Hey Rod;
I wounder how much an omish craftsman would charge to wittle some blades into that shape. I'm pretty sure if I put a rooster head on the front and paint it black, I can convince the zonning guy it is just a big fancy weather vane;} I would like to see what kind of output this design is capable of.
Stu
rod knows the equations much better than I, but one thing to always keep in mind with "new" designs is that there is only so much anything you can get out of something else. In this case, given a particular wind speed and size, you can only get so much power. There are limits to efficiency (which Rod has quoted in the past, and I don't remember). You aren't going to beat physical laws with computers. If I were doing a "what can this do" I'd do a traditional sizing, and then make sure it could do the same or better as the traditional design.
-Peter
Ok ok so the web site is in Swedish but they still look cool :-)
http://www.homeenergy.se/vindkraft.aspx
Here's something about it in English.
http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/09/03/energy-ball-by-home-energy/#more-13927
When I die I want to die in my sleep like my Grandfather.
Not screaming and yelling like his passengers.