1. AtmosphericVortexTower LLC
Atmospheric Vortex Tower Built in the Summer of 2005 Report on Experiments and Future Plans
November 29, 2018
Tom Fletcher
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

2. AtmosphericVortexTower LLC
Photo of Vortex Tower
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

3. Vortex Tower Construction
A 48’ tall vortex tower was built using steel frame construction and plywood. It was determined that this was cheaper and more easily modified than a steel or concrete tower. Eight telephone poles were used to support the tower.
We located the tower in a hot remote desert location away from any buildings. Castle Dale, Utah was chosen as the construction site.
This tower was surrounded by black gravel up to a radius of 100 feet from the tower.
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

4. Wind Guide Lowest 12’ of tower.
7.9’
Doors can slide to block wind
27’
Telephone
poles
11.2’
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

5. Wind Guide Upper 36’ of tower.
No Doors
With 1’ gaps
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

6. AtmosphericVortexTower LLC
Heat Driven Vortices
Heat Sources were used to create a vortex
A propane heater
A fire in the middle using a mixture of gasoline and diesel fuel
A large metal pan of boiling water
The velocity of the vortex wind varied with the size of the heat source and the velocity of the ambient wind entering the tower from the sliding doors.
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

7. Vortices from Ambient Wind
Vortices were always going in the tower when horizontal wind was present.
By opening the doors facing the incoming wind, the vortex wind velocity is amplified.
One way doors with rubber hinges were proposed to capture the ambient wind. 16’ doors with rubber hinges were added to the upper section.
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

8. One way doors with rubber hinges for Upper section of Tower
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

9. AtmosphericVortexTower LLC
Control of the Orifice
A floor was added at the 12 foot level just above the doors in order to create an orifice that would focus the vortex into the middle.
The orifice had a 6 foot diameter.
This enabled the formation of a central vortex.
Without the orifice, the vortex wind in the tower flowed along the outside wall.
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

10. Floor with Orifice at the 12’ level
Air spirals into the orifice and increases in velocity as it moves into the central vortex.
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

11. AtmosphericVortexTower LLC
Observations
Without horizontal wind we had to start the vortex artificially with a fire or propane burner.
Heat from the surrounding black rock solar collector does not flow toward the tower in any appreciable amount.
A glass solar collector or glass side on the tower is required to enable a true solar vortex.
 A smaller structure should work just as well for experimental studies.
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

12. Photo of a Fire Whirl in the Tower
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

13. AtmosphericVortexTower LLC
True Solar Dust Devil
A true dust devil from solar heating of the dust was not produced in the vortex tower because we didn’t have glass walls and the ground was shaded in the center.
We learned that the heating of the dust to about 30 degrees F. hotter than the air above it is critical to initiating a dust devil vortex.
A glass solar collector can also produce the necessary heat source for initiating a vortex.
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

14. Horizontal Wind Amplification
Amplification of the horizontal wind velocity with a vortex is an important concept that came out of this study that we plan to pursue further.
By funneling the horizontal wind into a vortex we may be able to amplify the wind velocity and drive smaller wind turbines to produce more energy at lower turbine cost.
The concept of one-way doors is an interesting idea that could be used to enable the wind amplification.
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

15. AtmosphericVortexTower LLC
Control of the Orifice
The importance of the orifice was clearly demonstrated with this experiment.
An orifice should be added at the top of the tower to enable a more optimal central vortex for the entire height of the tower.
The relationship between the door size, orifice size, horizontal wind velocity and heat source size are all important variables.
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

16. AtmosphericVortexTower LLC
Future Plans
Add a small solar green house collector to help initiate a true solar vortex.
Add windows and reflectors in an optimal way to create a true solar dust devil.
Funnel horizontal wind into a vortex in order to amplify the wind velocity and drive smaller wind turbines that produce more energy at lower cost.
Optimize size of doors, panels and orifice for amplification of vortex under various conditions.
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

17. Solar (Greenhouse) Collector
Vortex
Solar Energy
Vortex Tower
Solar Collector
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

18. Dust Devil Vortex Tower
Northern Hemisphere model
The fuel is sun and dirt!
North
Reflective panels reflect solar energy down onto dust.
Transparent panels
permit solar heating
of dust.
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

19. AtmosphericVortexTower LLC
Vortex Wind Amplifier
Top View
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

20. AtmosphericVortexTower LLC
Vortex Wind Amplifier
Flapping doors open or close to steer wind through the orifice at higher velocity.
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

21. AtmosphericVortexTower LLC
Backup
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

22. Vortex Solar Tower Concept
Solar towers must be very tall to create the temperature differential needed to create a strong wind to drive large turbines. The cost of building such a tall tower is prohibitive for most businesses. If the tower can be replaced by a controlled vortex then a vortex solar tower can be built at much reduced cost.
Solar collectors attached to solar towers require large fields of expensive glass and supporting structures to collect the heat. If the collector can be removed or reduced in size, then the vortex solar collector can be built at reduced cost.
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

23. Progression from Solar Tower to Vortex Tower
Tower and Collector
Collector with atmospheric vortex extended tower
Collector with shorter vortex extended tower
Black gravel Collector with shorter vortex extended tower
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

24. Possible benefits of adding a glass solar collector around the tower
Air is heated under the collector and cannot go up, but is forced laterally into the tower
Less reliance on lateral wind to transfer heat from the black gravel to the tower
Possible use of the collector as a greenhouse for agricultural purposes
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

25. AtmosphericVortexTower LLC
Benefits Summary
An Inexpensive vortex solar tower would be about 10 times less expensive to build than the currently proposed solar towers, which have been shown to be cost effective.
Shrouded turbines at ground level are more efficient and require less space than large wind turbines.
Costly solar collector can be reduced in size.
Very low cost can make the virtual solar tower concept useful in regions of the world with fewer hours of sunshine.
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC

26. AtmosphericVortexTower LLC
References
November 29, 2018
AtmosphericVortexTower LLC