Downwind Windmill Design

[WXYZCIENCE]

This Homemade windmill is very quiet. Standing 60 feet from the house on a 30 foot mast. The picture was taken from the second story veranda overlooking the southwest field.

Built from old milking barn stainless steel.

This closeup shows the airfoils made from two old station wagon rear window foil, cut in half. The ratio of the DC magnet generator is increased by a 2.3 to 1 transmission I found in one of those tiny potable washing machines. The unit has run well since November 17, 2004. Output 90 volts Dc 2 amps.

[domwild]

Interesting design! Well done!

[Stonebrain]

Hey WXYZ

Nice unit again.Very clean.

What's the dimensions of the blades.

And where did you put the alternator and the gear.

Seems to have so little place.Would be nice to know

more about that mistery.

Thanks for those postings.I like your work.

Cheers,

stonebrain

[paradigmdesign]

Very nice, always wantet to try a downwind design myself.  Just wondering what the puropse of the "tail" that is mounted on the top of the turbine.  I always thought downwinds naturally kept themselfs oriented to the wind, and therefore wouldn't need a directional wing on it.

Also, wondering what the dia. of the genny is.

Nice clean design though, looks almost like a "off the shelf" turbine.

[WXYZCIENCE]

The unit rotates on a front spindle from a Ford tempo(the only use I find for good used Ford parts, never got any miles on them). Anyways, this mill will start and run in 5mph winds, but I found that in low winds it would not have enough to orient his/herself correctly. The fin helped solve this problem. It also named him/her for me, we call him/her the shark. The genny is 4" in diameter and 8" long. A DC brush motor that worked well when tested on my drill press at 600rpm. It is coupled to a neat little trani I found  in one of those tiny portable washing machines. I service the unit every year and will get some pics of his/her guts. Will post them in May? It's raining today, and I hate weldin in the rain. Have a good day, Joe.  

[ghurd]

What is a 'airfoil made from two old station wagon rear window foil'?

The do-hicky over the rear window, on the roof?

G-

[WXYZCIENCE]

Yup, off the back of a station wagon, Buick I believe. They are wonderfully balanced and easy to work with. This one withstood 100mph wind back two years ago in December. This is the quietest mill I have ever seen. Figure those car guys worked it out, can't have their cars howling down the roads. I've got a 403 on my shop 1000 feet away. We call it the screaming banchie.