Pteró (wing, winged, or feather) + fin (a surface used to produce lift in air or water) = Pterófin [ter-o-fin]
Welcome to Pterofin, the revolution of renewable energy using biomimicry to create sustainable and ecologically friendly power generation. Our inspiration comes from nature, specifically the intricate mechanics found in the wings of birds and fins of fish. Leveraging the power of biomimicry, we have developed several cutting-edge products for current and new market opportunities for harnessing energy in the most environmentally friendly way. At a fraction of the costs to traditional turbines, our revolutionary oscillating wings also operate at wind speeds as low as 5 mph or water currents as gentle as 1 mph to generate electricity or to pump water without disrupting the environment.
Our technology relies on the simplicity of it's design; however, to optimize the efficiency and reliability, we ran a series of tests at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) with Penn State University. Thanks to TEAMER, a partnership funded by the DOE, we were given this opportunity to learn more about how our technology works through closer examination of the fins oscillating motion. The overall objective was not to determine the maximum power output but to build up a dataset of hydrodynamic performance across a range of primary design variables such as:
• Reduced frequency
• Ratio of flapping/pitching angle magnitude
• Reynolds number
The final test report and all of the accompanying data has been submitted to TEAMER and uploaded to the Marine and Hydrokinetic Data Repository website. We appreciate everything ARL has done for advancing the technology and also mentioning that our, "simple drivetrain/mechanism could be valuable proprietary technologies for Pterofin to develop." Exciting times lie ahead as this innovative solution paves the way for a greener and more sustainable energy future.
Click on the link below to view or download the report from recent tests performed by The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University.
• Reduced frequency
• Ratio of flapping/pitching angle magnitude
• Reynolds number
The final test report and all of the accompanying data has been submitted to TEAMER and uploaded to the Marine and Hydrokinetic Data Repository website. We appreciate everything ARL has done for advancing the technology and also mentioning that our, "simple drivetrain/mechanism could be valuable proprietary technologies for Pterofin to develop." Exciting times lie ahead as this innovative solution paves the way for a greener and more sustainable energy future.
Click on the link below to view or download the report from recent tests performed by The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University.
| pterofin-post-access-report.pdf |
Check out a few products Pterofin has developed to demonstrate the versatility of our technology.
Skimmer - surface water
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Manta - underwater
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Dragonfly - double wing
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Terrafin - single wing
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At the heart of our products lies a simple yet ingenious counterbalance system that harmonizes the position and speed of the wing/fin with a mechanical leverage point on the body of the device. This synchronization enables the wings to pitch at a natural frequency that matches a fluid's specific velocity, resulting in an efficient and safe energy transfer process. Furthermore, our innovative rotational control system allows the wings to sweep back when encountering high winds, gusts, or debris, akin to a weathervane. This feature not only enhances aerodynamics but also ensures a streamlined profile in a windstorm, surpassing any turbine on the market in such harsh conditions. Remarkably, our products posses the ability to "hibernate" or go dormant, minimizing stress on moving parts and significantly reducing the risk of failure, all while maintaining virtually silent operation, making it a reliable and eco-friendly solution.
Wind turbines typically require a 70-ft guyed tower as well as a substantial financial investment. Pterofin’s key moving components are mounted at the base of its unique, oscillating wings so they are easier to install and maintain and the materials can be sourced easily. Our hydroelectric products also operate above the water line, which significantly decreases the cost of components and maintenance of these dry running components. 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.
Our groundbreaking technology proves to be an invaluable solution, particularly in remote areas and rural communities within emerging markets. We have received numerous inquiries and order requests from esteemed nonprofit organizations operating in Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, and Kenya, highlighting the immense potential of our products. Pterofin Inc., along with its visionary inventor Wallace Kempkey, has garnered widespread recognition in the tech press and credible media outlets, including notable features on GeekWire and KOMOnews.com and TEDx.
Our near-term goal is to get Pterofin prototypes into the hands of sustainable energy enthusiasts as an avenue to collect data before mass manufacturing the Skimmer and Dragonfly. Our long term goal is to share this technology with underprivileged communities in need of power and water as well as rural and agricultural communities dealing with finances or environmental constraints.
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 for first and third world countries.
Wind turbines typically require a 70-ft guyed tower as well as a substantial financial investment. Pterofin’s key moving components are mounted at the base of its unique, oscillating wings so they are easier to install and maintain and the materials can be sourced easily. Our hydroelectric products also operate above the water line, which significantly decreases the cost of components and maintenance of these dry running components. 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.
Our groundbreaking technology proves to be an invaluable solution, particularly in remote areas and rural communities within emerging markets. We have received numerous inquiries and order requests from esteemed nonprofit organizations operating in Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, and Kenya, highlighting the immense potential of our products. Pterofin Inc., along with its visionary inventor Wallace Kempkey, has garnered widespread recognition in the tech press and credible media outlets, including notable features on GeekWire and KOMOnews.com and TEDx.
Our near-term goal is to get Pterofin prototypes into the hands of sustainable energy enthusiasts as an avenue to collect data before mass manufacturing the Skimmer and Dragonfly. Our long term goal is to share this technology with underprivileged communities in need of power and water as well as rural and agricultural communities dealing with finances or environmental constraints.
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 for first and third world countries.
Latest News from Testing at Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) with Penn State University
2/14/2024
12/19/2023
12/21/2023 9:21 AM
9/1/2023 10:13 AM
7/13/2023 -1:28 PM
7/3/2023 - 1:20 PM
6/22/2023 - 10:09 AM
6/12/2023 - 11:32 AM
3/17/2023 - 7:13 AM
2/14/2024
- The Pterofin-Post-Access-Report.pdf is finally available to the public! You can view or download the report to see for yourself how our technology has been tested and validated as a unique alternative renewable energy technology. You can see how the testing aimed to utilize unsteady fluid dynamics phenomena (added mass, shed vorticity, and unsteady boundary layer development) to achieve higher lift coefficients, enabling increased power density of the hydrokinetic device and a fundamental shift in the rpm/torque scaling of the power take off compared with turbines.
12/19/2023
- The Marine and Hydrokinetic Data Repository that ARL uploaded all of the testing results still says, "Awaiting curation" to be able to view or download the files.
- I received an email from them today explaining that they've received quite a few submissions at the end of the calendar year and are working through them as quickly as they can.
- Stay tuned!
12/21/2023 9:21 AM
- The final test report and all of the accompanying data has been submitted to TEAMER and uploaded to the Marine and Hydrokinetic Data Repository website.
- We now have substantially more information available to direct our technology development and commercialization.
- With several other unique findings regarding our oscillating fins, we are ready to raise the funds needed for our first hydroelectric public installation that will be monitored over time.
9/1/2023 10:13 AM
- ARL is still fully immersed in the meticulous analysis of terabytes of collected testing data, with the specific goal of harnessing this wealth of information to optimize our oscillating fin's energy generation capabilities.
- We anticipate receiving the first draft of the report by mid-September, with the final version scheduled for public release by the end of the month, heralding a pivotal moment in our mission to transform the renewable energy industry.
7/13/2023 -1:28 PM
- ARL finished the final series of test on the last fin and everything worked flawlessly.
- Tomorrow ARL will disassemble the test apparatus and ship the equipment back to Pterofin HQ.
- Data reduction is on-going and ARL will be working on writing up the full report in the coming months.
7/3/2023 - 1:20 PM
- The first week of testing is complete and the data is in. The technology has officially been proven viable and the power output has exceeded all expectations!
- As we continue our test matrix over the next few weeks, making small adjustments to things like the fin shape and position, the higher power coefficient we continue to see.
6/22/2023 - 10:09 AM
- Water tunnel testing has finally started and everything is running smoothly so far.
- Instrumentation all seems to respond through the data acquisition system and will be processed over the next few days.
6/12/2023 - 11:32 AM
- Still waiting on one vender machined part going out for delivery on Thursday.
- Assembly of the test apparatus (image above) has been completed for everything that doesn’t depend on the to-be-delivered part.
- Official installation of equipment and testing should begin Monday the 19th.
3/17/2023 - 7:13 AM
- Currently procuring instrumentation for collecting data on performance of fins.
- Long-lead machined parts will arrive at the end of April or beginning of May.
- May will be spent assembling the mechanism, motor, wiring and instrumentation.
- Testing will begin in June.
- 2D drawings are complete and parts have been sent out for quotes from 5 shops. We will review the quotes when they come in and make purchasing decisions.
