The Saphonian the Future

[Mootaz-khelifi]

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An unlikely Tunisian startup is hoping to bring wind power into the 21st century by employing technology first developed thousands of years ago.

Saphon Energy was founded in 2009 by a Tunisian banker, Hassine Labaied, and his inventor friend of two decades, Anis Aouin. The duo teamed up to create an entirely novel and yet instantly recognizable new type of wind energy harvester that relies on no blades, or moving parts, whatsoever.

Instead, Saphon’s “Zero Blade” technology uses a stationary circular sail, approximately 4 feet in diameter, attached to the top of a pole. As the wind moves the sail back and forth, a hydraulic system captures the kinetic energy and converts it into mechanical energy. The system can also store the mechanical energy as hydraulic pressure, to be deployed later, when there is no wind.

“The sail boat is still the best system for capturing and creating energy from the wind, and it does so without blades,” Labaied told TPM in a telephone interview.

The system is designed to exceed the currently theoretical and physical maximum of wind turbine efficiency, the Betz law, which finds that the top efficiency attainable by a wind turbine is 59.3 percent.

Saphon believes its technology exceeds that limit and provides the added benefit of being cheaper and less noisy than common wind turbines, as well as less dangerous to birds, who can get trapped in the blades of other wind turbines. Check out Saphon’s promotional video on its technology:


So far, Saphon has constructed two working prototypes of its first generation “Saphonian” device from scratch in Tunisia which have attained two to three times the efficiency of a common “three blade” wind turbine, Labaied told TPM.

“People around the globe got so obsessed with improving the three blade technology, but that was like a box to us,” Labaied said. “We said, ‘why don’t we try to think outside the box,
and for us that meant non-rotational and no blades.”

The company is currently working on its second-generation product and a third prototype, according to Labaied.

“Even though we already have this technology we’re working further to optimize the design,” Labaied explained.

But already, Saphon has attracted international attention, with Labaied being invited to speak at the last minute at the TED Global 2012 conference in Edinburgh, Scotland on June 28.

Whether his technology takes off quite as quickly as his company’s ambitions remains to be seen.
Saphon Energy
@al-Hasani @Arabian Legend @darkinsky @I-LEK @JUBA @Mosamania @Tunisian Marine Corps see this

 

[I-LEK]

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it is a good idea.

Sun good source - clean energy.
and very reliable (especially in a hot environment).
I think need to gradually increase the number of such devices.
I think - rainy clouds (clouds) is not an obstacle))

Clean Energy - a clean future
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[Mootaz-khelifi]

it is a good idea.

Sun good source - clean energy.
and very reliable (especially in a hot environment).
I think need to gradually increase the number of such devices.
I think - rainy clouds (clouds) is not an obstacle))

Clean Energy - a clean future

wind power not solar

 

[Tunisian Marine Corps]

Inspired by sailboats, Saphon Energy’s Zero-Blade technology is said to be a substantial improvement on the efficiency of current wind power equipment.

The Saphonian turbine utilises a sail-shaped body; without the blades, rotor and gearbox.

Wind is harnessed by a sail that follows a non-rotational back and forth motion. Saphon Energy says the movement follows a knot path and allows the conversion of the majority of the kinetic energy into mechanical energy via pistons. The energy is then converted to a hydraulic pressure that can either be stored in a hydraulic accumulator or converted to electricity via a hydraulic motor and a generator.

According to the company, performance tests have demonstrated the Saphonian efficiency’s level is 2.3 times higher than that of a bladed wind turbine.

By not incorporating the most expensive components of a wind turbine – the blades, hub and gearbox - Saphon Energy says is possible to reduce equipment purchase and installation costs by about 45 per cent.

The aerodynamic shape of the Saphonian means turbulent winds have minor impact on the sail shaped body since it increases the net aerodynamic force. As turbulence is one of the reasons wind turbines aren’t used in urban areas, there is potential for the Saphonian to be used in built-up locations; minimising grid connection costs.

Saphon Energy also lists limited acoustic emissions and vibration along with minor radar disturbance among the Saphonian’s advantages over traditional bladed wind turbines.

In terms of development, the company is currently at the second generation prototype stage and is seeking manufacturing partners. Saphon Energy received the KPMG Innovation Award earlier this year for its efforts to date.

While the technology is intriguing, the company may not make many friends among turbine manufacturers with its promotional video referring to symptoms of so-called ‘Wind Turbine Syndrome’; an ailment reportedly associated with traditional commercial-scale wind turbine installations, but which is yet to be proven.

 

[Mootaz-khelifi]

Inspired by sailboats, Saphon Energy’s Zero-Blade technology is said to be a substantial improvement on the efficiency of current wind power equipment.

The Saphonian turbine utilises a sail-shaped body; without the blades, rotor and gearbox.

Wind is harnessed by a sail that follows a non-rotational back and forth motion. Saphon Energy says the movement follows a knot path and allows the conversion of the majority of the kinetic energy into mechanical energy via pistons. The energy is then converted to a hydraulic pressure that can either be stored in a hydraulic accumulator or converted to electricity via a hydraulic motor and a generator.

According to the company, performance tests have demonstrated the Saphonian efficiency’s level is 2.3 times higher than that of a bladed wind turbine.

By not incorporating the most expensive components of a wind turbine – the blades, hub and gearbox - Saphon Energy says is possible to reduce equipment purchase and installation costs by about 45 per cent.

The aerodynamic shape of the Saphonian means turbulent winds have minor impact on the sail shaped body since it increases the net aerodynamic force. As turbulence is one of the reasons wind turbines aren’t used in urban areas, there is potential for the Saphonian to be used in built-up locations; minimising grid connection costs.

Saphon Energy also lists limited acoustic emissions and vibration along with minor radar disturbance among the Saphonian’s advantages over traditional bladed wind turbines.

In terms of development, the company is currently at the second generation prototype stage and is seeking manufacturing partners. Saphon Energy received the KPMG Innovation Award earlier this year for its efforts to date.

While the technology is intriguing, the company may not make many friends among turbine manufacturers with its promotional video referring to symptoms of so-called ‘Wind Turbine Syndrome’; an ailment reportedly associated with traditional commercial-scale wind turbine installations, but which is yet to be proven.

thanks bro