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Author	Topic: Wind turbine blimp aims to replace diesel generators	Post a Reply Back to Topics

cicio2000 Sophomore Author Chicago Posts:214 Points:373,805 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 5:37:46 PM Ignore cicio2000 Report Abuse Look, up in the sky! It's a bird… it's a plane… it's a… wind turbine? Altaeros Energies, a Massachusetts-based company formed by MIT and Harvard grads, has aimed high — literally — in its quest to deliver power to remote, off-the-grid locations, creating a blimp that harnesses the power of the wind at 1,000 feet up. The prototype, seen in this video, is a large helium-filled shell that looks almost like a jet engine (or, as we suspect more than a few people thought when it was tested in Maine earlier this year, a UFO). Attached to a trailer on the ground, it automatically deploys itself 1,000 feet in the air (350 feet for its inaugural test flight) where a fan at its center is turned by the wind. At this altitude, the wind is not only stronger than at ground level, but also much steadier Visit Yahoo! for full article

cicio2000

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Chicago

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Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 5:37:46 PM

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Look, up in the sky! It's a bird… it's a plane… it's a… wind turbine? Altaeros Energies, a Massachusetts-based company formed by MIT and Harvard grads, has aimed high — literally — in its quest to deliver power to remote, off-the-grid locations, creating a blimp that harnesses the power of the wind at 1,000 feet up.

The prototype, seen in this video, is a large helium-filled shell that looks almost like a jet engine (or, as we suspect more than a few people thought when it was tested in Maine earlier this year, a UFO). Attached to a trailer on the ground, it automatically deploys itself 1,000 feet in the air (350 feet for its inaugural test flight) where a fan at its center is turned by the wind. At this altitude, the wind is not only stronger than at ground level, but also much steadier
Visit Yahoo! for full article

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PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,074 Points:1,448,325 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Apr 22, 2012 5:43:44 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse Blimps? Now there's an interesting idea.
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:6,963 Points:2,117,390 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Apr 22, 2012 1:33:01 PM Ignore remay Report Abuse Hope it has good "aim", because it is a shot in the dark!
DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,352 Points:1,243,265 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Apr 22, 2012 7:53:46 AM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse Very cool technology.
crep1291 Champion Author Ottawa Posts:2,579 Points:481,045 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 21, 2012 4:17:16 PM Ignore crep1291 Report Abuse High-flying wind turbines are not a new idea. But this is the first one I see in operation. Not only do they provide more constant power, but they also kill less birds. And they're much easier to maintain (simply reel them down for maintenance!) They are a potential danger for airplanes however.
teafortwo Champion Author Washington Posts:22,111 Points:1,385,815 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Apr 21, 2012 12:37:13 PM Ignore teafortwo Report Abuse Divide and conquer is the best solution to our energy needs. Reduce our need through efficiency and recycling. Harvest energy where available with a variety of methods suitable to the location & resources. Follow the science with an eye toward a cleaner, better future ;0} FROM THE ARTICLE: The electricity generated by the turbine is sent down to the trailer via the tether cables, where it can be used to power remote villages, military outposts, or anywhere that would normally have to depend on polluting diesel generators. When it's not in use, it can be automatically reeled in.
LanguageMan1 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,723 Points:1,661,790 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Apr 21, 2012 9:12:49 AM Ignore LanguageMan1 Report Abuse Ths would be nice to see.
YaBassa Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,430 Points:517,100 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 21, 2012 7:10:44 AM Ignore YaBassa Report Abuse Cool idea
angel4me Champion Author San Jose Posts:2,814 Points:795,295 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 21, 2012 5:49:07 AM Ignore angel4me Report Abuse what goes up must come down sooner or later.........
nozzle46 Champion Author Little Rock Posts:6,695 Points:1,473,050 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Apr 21, 2012 5:39:19 AM Ignore nozzle46 Report Abuse Saves a lot of steel.
qwerty17 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,655 Points:1,117,900 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Apr 21, 2012 4:54:24 AM Ignore qwerty17 Report Abuse sounds cool. could they replace giant wind turbines?
teafortwo Champion Author Washington Posts:22,111 Points:1,385,815 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 10:09:24 PM Ignore teafortwo Report Abuse Follow the science. Support research and education.
CVA19 Champion Author Salem Posts:2,393 Points:609,450 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 10:08:36 PM Ignore CVA19 Report Abuse Helium is inert (it is flamable, so it won't explode); however, helium is becoming harder to come by and, therefore, more and more expensive. These kinds of operations will become economically unprofitable. [Edited by: GT3186 at 4/21/2012 1:08:49 AM EST]
cheapchickKY Champion Author Lexington Posts:4,017 Points:796,290 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 9:20:02 PM Ignore cheapchickKY Report Abuse Interesting.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,094 Points:1,622,710 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 8:27:03 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Paranoia cdrrod???
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,094 Points:1,622,710 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 8:26:05 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse A great idea now being carried out. I would like several to create a no-fly zone in my neighborhood for the local millionaires with their noisy hipo aircraft and helicopters. They will likely be getting the new flying cars next. Thanks for a good news article cicio2000 and the great personal story JamesCalvin.
cdrrod Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:4,154 Points:783,775 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 8:24:32 PM Ignore cdrrod Report Abuse And what happens when this thing explodes or is hit by lightening? Reminds me of Big Brother watching each of us...
lesndave Champion Author Texas Posts:3,037 Points:701,155 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 8:09:23 PM Ignore lesndave Report Abuse Nifty
kenji554 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:1,217 Points:513,045 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 7:51:08 PM Ignore kenji554 Report Abuse Interesting idea.
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:3,186 Points:519,555 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 7:46:32 PM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse This is phenomenal! In 1962 I wrote my 8th grade term paper on "Ships of the Sky!" I heard my grand father tell of the Shenandoah that went down in a squall over Ohio. His family had viewed lights in the gondola of the airship as is passed over his farm just north of York, PA. Lots of people hoped the "dirigible" or airship would play a role in aviation. Little did anyone think the airship might provide a source of energy in the future!
patslider Veteran Author Los Angeles Posts:383 Points:87,410 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 7:23:15 PM Ignore patslider Report Abuse Now that sounds cool!
esq262 Champion Author Asheville Posts:2,897 Points:648,265 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 7:00:29 PM Ignore esq262 Report Abuse May work.
orphancarguyPE Champion Author PEI Posts:3,848 Points:734,990 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 6:24:27 PM Ignore orphancarguyPE Report Abuse Excellent idea!
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:7,554 Points:1,172,595 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 6:16:21 PM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse Check out the video! A very interesting idea, just don't fly them near any airports.