Reaction Wind Turbine

 Has this ever been done before? Just had the idea when looking at a
buildings smoke stack, with a rotating diffusor, and figures it might
turn into a fantastic wind turbine when put in reverse. Any reason why
it might not work? I realise that impulse turbines would be easier to
impart motion to care of its relatively small kinetic force
requirements, and also that reaction turbines are more efficient.
Someone enlighten me.

 

Yes it has been done ....some greenhouses use solar chimmeys.
You heat the air in the bottom with greenhouse and the air rises up the
chimmey part to  a wind turbine.
Some have even tried multi stage wind turbines in the chimmey.

 
Ah good! I dont suppose you have any links to articles detailing this
method?

 
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Year or so ago everyone was looking at concept drawings of one in
Austrailia that was supposed to be a kilometer high and operate for 24
hrs on stored heat in a several acre base under glass, generating
megawatts. They call it a solar tower or chimney?

 
I take it then that they are only really efficient on a large scale?
Unfortunate if they are, it would have been a fun project.