The global community is on a relentless pursuit to achieve carbon neutrality, making the utilization of clean energy more pronounced than before. Wind, the most abundant source of sustainable energy, will play an indispensable role in attaining carbon neutrality goals by 2050. The economic viability of harnessing wind energy is crucial to its growth as a renewable resource.
CoFlow Jet Wind Turbines is revolutionizing wind energy generation with its co-flow jet (CFJ) wind turbine technology, paving the way for a world with zero emissions. Its 2-bladed downwind turbine technology, enabled by CFJ active flow control, challenges traditional wind turbine technologies by generating more power at lower costs.
“We aim to transform the wind turbine industry and greatly impact the global environment protection initiatives by reducing greenhouse gas emission and freshwater usage,” says Gecheng Zha, president and founder.
Despite the significant advancements in wind turbine technology over the years, the fundamental principles governing their operation remain unchanged. While the sizes of wind turbines have increased, the aerodynamic capabilities have undergone minimal transformation, leaving huge opportunities for improvement.
The CFJ technology aims to overcome these drawbacks. It boosts the efficiency of wind turbines by increasing the lift coefficient, expanding the stall angle of attack and reducing drag - all at relatively low costs. Its two-bladed downwind turbines can improve power output even at very low wind speeds.
CoFlow’s primary objective is to optimize power generation and curtail the levelized cost of energy by 20 to 30 percent. Two-bladed wind turbines reduce manufacturing, transportation, installation and maintenance costs associated with the traditional three-blade turbines. The ability to modulate pitch and yaw movements alleviates the operational burden of the motors and reduces expenses.
While the aerodynamically inefficient cylindrical shape of traditional wind turbines hinders the optimization of power output, CFJ technology
enhances lift generation on the cylindrical sections and maximizes the usage of the entire swept area of the turbines.
Also, unlike upwind turbines, which are prone to blade-tower strikes, the blades on CFJ’s downwind turbines are bent away from the tower.
The relaxed structure of the equipment helps reduce blade mass and manufacturing costs.
CFJ’s extensive stall operating range renders it nearly stall-free. It is adept at countering flow separation and enhancing operational efficiency. This feature is highly advantageous for wind farms as it can increase the power density of a wind farm by approximately 50 percent.
The technology also incorporates a practical and energy-efficient anti-icing system. Its innovative design integrates fans within the blade and ensures a continuous and regulated airflow to prevent ice buildup. This eliminates the need for external anti-icing mechanisms and simplifies maintenance.
The CFJ technology is built on years of R&D conducted for aviation projects. Funded by government agencies like the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, NASA, the U.S. Air Force and the National Science Foundation, the technology has received 17 patents globally.
Looking ahead, the company plans to operationalize CFJ technology through licensing agreements and collaborations with original equipment manufacturers. It has conducted a collaborative research with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to evaluate its capabilities.
With an expert team specializing in aerospace engineering and aerodynamics, CoFlow’s groundbreaking technology will contribute to the country’s plans to increase wind electricity energy usage from 7.3 to 20 percent by 2030 and 35 percent by 2050. It aims to revolutionize wind energy production, bringing the world one step closer to a sustainable future.
CoFlow Jet Wind Turbines is revolutionizing wind energy generation with its co-flow jet (CFJ) wind turbine technology, paving the way for a world with zero emissions. Its 2-bladed downwind turbine technology, enabled by CFJ active flow control, challenges traditional wind turbine technologies by generating more power at lower costs.
“We aim to transform the wind turbine industry and greatly impact the global environment protection initiatives by reducing greenhouse gas emission and freshwater usage,” says Gecheng Zha, president and founder.
Despite the significant advancements in wind turbine technology over the years, the fundamental principles governing their operation remain unchanged. While the sizes of wind turbines have increased, the aerodynamic capabilities have undergone minimal transformation, leaving huge opportunities for improvement.
The CFJ technology aims to overcome these drawbacks. It boosts the efficiency of wind turbines by increasing the lift coefficient, expanding the stall angle of attack and reducing drag - all at relatively low costs. Its two-bladed downwind turbines can improve power output even at very low wind speeds.
CoFlow’s primary objective is to optimize power generation and curtail the levelized cost of energy by 20 to 30 percent. Two-bladed wind turbines reduce manufacturing, transportation, installation and maintenance costs associated with the traditional three-blade turbines. The ability to modulate pitch and yaw movements alleviates the operational burden of the motors and reduces expenses.
While the aerodynamically inefficient cylindrical shape of traditional wind turbines hinders the optimization of power output, CFJ technology
enhances lift generation on the cylindrical sections and maximizes the usage of the entire swept area of the turbines.
Also, unlike upwind turbines, which are prone to blade-tower strikes, the blades on CFJ’s downwind turbines are bent away from the tower.
The relaxed structure of the equipment helps reduce blade mass and manufacturing costs.
CFJ’s extensive stall operating range renders it nearly stall-free. It is adept at countering flow separation and enhancing operational efficiency. This feature is highly advantageous for wind farms as it can increase the power density of a wind farm by approximately 50 percent.
The technology also incorporates a practical and energy-efficient anti-icing system. Its innovative design integrates fans within the blade and ensures a continuous and regulated airflow to prevent ice buildup. This eliminates the need for external anti-icing mechanisms and simplifies maintenance.
The CFJ technology is built on years of R&D conducted for aviation projects. Funded by government agencies like the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, NASA, the U.S. Air Force and the National Science Foundation, the technology has received 17 patents globally.
We aim to transform the wind turbine industry and greatly impact the global environment protection initiatives by reducing greenhouse gas emission and freshwater usage
With an expert team specializing in aerospace engineering and aerodynamics, CoFlow’s groundbreaking technology will contribute to the country’s plans to increase wind electricity energy usage from 7.3 to 20 percent by 2030 and 35 percent by 2050. It aims to revolutionize wind energy production, bringing the world one step closer to a sustainable future.
