THE MAGLEV: The Super-powered Magnetic Wind Turbine

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/11/26/super-powered-magnetic-wind-turbine-maglev/

THE MAGLEV: The Super-powered Magnetic Wind Turbine
by Mahesh

Renewable energy produced from the wind has garnered much attention and support in recent years but is often criticized for its low output and lack of reliability. But now a super power wind turbine has come along that may be just what the renewable energy industry needs. The MagLev wind turbine, which was first unveiled at the Wind Power Asia exhibition in Beijing, is expected take wind power technology to the next level with magnetic levitation.



Magnetic levitation is an extremely efficient system for wind energy. Here’s how it works: the vertically oriented blades of the wind turbine are suspended in the air above the base of the machine, replacing the need for ball bearings. The turbine uses “full-permanent” magnets, not electromagnets — therefore, it does not require electricty to run. The full-permanent magnet system employs neodymium (”rare earth”) magnets and there is no energy loss through friction. This also helps reduce maintenance costs and increases the lifespan of the generator.

Maglev wind turbines have several advantages over conventional wind turbines. For instance, they’re able to use winds with starting speeds as low as 1.5 meters per second (m/s). Also, they could operate in winds exceeding 40 m/s. Currently, the largest conventional wind turbines in the world produce only five megawatts of power. However, one large maglev wind turbine could generate one gigawatt of clean power, enough to supply energy to 750,000 homes. It would also increase generation capacity by 20% over conventional wind turbines and decrease operational costs by 50%. If that isn’t enough, the maglev wind turbines will be operational for about 500 years!

Construction began on the world’s largest production site for maglev wind turbines in central China on November 5, 2007. Zhongke Hengyuan Energy Technology has invested 400 million yuan in building this facility, which will produce maglev wind turbines with capacities ranging from 400 to 5,000 watts. In the US, Arizona-based MagLev Wind Turbine Technologies will be manufacturing these turbines. Headed by long-time renewable energy researcher Ed Mazur, the company claims that it will be able to deliver clean power for less than one cent per kilowatt hour with this new technology. It also points out that building a single giant maglev wind turbine would reduce construction and maintenance costs and require much less land than hundreds of conventional turbines. The estimated cost of building this colossal structure is $53 million.

[MADem]

1. I seem to recall this getting posted awhile back, and being debunked as horseshit. NT

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. Maglev Wind Turbine Technologies to Start Operations

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070726005081&newsLang=en

July 26, 2007 07:00 AM Eastern Time

Maglev Wind Turbine Technologies to Start Operations

SIERRA VISTA, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today's announcement marks the culmination of years of research and work into the development of Maglev technology perfected by Mr. Ed Mazur for the specific purpose of providing less expensive, cleaner energy for America.

Mr. Mazur is the foremost authority on the diversified application of Magnetic Levitation Technology, or Maglev. At 60 years of age, Mr. Mazur’s philosophy for good health and success is focused on moderation and prevention. This philosophy has played into his solution for limiting the unabated use of fossil fuels, which is known by scientists worldwide to be the double-edged sword for mankind. This solution comes in the form of wind power with Maglev technology to convert the wind into useable energy.

Mr. Mazur has researched variable renewable energy sources since 1981 and has established a proven Maglev wind power generation model based on kinetic energy, of which the major components are weight and speed.

Mr. Mazur has unparalleled knowledge of the diversified renewable energy markets and extreme engineering industries. The management and consulting team he has worked with in the formation of this device has hundreds of years of combined experience in related fields of expertise and experience.

“We thank everyone who supports a diversified renewable energy program. Unlike any other form of renewable energy, wind energy has the greatest potential for energy independence,” explains Ed Mazur in response to his newly launched wind turbine power generating device.

With the future of our world in question, and because of the rapid dissolving of the ozone layer and the threat of global warming, America is left more vulnerable now than ever before. With our country’s reliance on foreign energy sources, it is with little doubt that the Maglev Wind Turbine will help in a major way to alleviate such problems.

With one Maglev Wind Turbine using less than 100 acres to generate the same amount of electricity that it takes more than 500 wind mills using tens of thousands of acres, it is of no surprise that interest in the Maglev Company has been so outstanding.

Maglev Wind Turbine Technologies Inc. is not a publicly-traded company and therefore, cannot solicit investments. Those who do invest in the company are given a full understanding of the technology prior to doing so.

The Maglev Wind Turbine will be the largest and most efficient wind turbine ever constructed.

For more information about the company please visit our website at: www.magturbine.com or for further inquiries, please email us at [e-mail]

[MADem]

5. Your cite is almost six months old. It seems to me this was shopped six months ago,

and demonstrated to be a fake six months ago.

I'm happy to be corrected if that isn't the case.

[OKIsItJustMe]

3. Maglev Wind Turbine Technologies Announces Laurence E. (Larry) Blow to Join Company as Chief Consult

http://www.forbes.com/businesswire/feeds/businesswire/2007/09/04/businesswire20070904006234r1.html

Business Wire - Press Release

Maglev Wind Turbine Technologies Announces Laurence E. (Larry) Blow to Join Company as Chief Consulting Engineer Assisting MWTT in the Production of Megawatt Turbines

09.04.07, 3:32 PM ET

Maglev Wind Turbine Technologies, Inc. (MWTT) is pleased to announce that Mr. Laurence E. (Larry) Blow has agreed to join our company as Chief Consulting Engineer.

Ed Mazur, Founder and CEO of MWTT, is convinced that Mr. Blow's involvement will significantly contribute to the success of the company, given his extensive background and experience in applying maglev technology for practical purposes. Combined with his early project management experience in the Defense Department, it could be said that no other individual currently working in the field of maglev technology has Mr. Blow's range of practical working experience.

...

[MADem]

7. That's a paid press release. I haven't seen any NEWS articles about this.

It's suspect, sorry.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. There's a bit of difference between the factory's capacity and the PR

"will produce maglev wind turbines with capacities ranging from 400 to 5,000 watts"

"one large maglev wind turbine could generate one gigawatt"

ie 200,000 times the size of the largest turbine the factory can produce. 5,000 watts will power 2 or 3 homes, in a western country. Scaling something up that much is no mean feat.

[Kolesar]

6. You of "little faith"

:hi:

[OKIsItJustMe]

8. Factory Capacity

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-11/05/content_7016626.htm

China to mass produce maglev wind power generators

www.chinaview.cn 2007-11-05 20:12:34

CHANGSHA, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Construction began on the world's largest production base for magnetic levitation (maglev) wind power generators in central China on Monday.

...

The base will produce a series of maglev wind power generators with capacities ranging from 400 to 5,000 watts in the first half of 2008, said a company statement.

...

As for scaling things up, please consider the very wide range of conventional HAWT's available today.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. I somehow doubt the figures given in the OP article are real

Consider: the article in the OP claim a 1GW turbine would cost $53 million. 1GW is 1 million kW; so if it ran for 24 hours, it would produce 24 million kWh. Sell that at 5 cent a kWh, and you'd pay for the cost of building it in 44 days. If they actually knew how to do that, they be starting to do it now. There's no evidence they have the faintest idea how to build the massive turbine they're talking about; so the estimated cost is meaningless.

But the ones to power a couple of houses might be interesting. I'd much rather know their prices, than the ones they don't know how to build.

[NNadir]

10. Super powered? Like Spiderman?

We hear about this one every few weeks, it seems.

It would be really, really, really, really, really interesting if for once, we stopped hearing all of this magic talk and actually saw an exajoule from all these yuppie fantasies.

[tom_paine]

11. Spiderman produces endojoules.

:rofl:

[NNadir]

13. I guess that's better than exoskeleton.

Frankly, it does seem unfair that the guy got to keep his spine and didn't develop mandibles.

Kafka did this story better, I think.

[OKIsItJustMe]

12. Residential sized MagLev VAWT

http://www.mag-wind.com/

[losthills]

14. They're "taking deposits...."

It's really a hoaxe.

[Bread and Circus]

15. Just to piss off the nukies...

I'm not going to certify the veracity of these new articles, but to anyone interested here they are (and yes apparently they are going to build some of this stuff w/ a fair amount of money being invested (not sure what scale though but it looks like the Chinese factory will be making "household size models" at 4000 to 5000 watts)):

http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/11/26/super-powered-magnetic-wind-turbine-maglev/
http://www.chinaknowledge.com/news/news-detail.aspx?id=11368
http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/26/maglev-wind-turbines-1000x-more-effiencient-than-normal-windmill/