Tiny turbines crack wind’s secret ‘twist’ for a giant 37% power boost

Researchers led by Shuo Zhang have discovered that pairing two tiny, counter-rotating wind turbines in tandem can increase power output by 37% compared to a single turbine. These micro wind turbines, less than 200 millimeters in diameter, are crucial for powering remote and decentralized technologies such as environmental sensors and IoT devices. Using stereoscopic particle image velocimetry, a 3D airflow visualization technique, the team analyzed the wake—turbulent airflow—behind the first turbine and found it retains significant rotational energy typically lost. By positioning a second turbine counter-rotating behind the first at a specific distance (12 radii), this residual rotational energy can be harnessed, boosting overall efficiency. The enhanced performance stems from the unique physics of small turbines, which operate at lower speeds and higher torque, imparting a “twist” to the wind that the downstream turbine can exploit. This tandem design mimics multi-stage turbines in jet engines by capturing both the wind’s push and twist