Pterofin [ter-uh-fin]

Rotational control system of Pterofin in high wind.

Greek pteró (n) - wing, winged, or feather.
+ fin (n) - a surface used to produce lift in air or water.
Pterofin is an innovative approach at creating power using natural wind or water currents based on simple biomimicry; ie, the natural movements displayed by millions of species that have evolved over billions of years.

"Birds and fish are extremely efficient at using energy to create motion in a surrounding fluid, so why not try to create energy by using that same motion with a moving fluid?"

Pterofin products are controlled by a simple counterbalance system that synchronizes the wings’ position and speed with a mechanical leverage point on the body of the device.  The outcome is a coordination of harmonizing the wings pitch angle to a natural frequency of a fluids specific velocity, allowing Pterofin to be extremely efficient at pumping water or generating electricity. 

A rotational control system allows the wing or wings to sweep back into the direction of the current, bringing Pterofin power to a halt and acting at that point simply as a weather vane.  This makes it much more aerodynamic in high wind situations and gives it a far more streamline profile than any turbine on the market.  We like to think it knows how to "hibernate" or go "dormant" to avoid over-stress on the parts that can usually lead to high wear and tear. 

"Unlike a turbine, Pterofin technology is efficient in low currents, inexpensive to manufacture, reliable in heavy currents, has a low cost of maintenance, quiet operation, is environmentally friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and can be made out of a wide variety of materials allowing it to be mass produced and easily adopted around the world." 

Through licensing IP agreements with manufacturers who are interested in helping preserve our environment, improve their product line, and expand into new segments that were previously unattainable, Pterofin technology is going to be the next generation of renewable energy.

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"The concept came to me almost eight years ago and I became truly inspired to see it through and start a business after joining the Napa Noon Rotary club in 2006.  I filed the provisional patent in 2010 and started Pterofin LLC to house the IP of the invention. The non-provisional patent was filed one year later with Fenwick and West LLP and is currently pending with the USPTO on the renewable energy fast track, which means it should be issued to Pterofin Inc later this year.  Now I am working with Dorsey & Whitney LLP as a C-corp formed in Delaware and seeking out manufacturers in the US and India.  Please check out our videos of a few prototypes we've built over the years, and the many published articles on the patent and the Pterofin project.  Hope you enjoy our website and Cheers!"
- Wallace Kempkey

Our latest Pterofin wind prototype.

News Feed

4/27/2013  Tested our latest prototype in a park today and the pump worked!  For just a short while though...

2/26/2013  Check out our latest prototype!

1/29/2013 Our Kickstarter campaign made the Seattle Tacoma News as the Crowdfunding Pick of the Week!

1/24/2013  Wallace presented Pterofin this morning as the guest speaker at the University Sunrise Rotary Club of Seattle.  What a great group of people and the project was well received!    

1/10/2013  Check out our kickstarter.com campaign for Pterofin! Please support and/or re-post this link on whatever social media network you're using and wish us luck! Thanks!!!

11/13/2012  Pterofin demonstrated it's technology at the 2012 Global Forum for CleanTech last week and this week it's off to the Greenbuild Expo!

9/28/1012  Today we finished working with the Technical Assistance Program, through the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, who wrote up a technology note that summarizes recommendations and observations about the
 Technology.  Check out the latest section of our website for more on the Technology and product validation, including our estimated power output for wind and water applications.

9/26/2012 Another great article about Pterofin in Geekwire!  Read the Q&A: Pterofin borrows wind turbine design from bird wings.

9/24/2012 WCTA member and Pacific Northwest Cleantech Open Semifinalist Pterofin is raising capital.

8/2/2012 Former Napa Noon Rotary Club member announces incorporation! 

8/2/2012 Pterofin Announces Incorporat​ion!  Myself and hundreds of others couldn't be any more excited for Pterofin, Inc. and the benefits this new technology will bring around the world!

6/14/2012 I introduced Pterofin at the Washington Clean Technology Alliance today in front of several hundred people from a wide variety of industries and businesses, as a contestant for the Northwest CleanTech Open. I can't wait to follow through with some of the contacts I made there, as well as attending the National Conference in San Jose next week! Check out the great article from Seattle PI and TechFlash!

5/31/12 I presented my experience starting Pterofin, LLC to a large room full of Fulbright students at a seminar they hosted in downtown Seattle today called, "From Lab to Market". It was AMAZING and they were all so fascinated by my prototype! I spoke for 15 minutes and sat on a panel for open discussion about the secrets and pitfalls of turning a good idea into a successful business. Check out some of the pictures!

4/18/12 I just found out today that on March 1st the world found out about Pterofin Technology, as the international patent application has finally been published and given the Number WO 2012/027502 A1.

3/26/12 Tested the new wind and water Pterofin prototype at the Kirsten Wind Tunnel and Water Tunnel at UW. They both need a little fine tuning but look very promising! Check out the youtube playlist!

3/5/12 Another great article on KOMO News was written about Pterofin! Check it out!

2/27/12 US Patent has finally been published and on many different websites! Check out the links section of the website.

12/12/11 I found out today that the decision on the petition under 37 CFR 1.102, filed 9/15/2011, to make special under the pilot program for applications pertaining to the Green Technologies as set forth in 74 Federal Register Notice 64666 (December 8, 2009) and amended by 75 Federal Register Notice 28554 (May 21, 2010) and 75 Federal Register Notice 69049(November 10, 2010) was GRANTED! This is why the patent will be published in a few months and issued in 2013, as opposed to possibly 2020, which is great news for Pterofin, LLC and the rest of the world!

8/25/2011 Filed the non-provisional patent with Fenwick and West LLP

4/27/2011 Pterofin makes it through the investment round and into the Sweet 16 at the UW Business Plan Competition.

4/15/2011 KOMO News published an article on their website about Pterofin.

4/13/2011 Pterofin wins Grand Prize at the Seattle Pacific University Social Venture Plan Competition and $2500!

3/31/2011 Pterofin wins Honorable Mention Award at the UW Environmental Innovation Challenge and $2500!

1/13/2011 Pterofin wins Second Runner Up at the UW Science and Technology showcase and $300.

8/25/2010 Filed the provisional patent with Janeway Patent Law PLLC

Please follow and like Pterofin on google+, facebook or twitter to hear the latest about our exciting new products!

Eight years of hard work and dedication has gone into what will soon be considered the second generation of natural renewable energy and a potential world energy crisis will subsequently emerge as yet another feat of human ingenuity.