Alpha testing at Silverstone

Katrick at Silverstone

Last month the Katrick team headed down to Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub to test the Alpha prototype, and the initial results exceeded expectations. Katricks’ technology was able to deliver a lower starting speed, a quicker reaction time to wind speeds and changes, and a higher internal wind velocity than the team anticipated!

What does that mean? The Alpha prototype Wind Panel can extract more energy from wind speeds at an earlier stage due to its innovative design.

As the team get ready to head back into the wind tunnel to complete the second phase of our testing, hear from Katricks’ Engineering and Commercial Director, Neil Midgley, on what Katrick Technologies are setting to achieve with the Alpha prototype testing.

Katrick are changing how wind energy is captured

‘We don’t rotate, we oscillate.’

Unlike traditional wind turbines, Katrick Technologies’ innovative Wind Panel does not use rotations to capture wind energy. Instead, their Wind Panel uses oscillating aerofoils that sweep the entire duct to capture wind energy from low-level turbulent and gust winds. This motion allows the technology to quickly react to instantaneous changes in wind speeds found in ground-level wind conditions.

Alternatively, rotary motions work best at higher levels (anything higher than 10 metres above ground level) where the wind has more laminar characteristics. With few instant changes in wind speeds and directions, the rotations of wind turbine blades are able to capture more wind energy.

The Wind Panel design is like no other.

Our Wind Panel consists of numerous channelling ducts, where multiple independently working aerofoils are located. The aerofoils convert kinetic energy from wind to mechanical oscillations which are converged and converted into electricity. Our Wind Panels capture vast amounts of kinetic energy by having a comparatively large working surface area and density.