Professor Bill Becker, formerly of University of Illinois Institute of Technology and friend of late Buckminster Fuller, has designed and patented a new turbine blade design that promises to work in low winds, work in turbulent winds, silent in operation and does not overspin, no faster than 384rpm regardless of wind speed, making traditional wind generator furling unnecessary.
The new "AeroTurbine" designed to take advantage of urban wind turbulence, where it seems to thrive, makes the potential to include wind generation in the cities where wind turbines have been difficult to use, makes it a promising new blade technology.
You can visit his companies web site:
http://www.aerotecture.com/
A documentary of the blades with an interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW9p7yBJC0U&feature=PlayList&p=677ED92ED279EEF7&playnext=
1&playnext_from=PL&index=61
Though it is patented, I wouldn't mind experimenting with my own version of it.
