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CSU professor honored for wind system

BY CATHRYN SIEGAL-BERGMAN

Dr. Majid Rashidi, the designer of CSU’s first wind turbine system, received the Betty L. Gordon Distinguished Professor award June 11 for his work in pioneering wind energy in Cleveland. Rashidi spoke at the CSU Recreation Center, where he was presented with the award and officially unveiled his landmark system. The structure is perched atop the CSU Plant Services Building.

Rashidi acknowledged that Cleveland’s roots in wind energy reach far beyond his design. He called the city “a pioneer in wind energy,” citing a 60-foot tall structure erected by Charles F. Brush in 1888 on Euclid Avenue, between 36th and 40th streets. It was the first automatically operated wind turbine in the world.

Rashidi is now discussing possible commercial manufacturing for residences in New York City.

Asked where his structures would be made, he responded that, “the A-Z of manufacturing would be in Cleveland,” stressing that all parts in his system could be built here. Mathew Bill and Jerry Salontay, project contractors, said they see this as a “fantastic opportunity.”

Rashidi believes that this city is where his system should be built.

“There is no reason Cleveland cannot undertake all aspects of manufacturing and R&D,” he said.
Salontay cited a driving pressure to develop new forms of energy:

“It’s like nothing I’ve seen in 21 years on the job.” He said he sees it as offering “great promise” to local industry and manufacturing.

Rashidi expressed his gratitude to Mrs. Gordon, CSU, and a long list of departments and people he said were part of the “team effort.” No wind was blowing during most of the ceremony, but the audience cheered as the turbines did spin a little.

The 25-foot diameter cylinder diverts wind to the turbines, thereby increasing the “energy density of wind,” said Rashidi.

In other words, the cylinder amplifies the wind power before it hits the turbines. “So, if you have a five-mile-an-hour-wind, when it hits the cylinder and goes around, it becomes seven miles-an-hour,” according to Mircea Rosca, former graduate assistant on the project.

“This will be complementary to big systems,” Rashidi said. “It’s meant for urban areas, residences and small companies.”

It could supply power for up to “two regular size houses,” he said.

For now, this turbine will power the electronic billboard on the side of the Plant Services Building. “One solution is not enough,” he went on, “if we are going to address energy problems.”

It will also work in rural areas, said Rosca, “places where you cannot take a big blade turbine, or where you can’t get power by any other means.”

With this design, Dr. Rashidi was thinking globally. “It would work in China or any remote area,” said Rosca.

When asked what he thought about Cleveland being the manufacturing site, he said, “We have the resources, so why not? It makes sense.”

COM 328 Reporter Rosa Pasela contributed to this piece.