Windmill designs

[WCastle]

Hello,

Just wondering how many others have windmills and what rotor designs you use
also what schedule of maintainence you have for moving parts?

Our windmill uses a savonious rotor design based on a south pole weather station 55 gal oil drum that I read about in a windmill book purchased from an ad in populer science back in the 70's.

it has been in constant use for over 4 years and the only maintainence is to oil the chain and thrust bearings 2 times a year.

the rotor seems to never go more than 300 or so rpms and has done fine in a few 60 - 80 mph wind storms. the main drawback is it doesnot start below 18mph winds.

The next addition will be a "starter" standard rotor design to assist the larger rotor in startup.


Comments?

[ashtweth]

Hi Wcastle, i am putting together DIY renewable energy projects, so would love to see some snaps and dimension of yours.

we used the fisher and paykel washing machine rotor, its PM and very efficient, very good bang for your buck.

Ash

[WCastle]

Here is a shot of the rotor and tower, the tower is 11 feet high, and is 11 feet from leg to leg, in a pyramid shape, which makes it extremely stable and can be moved around the yard without much trouble.

Also the low height makes any working parts easy to access, while making use of high winds when other mills in the area are putting on the brakes this one just keeps going about 300 or so rpm and sending current.

This pic was taken back when we just repainted it so the motor and cutoff parts are not visable, I will post a more recent one soon.

[ren]

Hi WCastle,

I have been interested in a home brewed turbine for some time now. I was thinking along the lines of this

http://www.scoraigwind.com/pmgbooklet/itpmg.pdf

But perhaps VAWT style, with turbine like blades.

Either way I think it will be a fun thing to build and learn about.

[WCastle]

Good PDF, after a couple decades of trying different rotor designs, for my application (not always windy, but when wind comes it blows hard) the fewer moving parts were the way to go for me.

Making coils, glueing magnets etc...sure have been fun but for low maintainence, the savonious rotor chain driving a Permanent Magnet motor (salvaged) and pyramid structure (materials also salvaged) have proven to stand the test of time.

It is important to mention how this windmill was constructed, in the spirit of an old fasioned "barn raising" we held a gathering called a "Weldaque"

Where everyone got a chance to tack weld one spot or another, flow some beads, learn about the design, learn the physics involved, and the electrical connections. (and of course eat some outdoor cooked food)

The final welds were performed by an expert welder but you get the idea.

These true friends who helped have the advantage of getting help when they need it as well.

[WCastle]

Well, here are the promised more recent pics...

[Redmeanie]

Nice Work!

I built a Very Good DIY project I found a few years back.

It used PVC Pipe Cut to make the Blades and a salvaged Permanent Magnet DC Motor out of a Treadmill ran through a Rectifier. It worked great!

I had some issues with the city code inspector and had to disconnect ALL of my Solar and Wind power from my house. (Power, and Oil Companies Still Run Texas)
And just had my shop running on them, but it was too much so I just retired the mill.

If anyones interested I have the PDF somewhere for the design. I will look for it if anyones want it.

[WCastle]

I had some issues with the city code inspector

There is a way to deal with those types, find out exactly what your city's charter/articles of incorporation say about the subject.

If there is no mention of that dept then they do not officially exist and have damaged you.

It is time those of us in the energy field start taking our bought and paid for freedoms and rights seriously, taking those to task who would force thier social engineering upon us from a political stance, is an ever increasing
need.

There have been times when I had to deal with "code enforcers" who were taught that they had authority to do x y z , when in fact the city didn't even have a valid charter, let alone any oaths of office for the "enforcers"
the point is to make sure they ARE who they think they are and that the DO have authority, otherwise they are just common criminal tresspassers.

Dont get me wrong, saftey is and should always be first when inventing/building with special consideration dealing with energy
but if those people had their way then Edison would not have been able to
work out all of his failures, and we would be reading from candle light !!

And what about Tesla ? can you visualize the conversation with the local
zoning socialist? ...

Well Mr. T. we have a complaint from your neighbor, can you show me your permit for....

[Redmeanie]

There is a way to deal with those types, find out exactly what your city's charter/articles of incorporation say about the subject.

If there is no mention of that dept then they do not officially exist and have damaged you.

It is time those of us in the energy field start taking our bought and paid for freedoms and rights seriously, taking those to task who would force thier social engineering upon us from a political stance, is an ever increasing
need.

There have been times when I had to deal with "code enforcers" who were taught that they had authority to do x y z , when in fact the city didn't even have a valid charter, let alone any oaths of office for the "enforcers"
the point is to make sure they ARE who they think they are and that the DO have authority, otherwise they are just common criminal tresspassers.

Dont get me wrong, saftey is and should always be first when inventing/building with special consideration dealing with energy
but if those people had their way then Edison would not have been able to
work out all of his failures, and we would be reading from candle light !!

And what about Tesla ? can you visualize the conversation with the local
zoning socialist? ...

Well Mr. T. we have a complaint from your neighbor, can you show me your permit for....

Unfortunately I live in one of the small, "Sub Cities" around Houston. Kinda like the Mayor is the Chief of Police's Brother In Law Type deals. And right now Im just trying to Fly Below Radar, So to Speak! They have a tendency of making people's lives miserable when they make waves if you know what I mean!

Im just waiting for my Permanent Residence where I will be able to do what I want! (Large Boat)

[sykavy]

Hello,

Just wondering how many others have windmills and what rotor designs you use
also what schedule of maintainence you have for moving parts?

Our windmill uses a savonious rotor design based on a south pole weather station 55 gal oil drum that I read about in a windmill book purchased from an ad in populer science back in the 70's.

it has been in constant use for over 4 years and the only maintainence is to oil the chain and thrust bearings 2 times a year.

the rotor seems to never go more than 300 or so rpms and has done fine in a few 60 - 80 mph wind storms. the main drawback is it doesnot start below 18mph winds.

The next addition will be a "starter" standard rotor design to assist the larger rotor in startup.


Comments?

Great work
HOw much power do you get from it and do you store it in batteries or just use it as you get it?

[WCastle]

HOw much power do you get from it and do you store it in batteries or just use it as you get it?

It starts turning at 18mph, and exceeds the 12.7 volt barrier
(battery bank voltage + the charge diode knee voltage) soon thereafter
(it freewheels until the diode conducts)

I have a 60 amp meter on it and it has pegged that during winds of 30mph+
during initial testing, the generator was directly connected to an
old style 6019 auto headlight, low+high beams both connected, the first
overnight test made it clear that the charge diode and cabling
would have to handle 100 amps at least, it blew the headlight !!
(extremely windy night for test)

The generator is a PM DC motor used in a 36 volt utility vehicle of some
sort ?

(not really sure -it was salvaged from junkyard by a friend)

The chain sprokets give it a 1 to 10 gear ratio, for every turn on the rotor
the motor turns 10 times.

Yes the free energy is stored in battery banks, currently 12V lead acid
connected in paralell via copper bus bars, circuit breaker protected
after bus bars, and on both ends of cabling to the windmill are
"cutout regulators" (thermodisc equivalent)

The intended purpose for this design was to utilize the heavy wind periods
and it is doing this fine.

[Samemf]

@ Redmeanie yea if you still have that pdf to make one diy out of pvc
would be great , does it cover the stator at all ? or just connecting a dc
motor?

Sam

[Redmeanie]

@ Redmeanie yea if you still have that pdf to make one diy out of pvc
would be great , does it cover the stator at all ? or just connecting a dc
motor?

Sam

It just covers using a PM DC Salvaged Motor....They are like $20 at "Surplus Center"

I will start looking through files for it!

[WCastle]

New progress..

Have a look at the starter I made for the windmill, it has a 90v DC 3000 rpm motor with
an industrial fan blade, it is not meant to be a windmill in itself, the purpose is to catch
lower winds and help start the savonious rotor.

I am pleased to report that it works as planned, it starts the big rotor in as little as 8 - 10 mph
breezes, and when there is a really good gust the fact that the blade is not meant for a windmill
keeps it from spinning too fast.

[ashtweth]

All as you need now is an earth ship
Imagine Aarons earth rod SSG with these
Earth Ship