From Wednesday, March 27, a scale model of a bladeless windmill can be viewed in front of the faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science at Delft University of Technology.
Mecanoo Architects designed the model EWICON (Electrostatic WIndenergy CONvertor) using technology developed by researchers Johan Smit and Dhiradj Djairam from the Delft University of Technology in a consortium with Wageningen UR and commercial companies in an economy-ecology-government partnership program context.
The breakthrough wind convertor transforms wind energy into electricity without the use of moving mechanical parts. The result: greatly reduced wear and tear, lower maintenance costs, and zero noise pollution or shadow casting.
The EWICON can be installed on land or sea, and can also be integrated onto the roof of a tall building.
The EWICON has an abstract appearance with a flowing steel frame in the shape of a squared -0- supporting a framework of horizontal steel tubes. Within this framework, electrically charged droplets are created and blown away by the wind. The movement of the droplets creates an electric current, which can be passed on to the grid.
In 2009, Mecanoo applied the EWICON into the design of the Stadstimmerhuis 010 in Rotterdam, where the 010-sign on the roof would make use of two EWICONS. Continued development will be carried out once funding has been secured for further scientific research.
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Press release, April 3, 2013; Image: Mecanoo