Helix turbine design withstands damaging winds

According to a feature story published January 13 in the San Diego Union-Tribune’s webzine “Sign On San Diego” the storm damaged turbines of a nearby wind farm. The story reported that all the blades from 25 of the 20-story high horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) that are part of the nearby Kumeyaay Wind project have been removed for repair and inspection following the storm.

Helix Wind CEO Ian Gardner said, “We knew the storm was coming and were monitoring our turbines from our corporate offices seventy miles away. Our S series of turbines is specifically designed to take a lot of punishment, and our performance during the December storm is strong validation that our turbines can withstand this type of harsh natural environment without any downtime or damage.”

Helix WindÂ’s S322 turbine, located directly across the freeway and about three-quarters of a mile south of the Kumeyaay wind farm, is remotely monitored by its proprietary Wind Turbine Monitoring System (WTMS). The WTMS reported that the turbines withstood sustained winds up to 62 mph during the storm, continuing to generate electricity normally. The internet-based system permits Helix Wind to monitor its turbines anywhere in the world in real time.

Gardner added that as the wind market continues to segment, technologies best suited to specific market niches are gaining traction. He noted that while large commercial wind farms grab most of the headlines, small wind turbines, particularly vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs), are proving their worth in a broad variety of applications.

HelixÂ’s patent-pending, Savonious rotor-based S322 (2kW) is a good example of a VAWT designed for operation under the most punishing of conditions (up to 100 mph). The turbines also boast compelling aesthetic features attractive for urban and architectural installations.