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Enertech windmill questions
By halfcrazy, Section Homebrewed Electricity Posted on Sat Sep 20, 2008 at 02:34:45 PM MST
A friend has a enertech

A friend has an Enertech windmill from the 70's. It came down a little hard but the motor is fine. does anyone now what the ideal rpm for this motor was? we are toying with coupling the motor to a lister diesel and selling to the grid and making hot water as a fun project?

Enertech windmill questions | 7 comments (7 topical)

Re: Enertech windmill questions (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by wdyasq on Sat Sep 20, 2008 at 12:59:30 PM MST

The 'rule of thumb' for large efficiently built generators is 10kWh/gallon for fuel. This means if one uses 10kWh of power, about one gallon of fuel will be burned/spent/used.

Around here, diesel is over $4 a gallon. That means with a well designed generator my fuel costs will be $0.40+ a kWh. I just got a letter from my electric supplier saying I could lock into my present "low" (one of the highest in the nation) $0.23 a kWh rate.

Let's just consider this senario:

You can cob a diesel and generator together and be as efficient as a factory built one.(the term "fat chance" comes to mind)

You can buy your fuel at less than half of retail. (not likely)

Your engine never wears out, you get free lubrication oil and filters and a gennie changes your oil. (when pics fly comes)

The approved, listed inverter you buy is free. A certifiable licensed electrician connects everything at no charge to you.

Your electric company will buy back at the highest rates in the nation.

If you meet ALL of the above criteria, you will be able to break even on you venture ... provided the engine and generator cost you nothing and you value your time as I value politicians and you will get your water heated free.

Ron
Adventure is just bad planning." -- Roald Amundsen

Re: Enertech windmill questions (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by halfcrazy on Sat Sep 20, 2008 at 04:14:22 PM MST

Anyone? the Enertech had to have ac present to excite the field so no inverter needed and as i stated this is a fun project not a money maker.

[ Parent ]

Re: Enertech windmill questions (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by scottsAI on Sat Sep 20, 2008 at 10:43:24 PM MST

Wdyasq,

What you said is essentially correct, yet unnecessarily Harsh?

You could say nearly the same thing about most of the project here?

Have fun,
Scott.

[ Parent ]

Re: Enertech windmill questions (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by scottsAI on Sat Sep 20, 2008 at 10:54:33 PM MST

halfcrazy,

So, we got "this is not a money maker" out of the way, buying Diesel fuel.

I do not know anything about Enertech...

I assume you will be using Bio-fuel for the Diesel? Little running cost?

A very worth while project if you use the waste heat for heating your home and/or hot water.
Must limit running Diesel when you need heat... unless you store it. $

Induction motor can be used as a generator, over speed it by the same under speed amount it runs under load. Efficiency is good with a good motor. Use Inverter rated 3 phase motor, one pole (wire pair)
Add a reverse power detector to disconnect if grid goes down. Quite safe if done right.

Most diesels are most efficient when loaded 80%.
Same with induction motors.

Have fun,
Scott.

Re: Enertech windmill questions (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by halfcrazy on Sun Sep 21, 2008 at 11:10:22 AM MST

Thanks scott i have gotten used to the harsh comments maybe if i can ever become a regular hear? but anyhow. we will use wvo to run the lister and we will also use the heat from the water and an exhaust heat exchanger as well to heat the house. the enertech had a single phase induction motor on it i will look for a nameplate maybe they will have a rpm? and i am assuming we dont need an inverter as the windmill never used one?

[ Parent ]

Re: Enertech windmill questions (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by scottsAI on Mon Sep 22, 2008 at 01:42:41 PM MST

Halfcrazy,

No inverter needed with induction motor, that is the beauty of this solution.
Motor must be running above name plate speed (RPM) as mentioned earlier.

For protection
Make sure system stops electrical output if the grid fails, and check for reverse power to keep grid from driving the motor as a motor if the lister quits, don't want to waste power! Unless starting it.

No Governor needed, the motor limits RPM to what it needs unless the Lister is more powerful than the motor. Make sure the lister is NOT more powerful than the induction motor.

Have fun,
Scott.

[ Parent ]

Re: Enertech windmill questions (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by mikern on Sun Mar 22, 2009 at 12:45:45 AM MST

HALFCRAZY,
I have an enertech 1500 that I'm trying to sell, also have a copy of the manual if that would help you, if so shoot me an email with an address and I'd be glad to share it with you. Mike

Enertech windmill questions | 7 comments (7 topical)

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