For example, it claims that its devices save costs, can be manufactured inexpensively, can be applied quickly, and capture more kinetic energy than conventional wind turbines. Because it is a “secret” technology, they also claim that it is easier to obtain permits to transport it to sensitive areas and that its impact on nature and wildlife is “minimal”.
The Scottish company asserts: “It addresses the limitations of conventional wind turbines by capturing a much wider range of wind speeds and frequencies at low levels through its unique design.” The panel features guidance channels containing aerodynamic profiles. “Which oscillates independently when exposed to the sun and then the kinetic energy of the wind and these mechanical oscillations are converted into energy.
Beyond theory. Not all of this is theory or estimates. The company recently reported that its technology has far exceeded the first phase of testing during which it used a prototype of its wind panel. He says the results were “impressive” and showed its “potential.” To verify their capabilities, technicians used wind tunnels that simulate the operating conditions a wind turbine would face. The first is located at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Centre. The second is at Strathsicle University.
Among other things, technicians verified a fundamental fact: that its channels are capable of increasing wind speed, which affects the movement of the fins. “During testing, a 1.5 times acceleration in wind speed was recorded, demonstrating that the prototype design increased wind speed and potential energy production.”
Exceeded initial expectations. “The team conducted 51 tests over 80 hours in Strathclyde, working towards pre-defined design performance targets. The prototype was expected to produce between 25 and 40 watts of mechanical power with a wind speed of 12 meters per second (m/s), But it exceeded this target and produced an average of 41.1 watts at a speed of only 10.2 m/s,” the company details. According to their calculations, one kilometer of their road panels could charge 80,000 90-kilowatt Tesla cars or power 760 homes every year.
They say that during the testing cycle, the prototype they used actually produced 68.58 watts, “significantly more than the maximum expected.” The company now plans to continue moving toward commercializing its technology. Currently, it has already managed to win important awards, such as the Energy Innovation Award during the National Sustainability Awards held in London.
Images and video: Catrick techniques 1, 2, 3 and 4
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