Melia, wind turbine array(s), (Meliae), after the Ancient Greek nymphs of the ash tree .

16 August 2011 .

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This design continues the idea, (from the Egypt Silk Mill models : posts of 22 March through 11 July, 2011),

of holding multiple, independent turbine cores in a structure which would turn at its base to face the wind .

I believe that an array of small turbines will gather energy more efficiently, (and smoothly), than a single large one,

because the wind speed would vary less across each individual core .

Although this design is shown with eight cores, (whose wingtip radii are represented by gray circles),

the pattern can be extended or trimmed to include more or fewer, in a variety of geometries .

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The cores are held within cells whose side walls are based on cosine waves .

The cores' machine housings, (not shown, and by them the wings),

would be supported from behind by the mirrored recurve cosine bridge which spans each cell .

I have chosen to round the top cell and to leave it clear .

I feel the design looks better this way : that it appears less aggressive, and subtly humanoid .

I believe such aesthetics can be important in objects ; particularly those as visible as turbines .

The design will also be stronger, i believe, with a rounded top cell ;

and better able to shed any sudden crosswinds in storms .

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The tubing which forms the cells' walls and bridges is made progressively more slender, and more elliptical, as it rises from a circular base .

This would lower wind resistance high, (where the wind would be strongest), while maintaining resilience low .

Further increasing resilience, the bridges complement the cell walls structurally .

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The array, or 'tree', would rest on a turntable, whose upper surface can be seen in the model as the higher, inner, disk of the base .

An apron, which might bear the weight of service equipment, is shown surrounding this .

A 'taproot' descends from the (hidden) weight-transferring lower surface of the turntable .

It should add to the stability and durability of the design ;

and may, depending on the receiving surface and the grease between them, help to dampen mechanical vibration .

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If the scale is small, service might be performed from a bucket truck after locking the turntable .

At medium scales, a specialized crane could 'dock' by placing one or more casters on the apron

and taking hold of anchor points on the tree and turntable .

At quite large scales, technicians and parts could travel through passages within the tubing .

'Deep air' scalability could be a strength of the design, if it proves as strong as strong as i imagine .

Aspirationally, a height of one kilometer is a far mark .