The Fuller Wind Turbine System:
Compact, Yet Effective
 The Fuller Wind Turbine System, a new, compact wind turbine, can
be used to generate electrical power. This unit is much smaller than
existing wind turbines and should be especially efficient in rural areas
that are located off-grid.
By combining the wind turbine with a fuel cell system, an uneconomic and
undependable power source is turned into a far more valuable, utility-grade,
“peaking” power-generation system.
Features:
• Vertical-axis, fully enclosed turbine that can operate anywhere.
• Average wind speed around 8 knots.
• Not affected adversely by high or gusty winds.
• Inlet and exhaust openings are screened to prevent wildlife injury and
radar reflections (as per Bureau of Land Management and Department of
Defense guidelines).
The Fuller Wind Turbine System comprises a turbine, which turns a
brushless DC generator, which powers an electrolysis unit. This unit
separates hydrogen and oxygen from a closed-loop water reservoir and stores
the two gases in high-pressure storage tanks (located preferably in separate
underground “bunkers”).
The high-pressure tanks provide the fuel needed for generating
electricity to an appropriate fuel cell. Utility-quality fuel cells are
currently available to provide 60 cycle AC electricity for either grid-tied
facilities or standalone applications.
The two byproducts of the fuel cell are:
• Water vapor, which is condensed and fed back to the reservoir.
• Heat, which may be used for building heat and/or to warm the water
reservoir during periods of cold ambient temperatures.
Typically, utilities purchase power as “base load”, “intermediate” and
“peaking” from independent power producers (IPPs). There are two components
to the purchase. Typically, the utility purchases capacity and energy as two
component costs.
A typical base load unit, such as a coal-fired power plant or nuclear
facility, has high capital costs. These are passed on to the utility as a
percentage of the capital cost (capacity) and the corresponding electricity
represented by the contracted energy. That energy cost is generally quite
low, as these power plants operate 24/7. Each utility purchases only the
percentage of these plants needed to serve their continuous, or base, load
because of the high capacity cost.
On the other hand, the two components of peaking power are reversed so
capacity cost is low. Peaking power units, typically gas turbines, are
comparatively inexpensive. But energy costs are high because the fuel
consumed is usually diesel or jet fuel — and a lot of it. It's not unusual
for base load energy to cost 2-3 ¢/kilowatt hour (kWh) as compared to
peaking costs of more than 20¢/kWh.
Intermediate power plants are just that: somewhere between base load and
peaking power plants for both cost factors.
Run-of-the-river hydroelectric and wind power typically are undependable,
so utilities are loathe to pay for this capacity, as it must be backed up by
a more dependable source. The energy from these two sources is bought by
utilities at base load pricing, which is typically the lowest possible
energy cost.
The Fuller Wind Turbine System, however, provides utilities with the best
of both worlds: the dependability of a peaking unit with the energy costs of
a base load unit. Energy is stored in the hydrogen and oxygen storage tanks
until needed. The fuel cell takes only a few minutes to startup, and it
continues to produce electricity until the fuel is exhausted. Fuel is then
replenished by wind power on the off-peak.
In addition, there is an economically viable market for the Fuller Wind
Turbine System's byproducts of compressed oxygen and hydrogen. (A
replenishment system for the distilled water used in this process is
required).
The production of hydrogen by the System can be accomplished in an urban
setting since the turbine produces no TV interference or perceptible noise —
and it does not require a tower hundreds of feet tall. In fact, it's ideal
for placement at gas stations. This would mark a great leap forward in
developing the “Hydrogen Highway” across the country.
As applied to agricultural areas of the country, the Fuller Wind Turbine
System can produce renewable energy (for resale to power utilities or for
building heat) and hydrogen for powering farm equipment.
The Fuller Wind Turbine System turbine eliminates the typical eyesore
objections of the community since the design is no more obtrusive than a
water tower. Benefits include:
• No visible moving parts, just minimal movement of the turbine housing as
it aligns with the wind.
• No TV interference.
• No wildlife injured by its operation.
• No interference with military radar systems when properly constructed.
• No dangerous visual distraction of moving parts can be seen by passing
motorists.
Solatec Corporation is currently seeking funding for a prototype installation
sited in the Nevada area. The most recent wind resources map produced by the
Department of Energy reveals there are suitable wind sites for that purpose.
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