Knight & Carver builds first STAR blade Monday, 12 February 2007
Knight & Carver's Wind Blade Division has completed the first in a series of 27.5-meter wind blades as part of a US Department of Energy project.
With the name "STAR", which stands for "Sweep Twist Adaptive Rotor", the blade is the first of its kind ever built. Its most distinctive characteristic is a gently curved tip which is specially designed for low-wind-speed regions. Sized overall at 27.5 meters x 2.4 meters, the blade takes maximum advantage of all wind speeds, including marginal speeds. Instead of the traditional linear shape, the blade features a curvature toward the trailing edge, designed to relieve pressure on the blade and turbine drive train. The blade is scheduled for static-testing at Knight & Carver's on-site test facility in San Diego during December. A second blade will be built before the end of the year.
http://www.windtech-international.com/content/view/1075/1/