squirrel cage fan idea?
By TheEquineFencer, Section Newbies Posted on Sat May 16, 2009 at 06:46:10 PM MST
squirrel cage fan idea?

I was wondering if this would work for a blade system or if anyone has tried it? Most SQ fans have a solid center, if you take the center divider out and make the back side solid it would allow the blades to get full force from the wind, with the wind coming from just one end. Then if you put something like a funnel shape or box over the front to direct the air into the front, this would sheild the sides from the air flow and create a pressure zone that I would think make the air want to be sucked through the blades. it would be open all around the sides,of the SQ fan blades. It's just an idea, I figured I throw it out and see what you guys thought.

squirrel cage fan idea? | 6 comments (6 topical)

Re: squirrel cage fan idea? (3.00 / 0) (#1) by spinningmagnets on Sat May 16, 2009 at 01:19:33 PM MST

It might run a tiny gen, something along the lines of a flashlight battery charger. Though, I must confess I am not very experienced. VAWTs near the ground don't harvest much wind, but they can be fun and educational. Check these out... http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2007/12/12/9444/1180 http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2007/10/5/1192/20143

Re: squirrel cage fan idea? (3.00 / 0) (#2) by TheEquineFencer on Sat May 16, 2009 at 01:35:27 PM MST

It would be run as a HAWT. F. Moore Farmville, NC

Re: squirrel cage fan idea? (3.00 / 0) (#3) by spinningmagnets on Sat May 16, 2009 at 04:01:29 PM MST

Ooops! I see now. I haven't built any kind of wind-turbine, but this looks like a fun experiment. At first glance, if enough pressure builds up in front of it, most wind will go around the entire turbine (like the old multi-blade water-pumpers?) Perhaps remove every third blade, test, then remove every second blade, test again. Fewer blades would have more flow-through. I'm guessing the funnel would spin with the SC? This brings up a question I've had for a while (I was hoping someone else would bring it up first) RPM's are easy to measure (magnet + bicycle computer is one way) but how to measure torque on an experimental turbine of any type? If we could say that after 5 variations, the best version of this idea made X RPM's, in Y wind-speed, making Z amount of torque... It "might" make sizing an appropriate generator easier, even if it ends up being only a tiny stepper motor from a trashed industrial copier.

Re: squirrel cage fan idea? (3.00 / 0) (#4) by TheCasualTraveler on Sat May 16, 2009 at 04:14:39 PM MST

That's a really neat idea that I have not seen.      However, even if not a VAWT, I believe it would still be a drag style mill without the advantage of lift that comes from properly shaped propeller style blades. Therefore I think the TSR will be low and it will be more cumbersome than a simple HAWT so why bother. Better off to leave the squirrel cages for the VAWTS. JMO Andy

Re: squirrel cage fan idea? (3.00 / 0) (#5) by RandomJoe on Sat May 16, 2009 at 07:38:40 PM MST

I work in HVAC controls, and there are squirrel cage fans with airfoil blades.  They can produce some monstrous static pressures in the duct work (that's what they are for - when you really need to move some air!) but I don't know how/if the airfoil would work in this application. Of course, I've only seen those blades on very large fans too - smaller fans are usually only forward-curve at best. It's an interesting idea, I think it would have to be a down-wind version?  Otherwise the wind blowing against the cone would probably just turn it around - unless you put an even larger tail on it. Seeing this brought to mind working on air handlers where air was still moving through the units with the fans off.  Some of those fans can get moving at a pretty good clip with a relatively small volume of airflow - and they are spinning their motors too.  (Not generating power, of course - usually 460V 3-phase motors.)  I know one maintenance guy who learned the hard way not to try to stop a freewheeling fan by hand.  Lost a finger between the belt and pulley! [ Parent ]

Re: squirrel cage fan idea? (3.00 / 0) (#6) by TheEquineFencer on Sat May 16, 2009 at 08:39:06 PM MST

F. Moore Farmville, NC [ Parent ]

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