This is an absolutely awful idea, as it was every other time someone's had it.
Consider the following:
a) The maximum amount of energy you can get from some wind is a function of the velocity and density of the air and the projected area of your generator. You can't go above 59.3% of the original kinetic energy content. Conventional three axis turbines get pretty damn close to this limit (80% or so).
b) That being the case, getting cheaper or better power is a matter of getting a large projected area for a low cost while still keeping pretty good efficiency.
c) If you cover a large projected area with a small amount of material, and can point your projection to face the wind... you will do quite well. This is what conventional turbines do.
d) If you cover a large projected area with an even smaller amount of material you may do VERY well. This is what Makani power acheived before they were absorbed into GoogleX.
e) If you cover a small projected area using an astronomical amount of material, which doesn't turn but is rather built for every direction, you can expect to do really really badly... no matter how many bullshit mystery air acceleration tubes you include.
It's bullshit.
*edit: I know nothing about the people who are proposing it. They may be doing so in good faith and not realize it's a terrible idea. But it's still a terrible idea.
Consider the following:
a) The maximum amount of energy you can get from some wind is a function of the velocity and density of the air and the projected area of your generator. You can't go above 59.3% of the original kinetic energy content. Conventional three axis turbines get pretty damn close to this limit (80% or so).
b) That being the case, getting cheaper or better power is a matter of getting a large projected area for a low cost while still keeping pretty good efficiency.
c) If you cover a large projected area with a small amount of material, and can point your projection to face the wind... you will do quite well. This is what conventional turbines do.
d) If you cover a large projected area with an even smaller amount of material you may do VERY well. This is what Makani power acheived before they were absorbed into GoogleX.
e) If you cover a small projected area using an astronomical amount of material, which doesn't turn but is rather built for every direction, you can expect to do really really badly... no matter how many bullshit mystery air acceleration tubes you include.
It's bullshit.
*edit: I know nothing about the people who are proposing it. They may be doing so in good faith and not realize it's a terrible idea. But it's still a terrible idea.