Wind turbine prototype.

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AL37
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Wind turbine prototype.

Post by AL37 »

This is another project I have had in mind for a while now. To get this far hasn't cost me a penny as I have used stuff that I had stashed in the garage.
The parts list is suprisingly small and even if you had to buy new you could do it for less than £40.00.
I have used,
1, permanent magnet motor, very similar to those found in cordless drills.
1, 2½ foot length of pvc drainage pipe.
1, three foot lenth of 2x2 timber.
1, offcut of ply wood.
1, hub from a bicycle wheel.
1, tripod. ( not realy necessary but you do need a pole of some description to mount it on).
various screws and fixings.
Still need to buy/make a charge controller.

My intention is to have a couple of leisure batteries kept fully charged by the turbine. These will then be used for varios 12v items such as lighting or a radio in the allotment shed. I could also wire an inverter to the batteries to power 240v energy saving bulbs etc.

Motor and blade hub.
Image

Blade made from pvc pipe.
Image

Will it work? waiting for a gust of wind. :-D
Image

Here we go. )c(
Image

Its still very much in the experimental stage I want to play with blade profiles and find a balance between low wind catchment and speed of rotation. I made four blades but have only attached two. These do seem to catch light breezes but but create a lot of turbulence making the turbine twist away from the wind.
I will keep you updated of progress. )t'
[center]Relax, I could have been a twin.[/center]
LittleBrownFrog

Re: Wind turbine prototype.

Post by LittleBrownFrog »

You are clever! I wouldn't even know where to begin with something like that!
Totally Scrambled
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Re: Wind turbine prototype.

Post by Totally Scrambled »

Looking good Al.
Just a thought with the blades. If they can flex they will cause the whole thing to wobble and twist and being plastic might become brittle when the temp drops so could crack or snap.
Maybe thinking longer term you could make one from wood. Have a look at this for how to go about it )t'
http://www.instructables.com/id/Wood-Pr ... brication/
Dom
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Totally Scrambled
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Re: Wind turbine prototype.

Post by Totally Scrambled »

Another thought re the blades, they have to be matched almost exactly for length, width and weight or they will cause the hub to cavitate. If you could find someone chucking out one of those big electric fans you could have the blades off that, reverse them and you'd be sorted.
Dom
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AL37
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Re: Wind turbine prototype.

Post by AL37 »

Hi Dom, I had thought about making wooden blades but I have lots of pvc pipe lying around. the previous tennant of one of my plots was a real horder (worse than me). :shock:
It takes around five minutes to cut a blade out and then around fifteen or so to finish it.
I have the blades as close as I can get them size wise and I did weigh each one and fitted the two closest. Just dont tell Mrs Al why she couldn't find her digital kitchen scales for half an hour.
I dont think a blade from a big houshold fan would be big enough to catch lighter winds as the motor I am using has an internel gearbox. However, if or when I find one I will give it a go. I also have other motors etc I can try out.
This is only a prototype so there will be a fair bit of trial and error to get the optimum performance. I also want to try a horizontal axis generator I think higher rotor speeds may be achievable. This would give more more scope for testing different motors.
)t'
[center]Relax, I could have been a twin.[/center]
Steve the Gas

Re: Wind turbine prototype.

Post by Steve the Gas »

Great project Al. )t'
Hoody
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Re: Wind turbine prototype.

Post by Hoody »

Used to a post on Dick Strawbridges old forum from a bloke who built a 2Kw wind turbine. seems like most of the info was nuked during a server move? some still over at this site that may be useful/interesting though?

http://www.reuk.co.uk/DIY-2kW-Wind-Turbine.htm
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ChrisG
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Re: Wind turbine prototype.

Post by ChrisG »

When we were in Scotland this summer, we met a woman who lives on Scoraig, a tiny peninsula where it is often impossible to get to the mainland except by boat. They dont have any e;ectricity there. She told me about 'Hugh' who does a lot of his own wind power stuff. If you want to check it out, you will find it here:

http://www.scoraigwind.com/
Chris xx

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gromit
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Re: Wind turbine prototype.

Post by gromit »

brilliant source of information that link! Will keep me quiet for hours )t'
How did I ever find the time to go to work
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Stig
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Re: Wind turbine prototype.

Post by Stig »

Looks excellent!

Here's a simple design for a charge controller:
http://www.mdpub.com/555Controller/
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AL37
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Re: Wind turbine prototype.

Post by AL37 »

Thanks Stig I think I will have a go at that one. )t'
[center]Relax, I could have been a twin.[/center]
Oheckitseck

Re: Wind turbine prototype.

Post by Oheckitseck »

Looks Brillian Al....What a man you are )t' )t' )t'
rhubarb93
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Re: Wind turbine prototype.

Post by rhubarb93 »

Brilliant, Al - makes me wish I'd been an engineer! But it wasn't on the list of careers "suitable for women" at the time I was being given careers advice. {cry} Nearest I got was Meccano and Connex.
Looking forward to the updates
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AL37
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Re: Wind turbine prototype.

Post by AL37 »

I was never an engineer Rhubarb, just interested in all thing mechanical etc. )t'
[center]Relax, I could have been a twin.[/center]
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Orfy
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Re: Wind turbine prototype.

Post by Orfy »

The charge controller looks good.
He should start selling kits.
I can solder but not design or make pcbs
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