Features of equipment, system and facilities

“Ecomon” is a hybrid street light that generates power using only natural energy from the sun and wind for its own use. It can be installed in areas where lighting had been thought virtually impossible because of the difficulty in securing power, such as riverbank parks and mountain observation platform. It is highly suited to parks, public facilities and other areas frequented by large numbers of people because of the characteristic safety and quietness of cross-flow wind turbines. Ecomon, however, does not just function as a source of light. The sight of its two large cross-flow turbines turning in a gentle breeze of 2 m/sec also serves an interesting monument highlighting how technology can work in harmony with the environment.

Power generation

Two cross-flow turbines are set up on a vertical axis, and each rotates in the opposite direction to the other. A generator sits between the two. The upper turbine is connected to the rotor of the generator, and the lower turbine to the stator. Because of this setup, the number of rotations of the generator is doubled of the wind turbine revolutions. This enables the low revolution cross-flow wind turbines generate effective power in areas of low wind velocity. The rotor and stator are connected through a synchronous system so power generation is possible even in areas of natural wind turbulence as the upper and lower turbines maintain an even regular rotation.

Safety

Cross-flow wind turbines are structurally very strong, and do not require any special measures against strong wind. The low rotation type turbines produce no slicing noise, so there is no feeling of fear or sense of oppressiveness even when standing nearby.

Lighting system

Ecomon stores power generated from wind and solar hybrid system in batteries with a controller in the supporting pole. The light is turned on and off as required through the control circuit. The light operation is controlled by a light sensor and a timer. If no power is being generated because of continuing cloud and no wind, with fully charged batteries, the light will continue working for ten hours a day for three days.