TITLE:
The Flight of Albatross—How to Transform It into Aerodynamic Engineering?
AUTHORS:
Günther Pfeifhofer, Helmut Tributsch
KEYWORDS:
Bionic, Biomimetic, Gradient Streaming, Wind (Water) Generating Power System (WGPS), Albatross-Type Technology, Kinetic Energy, Potential Energy
JOURNAL NAME:
Engineering,
Vol.6 No.8,
July
11,
2014
ABSTRACT: The flight of
albatross (Diomedea exulans) takes
advantage of the up-drift which is determined by the product of relative wind
velocity and it’s gradient above the sea surface, to power its elegant
(dynamic) flight over the ocean. Some of the complicated flight manoeuvres are
determined by biological necessities. From its most basic flight manoeuvre a
technical aerodynamically scheme can be derived which allows the design of a
mechanical technical prototype of a wind generator. It is based on a rotational
movement in combination with a skillful time dependent adjustment of the
airfoil. Several technical possibilities are discussed and with one of these
elaborated in some detail. The technology to be developed could be applied in
highly asymmetric air streaming environment around high rise buildings, on
mountain ridges and of course, also low above sea level and plains.
Mathematical-technical conditions for power gain are discussed. The technology
could, in principle, also be deployed to exploit velocity gradients in river
water environment. The engineering challenges are significant and the presented
work is just a blueprint for tasks to be accomplished.