i myself have been considering a small genny with small mags on a big circle. unfortunately, the last couple inches of the blades are the ones doing the most work. you will likely cause a great deal of airflow problems if you put the mags there. plus the linear bearing speeds at the outer edges of anything bigger than a few inches become a real problem. i am interested in your solution...

 As crazy of an idea as I think this is I still have a few comments.

 If I understand what you want to do correctly I would look at a radial flux alternator as this both solves some of the blade flex problems and acts as a ducted turbine.

 How many magnets and at what diameter are you thinking? or in other words just how long is the flux path to the adjacent pole? Flux goes though iron roughly 1000 times easier than air so your air gap (thats the gap from the magnet face to the backing iron on the other side of the coil) will still dominate the circut reluctance. Figuring that you will have a flux density though the coil of .6 -.7 tesla and steel saturates arount 1.8 tesla if the cross section  of the flux path to each adjacent pole is 20% of the cross section of the magnets you will be well below saturation.

 Of course if the backing iron is to be stationary it will need to be laminated.

 Writing this makes me realize how unclear my understanding of what you are trying to do is. Anyway I'm sure we will all love reading about how it comes off.

Here's a link to the post from last year.

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2004/11/25/43923/481

I thought at the time it was a pretty good idea but I'm not so sure now as I'm thinking theses days there is probably better ways to increase output and regardless of confiquration there is still only so much power available in the wind.

The return flux from each magnet is split in half and goes to the two adjoing magnets.  So a donut is fine.  The middle part is only structural.

You can also use a thicker steel strap to connect pairs of adjacent magnets, so they exchange all their return flux with a single neighbor.  (Downside is you don't get the structural strength of the steel disk or donut and have to provide it some other way.)

Or say if each mag is on a steel pad in a circle & all pads joined by 1/2" rod would the output improvement still be there?

I would set it up so the air gap was a little wide for easy start up & under heavy wind the blades would bend into the coils , The bearing holding the mag ring so as to just clear the coil. Hopefully the stronger the wind the smaller the airgap until max is reached.

I have been thinking about this for a few years , that's how I found this site -looking into wind energy (Glad I looked as this place is great).

I think it would be less proned to stalling as the space between the coils could be enormous with the same "pulse" or rpm , or one could run way less turns & use more coils or coils & mags to make a super smooth output.(I think)

One other question I have is can I carve the blades so the tips go to no angle & attach the ring or would this hamper performance? Also if I was to add an airfoil would it be to direct air in towards the blades from the front or to "pull" it out & away on the aft side if you catch what I mean?

a fella could through a quick test rig together with some pvc,a hoola hoop & some small neos, no iron though...

Thanks

I will work away at this little side project & if I ever make any headway I will of course post it at the board.

My wifes grandpa (no longer with us) used to have bike rims on end 3 deep with little  coloured scoops that would turn the rims. It always caught my attention when we visited,even now my little mill has only put out 15 amps but it always brings a smile to my face when the wind blows.

Quite addicting