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low tower omnidirectional idea
By zmule, Section Homebrewed Electricity Posted on Wed Oct 06, 2004 at 11:31:13 AM MST
How about modeling a wind generator off of a roof vent?

I'm more of an "engine" guy but have been surfing your site for a few hours and it's pretty neat. I always look at those vent turbines on my roof turning in the wind. Has anyone tried to take this idea and scale it up to produce power? I am thinking of using a bicycle generator and doing a science project with my son but this design might have some full scale advantages. It takes wind from any direction, it an be placed lower to the ground (?) might be cheaper to make than a prop and perhaps the generating equipment can be on the inside making it fairly compact. Someone told me once that anything you can think of has most likely already been done so there is probably some egg-beater looking thing already out there. For the science project though, it could be fun...
Regards,
Z-Mule

low tower omnidirectional idea | 5 comments (5 topical)

Re: low tower omnidirectional idea (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by Harry Luubovv on Wed Oct 06, 2004 at 01:13:24 PM MST

Your roof ventilator generator idea, I have seen a project done on a site. But ufortunately that site was no longer supported and I junked the link. But perhaps it may be up again by now, you just do some internet searches and it might turn up again.

Hope this has helped.

Happy days,
Harry.

Re: low tower omnidirectional idea (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by ghurd on Wed Oct 06, 2004 at 10:37:24 PM MST

Z-Mule,

Search this site for "sandia savonius vawt bucket".

There are several ideas that will be interesting for a school project.

One that comes to mind was a clear plexiglass 3 or 4 blade 'thingy' kind of hanging on a bird feeder size pole. It was a few comments down. It would be very easy to make.

Bicycle generators are like UFOs. Everyone has seen one, but you can't find one if you are looking for it. I looked for 6 months, before giving up and going to a 'Stepper motor generator'.
I don't know much about which type to use. I have a good assortment, and there seems to be no rhyme or reason to anticipating the power one will make. Surplus stepper motors can be had for $1 to $5. I would get a few different ones. Save shipping and $ when you order, get some 1 amp, 50 volt diodes, 4 per motor. And 1 5mF 30-ish volt capacitor per motor.
Add a few super or ultra bright red LEDs and a few 100 ohm resistors, for something to light up to demonstrate power being made. The red LED in series with a 100 ohm resistor will light up with about 1.3 volts and 0.005 amps, a whopping 0.006 watts.

It could run in front of a window fan with much luck.

G-

Re: low tower omnidirectional idea (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by ghurd on Thu Oct 07, 2004 at 01:13:44 AM MST

The plexiglass thingy is on windstuffnow.com under 1 hour projects.

[ Parent ]

Re: low tower omnidirectional idea (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by zmule on Thu Oct 07, 2004 at 02:47:09 PM MST

Thanks for the comments, guys. Had to leave for a while. I have stepper motors and an old bike generator on the shelf. (thrift stores and garage sales almost always are a good source for these). One time when I was a kid I hooked a bicycle generator up to an old crank phonograph but my Dad made me reassemble the phono back the way it was. It worked pretty cool though. I wish I still had that one now; and the phonograph too for that matter. It was large and 6volt. Maybe it's still in Mom's basement. I always wanted a wind-up powerplant and was/still am facinated with springs, etc. The victrola motors come up on ebay every once in a while....ANYWAY sorry back to the subject at hand. I also have a nice permanent magnet alternator on the shelf from a John Deere lawn tractor that was in the junk. You can feel the pulses as you turn the pulley. I touched my toungue to the contacts to see if it was putting out (Yes, I know... I can hear you guys laughing! I don't bring a voltmeter with me everywhere and it's primitive but effective.) and it jolts OK so I kept it with the generator stuff. I think that unit might work well direct drive. Haven't a clue what rpm it is supposed to run at but i'm sure it's 12-14 volts. Enough to make a light work for the kids, etc. Just trying to have a little fun. Take care.

Regards,
Z-Mule

[ Parent ]

Re: low tower omnidirectional idea (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by Gibby on Mon Oct 11, 2004 at 08:05:13 PM MST

I have recently seen this site and the product is called a windtree.

Althoug I was excited about the idea and claims of the "WindTree" I soon found a site that put me back in reality. The WindTree marketers were quoting 3kW in a 13mph wind. The size of structure they were using for these claims was a 6ft by 6ft.

Visit http://www.otherpower.com/windtree.html

This has some good science facts that show why the "WindTree" doesn't work as claimed.

low tower omnidirectional idea | 5 comments (5 topical)

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