Thanks guys for the comments. Sorry for delay. Mondays are hecktic for me.
Sorry I can't answer everyone without it becoming a novel. All are interesting ideas!
I really believe this rotor design is WRONG. Making this specific design Bigger or Taller would be a waste of time I think.(little gained) I am going to try one last thing with it though-- I'm going to reduce the diameter DOWN to about 20 inches diameter and this time make the angle of each blade much steeper. (probably try 16 blades)
I highly suspect the wind did NOT 'swirl' around correctly inside the cylinder, thus adding some extra torque. It was acting more like a big 'Air brake'. This thing certainly gave the IMPRESSION it was going to make some OK power. I am still trying to figure it out.
BTW, for you who asked, the dimensions were the same-- 24" diameter by almost 5 feet high.
Yes, There certainly Are ALOT of scams and exaggerations out there concerning VAWTS.(And Hawts)
I wish they would pass a new law enforcing independant testing on ALL windmills as ED said, And put liars out of business by imposing giant fines on them. Who knows if it will happen.
However, everyone here though that I know of tries their best to tell the TRUTH. We have NOTHING to do with those liars. I never said I just made a 1k Vawt! I was only hoping for a VERY reasonable 100 watts in a giant wind gust! I was WAY off!
Believe me, it wasnt easy confessing the SAD output of this latest Vawt experiment! But I did not want to mislead anyone about this specific design.
YES, to me it is obvious that Hawts are easier to make and, in most all cases (exept ED's design) , make much more power since the blades get to work in the same direction and at many times the speed of the wind.
However, ED's design PROVES that there IS some very good potential there with making a smaller Vawt unit that can be just as useful and powerful as a similar sized small hawt. He no doubt did ALOT of hard work and expenses to get that unique design by testing. Bigger Vawts??? Well, thats yet to be seen.
Even though it was not designed to do so, the Lenz2 even got upto 450 watts (I believe) in a very big wind storm. I keep looking at his design trying to figure it out!
I am really experimenting with Vawts more for just a HOBBY and because I like 'different' things, I like the looks of them, And simply because it is a CHALLENGE. (like the thrill of fishing)
And, of course, at this time, I am afraid of putting up a 8 or 10 foot hawt because of neihbors and outrageous local government codes. I WISH I could--but i don't have extra thousands of dollars to meet their 'requirements'. Sorry,,this is becoming a novel.
So thanks for the ideas guys-- and I WILL keep experimenting and having fun, and possible one day, God willing, catch that big fish. (Or, just make ED's design!!)