A VAWT idea
By hvirtane, Section Wind Posted on Sun Aug 01, 2004 at 01:16:10 PM MST
There are many ways to design a VAWT

Some time ago 'WindstuffEd' posted pictures of his design, which is now called 'Lenz turbine'. http://www.windstuffnow.com/main/vawt.htm In my opinion his results from the first experimental machines are really good. During a discussion I suggested that in the center of the 'Lenz turbine' there could be something like a 'Savonius' to add power at least on slow speeds. I made a small drawing to demonstrate the idea. There are 6 'wings' in this version. What do you think, would it work better or worse than Ed's machine? - Hannu

A VAWT idea | 6 comments (6 topical)

Re: A VAWT idea (3.00 / 0) (#1) by Norm on Sun Aug 01, 2004 at 03:50:40 PM MST

Hannu....Looks like it might work better but then it would be a little bit more to build...then again the performance gained might well be worth the extra effort...( I know my opinion sounds kinda wishy-washy but that's me!)      Fun! Fun!   ....fun....( :>) Norm. ( :>) Norm

Re: A VAWT idea (3.00 / 0) (#2) by Matrix1000 on Sun Aug 01, 2004 at 03:56:51 PM MST

I always wonder about the pressure barrier at the enterance caused as the wind rushes in but cant get into the blades to escape... Its always scooping air..Perhaps a hole or holes at the top/bottom will cure that. Heres an Idea that it made me think of.

Re: A VAWT idea (3.00 / 0) (#3) by windstuffnow on Sun Aug 01, 2004 at 06:18:55 PM MST

Hannu,     I posted something like that some time ago using a 3 bladed savinous to catch the air internally.    It will definately help to capture more of the incomming power.  I don't think adding more blades or vanes will help though.  It may tend to disrupt to much incomming air and add to the drag on the up wind side.  With a 3 blade arrangement you have one on it's way out and one starting on the downwind side and the drag of 1 blade on the upwind.      My efforts with the Lenz turbine was to create as much low pressure behind the mill as possible so the incomming air will tend to carry the blade farther around as the incomming air tries to fill the void.  I highly doubt I'm getting the full effect from this but it does make a reasonably efficient VAWT, at least in the test models I've built so far.  Hopefully I'll have some time this year to see how a larger unit fairs.  By the way things are going right now it may not be until September when I get caught up with everything... we'll see... Have Fun! Windstuff Ed Have Fun! Windstuff Ed

Re: A VAWT idea (3.00 / 0) (#6) by hvirtane on Mon Aug 02, 2004 at 05:24:11 PM MST

Hi, now I remember that I have seen picture with the Savonius inside. I think that the savonius inside should be open. So that the ingoing air can escape from the the other side. Today made a drawing with three wings like this: Maybe there could be some fixed wings outside the turbine to catch more air? - Hannu [ Parent ]

Re: A VAWT idea (3.00 / 0) (#4) by wiredwrong on Sun Aug 01, 2004 at 06:35:37 PM MST

Hey this may be a stupid idea, or question or thought But isn't the Savonius wind mill design very similar to the basic roof vent that has been used for many years on top of a house to vent attic air? I've noticed these roof vents turn in the slightest of breezes, and I know from climbing up on the roof to put a cover over them for winter that even the smallest breeze causes them to generate what seems to me to be a preety good amount of torque for its size. I've often thought of increasing the size of one to see if it could turn a small brusless dc motor to generate at least a small amount of energy for charging batteries??? anyone else ever considered using one???? Randy OKC,OK

Re: A VAWT idea (3.00 / 0) (#5) by tecker on Sun Aug 01, 2004 at 09:27:30 PM MST

Half barrel with the wings but thinner and pitched to take advatage of the high speed air comming off the edge off the back side drag is what I've been working on .new cycle every 90 degrees This angle of the wing  picks up the downwind before the leading edge of the barrel edge and a vortex apears  the between the bottom of the wing and the barrel edge I'll take some more smoke pics when I take it down this fall. I say barrels I've been useing 5 gal thinner cans

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