Comments on: The Sky Serpent: Twenty-Five Turbines in One http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172 for environmentalists who don't take themselves too seriously Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:42:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Randy http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172/comment-page-1#comment-243574 Randy Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:30:43 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172#comment-243574 Only problem is wind doesn't work... Wind wont work because the power it generates fluctuates. So you need backup for when? the wind does not blow. So wind farms just put power plants on standby (they still burn there fuel, but do not generate power) until the wind blows again. It doesn't offset any emissions, in reality, it just adds more in the manufacturing and transporting stages. Only problem is wind doesn’t work… Wind wont work because the power it generates fluctuates. So you need backup for when? the wind does not blow. So wind farms just put power plants on standby (they still burn there fuel, but do not generate power) until the wind blows again. It doesn’t offset any emissions, in reality, it just adds more in the manufacturing and transporting stages.

]]> By: Derek Andrews http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172/comment-page-1#comment-164678 Derek Andrews Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:47:46 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172#comment-164678 It seems that for every technological advance there are always those who want to go backwards.. small turbines do NOT kill birds, bats etc... I have installed over 150 turbines from various manufacturers in the last few years and jave never seen any "air-kill"... if mankind does not react fast, the animal life on this planet will not be there for our grandchildren because global warming will have wiped them out faster than any wind turbine will. The question today is how to reduce or do away with excessive amounts of CO² that is sent into the atmosphere, how to slow down the melting of the ice caps and how to get the Americans to do as much as they can and QUICKLY. (some of our cars here in Europe emit less than 100grams of CO² per Km driven.... an American car pollutes more than eight times one Eurocar does, over here a Prius pays a CO² rate of 4 for taxation purposes, and a Chevy SUV pays a CO² rate of 34... due to the amount of CO² and how much gas it guzzles) I sell wind turbines, I design and build wind and water turbines, I INNOVATE to help our sick and slowly overheating world and have been crying in the dark for over 30 years with not even Al Gore listening in the 1970s... come on lads, be positive, progress is good, the world needs progress to survive It seems that for every technological advance there are always those who want to go backwards.. small turbines do NOT kill birds, bats etc… I have installed over 150 turbines from various manufacturers in the last few years and jave never seen any “air-kill”… if mankind does not react fast, the animal life on this planet will not be there for our grandchildren because global warming will have wiped them out faster than any wind turbine will. The question today is how to reduce or do away with excessive amounts of CO² that is sent into the atmosphere, how to slow down the melting of the ice caps and how to get the Americans to do as much as they can and QUICKLY. (some of our cars here in Europe emit less than 100grams of CO² per Km driven…. an American car pollutes more than eight times one Eurocar does, over here a Prius pays a CO² rate of 4 for taxation purposes, and a Chevy SUV pays a CO² rate of 34… due to the amount of CO² and how much gas it guzzles) I sell wind turbines, I design and build wind and water turbines, I INNOVATE to help our sick and slowly overheating world and have been crying in the dark for over 30 years with not even Al Gore listening in the 1970s… come on lads, be positive, progress is good, the world needs progress to survive

]]> By: Wind Fan http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172/comment-page-1#comment-116592 Wind Fan Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:26:47 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172#comment-116592 Ok, I'm a huge fan of small wind, but this design seems flawed. Clearly there's benifit to having a long chain of small rotors strung along a flexible line. I like the idea of being able to fly the assembly like a kite. HOWEVER, the idea of suspending the assembly via a ballon? What happens every 3 or 4 days (or 2 weeks) when the ballon comes down? This string of spinning metal blades slams into trees, homes, fences (look out fido!)... smashing all (and it's self), and then the homeowner reinflates the ballon, fixes dozens of blades, appologizes to the neighbors and re-floats the thing only to repeat the exprience in a few weeks... I don't think so. The advantage that the towers have is that they run by themselves, with only routine (think scheduled!) maintenance. 'pratical' sustainability is required - if we can't afford to run the machine, it's not worth running... Ok, I’m a huge fan of small wind, but this design seems flawed. Clearly there’s benifit to having a long chain of small rotors strung along a flexible line. I like the idea of being able to fly the assembly like a kite. HOWEVER, the idea of suspending the assembly via a ballon? What happens every 3 or 4 days (or 2 weeks) when the ballon comes down? This string of spinning metal blades slams into trees, homes, fences (look out fido!)… smashing all (and it’s self), and then the homeowner reinflates the ballon, fixes dozens of blades, appologizes to the neighbors and re-floats the thing only to repeat the exprience in a few weeks… I don’t think so. The advantage that the towers have is that they run by themselves, with only routine (think scheduled!) maintenance. ‘pratical’ sustainability is required – if we can’t afford to run the machine, it’s not worth running…

]]> By: CPphysics http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172/comment-page-1#comment-66295 CPphysics Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:48:09 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172#comment-66295 From what I can tell, the above criticism has nothing to do with the inventor lacking an advanced degree from MIT. One of the most important things taught to us suckers with science degrees is to not blindly accept claims that something is a revolutionary solution to a long standing problem. Peer review is crucial for pointing out potential design flaws so they may be properly addressed. While this process might seem harsh to those not familiar with it, in the end it will lead to the best overall results. <blockquote>I think this is a very smart way to do business. By the sound of blogs it proves that humans dont like change (let alone by someone with out a degree). This is something that will save a lot of money and reduce the impact on the environment. Something doesn’t have to be enormous to capture wind, because that argument doesn’t hold true for the windmills in west Texas. Anyone with a slight education (elementary school) knows it is windy as hell in the midwest, and yet the the same windmill technology is used as in California!!! </blockquote> From what I can tell, the above criticism has nothing to do with the inventor lacking an advanced degree from MIT. One of the most important things taught to us suckers with science degrees is to not blindly accept claims that something is a revolutionary solution to a long standing problem. Peer review is crucial for pointing out potential design flaws so they may be properly addressed. While this process might seem harsh to those not familiar with it, in the end it will lead to the best overall results.

I think this is a very smart way to do business. By the sound of blogs it proves that humans dont like change (let alone by someone with out a degree). This is something that will save a lot of money and reduce the impact on the environment. Something doesn’t have to be enormous to capture wind, because that argument doesn’t hold true for the windmills in west Texas. Anyone with a slight education (elementary school) knows it is windy as hell in the midwest, and yet the the same windmill technology is used as in California!!!

]]> By: Michael http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172/comment-page-1#comment-59683 Michael Sun, 15 Jun 2008 04:18:09 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172#comment-59683 Here's a tip, why don't you actually 'read' the articles before responding? The lower images, as described, are concept art. <blockquote>Short on detail. I’m not sure what that first picture is supposed to be - is it real or a “concept art” photoshop? </blockquote> Here’s a tip, why don’t you actually ‘read’ the articles before responding? The lower images, as described, are concept art.

Short on detail. I’m not sure what that first picture is supposed to be – is it real or a “concept art” photoshop?

]]> By: Damon http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172/comment-page-1#comment-59163 Damon Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:47:11 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172#comment-59163 I think this is a very smart way to do business. By the sound of blogs it proves that humans dont like change (let alone by someone with out a degree). This is something that will save a lot of money and reduce the impact on the environment. Something doesn't have to be enormous to capture wind, because that argument doesn't hold true for the windmills in west Texas. Anyone with a slight education (elementary school) knows it is windy as hell in the midwest, and yet the the same windmill technology is used as in California!!! I think this is a very smart way to do business. By the sound of blogs it proves that humans dont like change (let alone by someone with out a degree). This is something that will save a lot of money and reduce the impact on the environment. Something doesn’t have to be enormous to capture wind, because that argument doesn’t hold true for the windmills in west Texas. Anyone with a slight education (elementary school) knows it is windy as hell in the midwest, and yet the the same windmill technology is used as in California!!!

]]> By: Andrew http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172/comment-page-1#comment-54779 Andrew Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:21:55 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172#comment-54779 Some were wondering what would stop the whole thing from falling to the ground when the wind dies down....There's an article on this device in Popular Science (it may be on their website, i haven't checked yet) where it is mentioned that there is a balloon at the end of the drive shaft. I'd guess that would also cause the blades to be facing the right way, ie into the wind, right? For more info, try the Popular Science website....i'm just an interested newbie...Andrew Some were wondering what would stop the whole thing from falling to the ground when the wind dies down….There’s an article on this device in Popular Science (it may be on their website, i haven’t checked yet) where it is mentioned that there is a balloon at the end of the drive shaft. I’d guess that would also cause the blades to be facing the right way, ie into the wind, right? For more info, try the Popular Science website….i’m just an interested newbie…Andrew

]]> By: confused http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172/comment-page-1#comment-51807 confused Wed, 28 May 2008 14:44:13 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172#comment-51807 What kind of bird flies into a stationary fan? My guess is one that won't be around long anyway. What kind of bird flies into a stationary fan? My guess is one that won’t be around long anyway.

]]> By: Earthority.com http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172/comment-page-1#comment-47347 Earthority.com Wed, 21 May 2008 22:12:08 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172#comment-47347 Very unique prototype indeed. But also check out our new micro wind turbine called the Motorwind at: Earthority.com. Each is only 20" in diameter. Thanks. Very unique prototype indeed. But also check out our new micro wind turbine called the Motorwind at: Earthority.com. Each is only 20″ in diameter. Thanks.

]]> By: Leon http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172/comment-page-1#comment-45948 Leon Mon, 19 May 2008 13:17:42 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/twenty-five-turbines-are-better-than-one-the-sky-serpent/1172#comment-45948 What happens when the wind isn't constant? Will the rotors hit the ground (still spinning) every time the wind drops? What happens when the wind isn’t constant? Will the rotors hit the ground (still spinning) every time the wind drops?

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