To increase the wind hiting my windmill, can I build a structure (valley, funnell)?

Question

How far in front should this wind-enhancer be to have the vortex-effect hit the blades at the right spot? Where would I want to paint black and where silver?

Mike, you point is good that wind near the surface is slower than higher above. But, if you have wind hitting the slope of a hill at the right angle, wouldn't the air flow just keep swooping uphill? Wouldn't then the lower air just atop the hill possess the greatest speed? Add to this some well positioned solar radiation radiating uphill, and voila!

Ralph, seems to me that too much wind is never enough. I'll just change my windmill (clutch, whatever) to accomodate the higher speed.

Alonso,
1)rather than a straight 45% angle for your rooler-coaster hill, wouldn't more of a bullhorn shape swoop the air flow up with greater gusto?
2) Yes, you hit it on the head. My prevailing wind is constant 90% of the time. Incidentally, this windmill use for the windward side of the hill is obvious -- but what about the leeward side? Is the leeward side typically better for farming, or what? There should be some advantage to a lack of wind.
3)I'm in the US, so the windmill is facing south, toward the sun

If wind is a function of the sun's irregular heating, the night wind would be due to earth's irregular radiating back to space?

Answer 1

Depends on what your windmill is being used for. If you manage to increase the force of the wind,you could damage or destroy your windmill.
Windmills used for electrical generation have a clutch that slips when the wind is blowing too fast for the windmills capacity.
If a windmill is rated for winds up to 30 mph,the windmill will slip at 31mph,but will continue to produce electricity at the 30 mph level.

Answer 2

I'm presuming 3 things:

1) you have the top-of-the-line $3 million windmill with the super long blades. Only then would investing in a wind funnel be commensurate with its associated cost.

2) your windmill is situated where the prevailing wind strikes from the same angle over 90% of the time due to topography. So you are looking for a terrain enhancer to further funnel the wind.

3) since wind is described as a consequence of the irregular heating of the earth's surface, you want to paint the pavement black in certain areas and white in other areas to further escourt the wind.

If the above presumptions are accurate then I suggest:

1) Situate the windmill at the tail end of two hills where gusts of wind barrell down the valley. Create a roller-coaster type ramp (45 degree incline, supported by stilts), the runway shaped like a trough ("u" shaped). The mouth would terminate just inches away from where the blades reach their lowest point.

2) Check wind erosion and other clues, including, of course, instruments to measure wind direction during all seasons. Make darn sure of the prevailing wind before going through the expense of building a contraption to further direct the wind (funnel).

3) Paint the area before the runway for as long as possible back in black. The width should be at least that of the runway. The actual runway trough should be black with silver lining the inner sides at an angle to reflect down to run down the center. The trough needs to swivel -- in order to tilt east and west. I presume the upramp is facing the sun, since that is what would have caused the prevailing wind to come about in the first place anyway.

Answer 3

The wind closest to the ground is the slowest, which is why towers are built tall. Besides you would have to build it all around the windmill to be useful. Paint every third blade silver and the one half way between black. Those remaining should be red.

Answer 4

that might help in hitting the structure..you may need a nife to be hiting it....

Answer 5

It might help, try it and see