A bladeless wind energy convertor inspired by the sailing boats of Ancient Carthage is set to breeze past traditional turbines in terms of efficiency, according to its Tunisian developers.
A Tunisian start-up has taken inspiration from the sailing boats of Ancient Carthage to develop a bladeless, non-rotating wind energy convertor that is more efficient than traditional turbines as well as safer and quieter, according to the developers.
Tunis-based Saphon Energy says the aerodynamic bowl-shaped sail on its turbine is capable of capturing twice as much wind energy over the same swept area as a conventional turbine.
The designers, led by 37-year-old engineer Anis Aouini, looked to the old technology of sailing boats, as well as the movements of birds and fish for their design. They were inspired by the sailors of the ancient civilisation of Carthage, located close to the present-day Tunisian capital.
The bladeless design uses a non-rotational sail-shaped body combined with a wind converter that follows a figure of eight pattern in the air.
All wind turbines are subject to the Betz limit of capturing 59 percent of the energy from wind, but its developers say the Saphonian is quite capable of surpassing this limit because it is bladeless, making it far more efficient than traditional turbines.
Dancing With Fools 
Hooray, DWF is still here! It wouldn’t load last night, it wouldn’t load this morning, I wrote to all three of you. Jim wrote back at 11:00 that it worked for him, and now it works for me, too. *phew*
I have to go cook, for Quincy and I’m making Hungarian Chicken Paprikas. Gorgeous day out there, lots of sun and the birds are happy as heck.
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Hope this sunflower design works.
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ALL for that new type wind energy machine. Looking like a sunflower makes it kind of pretty, and birds will benefit from the lack of blades.
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@ the Hillside Cafe for vegetarian pizza, which is much better than the name, and kernel corn.
Nobody I recognize here.
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Cruz and Fiorina. True comedy genius.
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But can they tap dance?
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Beer is a high purine food so not much of the stuff for me anymore. 😦
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Despite being closed week so the Greek houses cannot have parties, this doesn’t prevent my neighbors to the northwest from boozily partying instead of cramming for finals.
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Still sickly today, took 3 naps, electric blanket on 8, feel like crap.
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back to bed, ugh!
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