18' Hybrid Wincharger Update

[Dave B]

 Here's my new and old stator. This was NOT a design flaw but me purposely pushing things to way beyond it's limit. It's interesting to note that the windings did not fail and still measure OK but the heat blistered and cracked only the surface of the Epoxy stator in spots. (the black blotch is paint not fried epoxy) To review, 50+ MPH winds last November let me test it's limits and a blade strike against the tower finally stopped my testing.

 My machine wouldn't fully furl until 300-350 RPM and I was shooting for 200 RPM max. and a very safe 3 KW. Best I can figure this was up to and over 6 KW into my hot water heating elements for much of the time over several hours during this unusually long storm.

 Dave Moller is carving me another set of 9' wincharger blades and now has the main assembly in his shop to reduce the tail pivot angle to allow it furl earlier. We are also reversing the pitch to spin CCW looking at the front. Besides these 2 mods. I think I will shim the blades out a bit more for more tower clearence also. Holding the speed down is the main solution. More rebuild updates and photos to follow. Dave B.  

[vawtman]

Hi Dave

 You were pretty much in unchartered territory to start with and your work should be an inspiration to others.

 Good luck to ya and when this iceage ends i will get back to it also.

 Mark

[Dave B]

 Thank you Mark for the comment. I hope I can help others wanting to "heat" with the wind much in the same way as the Dan's have been paving the way for battery charging. They are for sure 2 different animals and I am having a great time dialing things in for my water heating application.

 I can see why Wincharger was so successful with the Gottingen 222 profile, the torque required to gear up their generators is certainly available with these blades. My toughest challenge so far has been to work that power band for my 18' version and to try to reasonably match the load. When these blades start to fly they accelerate like a bat.

 Still plenty of inside work to be done but I can't wait to get this back together and flying again with the changes made, like you the weather has not been the easiest to work in. Thanks again, updates to follow.  Dave B.

[beefy]

Hello nice info. I am attempting to do the same. Power managment is a critical element .I am experimenting with a PLC. This is used in industry to finely tune power outputs to a load with long and short pulses. Voltage in to this can dictate out put wattage.  With a varying power supply. My friend and I will be proving this soon.

[Dave B]

Keep me posted on your PLC progress for control. I used to work with AB PLC's and some programming with the ladder logic so I am interested in knowing what make you are using. Is it also a mini ? Pretty amazing progress with those even from just 10 years ago, that sure would be a big step forward for controlling resistive loads if you work it out. Keep us posted, thank you.  Dave B.