Hybrid Wincharger update - furling photo

[Dave B]

  It's been up running 3 weeks and my re-worked 18' to 16' machine is performing very well. I am experimenting still with the heating elements to try to find a happy medium for start up and decent high wind output direct AC with no controller.

 Today was a perfect day for testing with winds of 20-25 MPH for several hours peaking at 33 MPH. Here is a photo of it nearly fully furled. As many of you know, changing the load also changes the RPM at which it furls so matching everything can be a challange, especially for direct connect wild AC resistive heating.

  So far maximum measured output has been 2900-3400 watts before fully furling in 20-25 MPH winds 300-350 RPM depending on load. I plan to limit RPM to 300-325 or below and 3 KW output.

  Changes made from the previous 18' version are : new Ash blades shortened to 16' diameter, reversed pitch, reduced tail pivot angle, shortened boom, new stator, increased air-gap, new nose cone and hub assembly.

  Updates to follow, I will be posting output graphs soon as I log more data. Dave B.  

[tecker]

She's been a good girl this time , you just use it for Ac heating right ? I guess you got the load worked out .

[electrondady1]

dave b,

congratulations on your new improved mill.

could you repost your load control circuitry ?

i checked out your old posts but the diagrams are missing.

i may be wrong but i was thinking you ran a separate load on each phase,

and then had them cut in at different rpms?

[Dave B]

Hello,

  I am running a seperate load from each phase and is wired delta. Currently I have 3 1500 watt 120 vac hot water elements connected direct AC with no controller. I really like the simple approach (if it's turning it's heating) but it is a compromise between start up and efficiency.

  I have a very generous air gap at present to work with and loaded volts now is 4 rpm / 1 vac and it seems happy in this range as I experiment with the load. Looks like I can run quite efficient in 10-20 MPH winds at 300-2000 watts and still have a reasonable start up that breaks stall at about 10 MPH and 120 rpm.

  I may be able to lower the start up a bit more without too much sacrifice in the higher winds by using 3  1200 watt elements. I want to limit the rpm to not much over 300 and fully furl by 25 MPH, so far it looks like I can tweak this right in there. Thanks for the comments. Simple is good, let er run.  Dave B.  

[electrondady1]

so you are able to start  a hawt under load?

i thought that was impossible !

[Dave B]

Electrondady,

  My system is a bit different from most here who are charging batteries. I am running wild AC direct to the resistive load and therefore have no "cut-in" voltage, the alternator is always under load and does not free wheel. Without a controller of sorts the trick has been to balance a set load that will allow start up and yet produce good power in higher winds. Past experience has proven to me that although not the most efficient way to go it is possible and by eliminating a controller there really is no more of a simple system for heating with the wind.

  For this to work most credit is due to the blade profile which again is unique to most here who are carving their own blades. These are the Gottigen 222 profile carved by Dave Moller here at http://www.royalfabrication.com/ on a machine of his own design. It is no coincidence that Bergy continues to use a similar profile where the concave face, no twist or taper produces tremendous torque and high speed.

  Alternator air-gap, load, blade rpm and furling have all played a part in me getting this to work effectively as a heating machine. MPPT would be ideal of course and that gives me something else to work toward. Until then simple is best and it's working well. Thank you for the comments, they are always welcome.  Dave B.  

[electrondady1]

dave ,

i've been following your progress with interest from the start.

  although my circumstances are quite a bit different i am looking for a heat source as well.

i am in an urban setting and have my hope set on a very large very slow moving vawt.

i will run direct to a resistance heater but was under the impression that

big capacitors would be required .

as in zubbly's design.

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2006/9/16/225354/917

but if i can do it without caps then so much the better.

you may have saved me a great deal of time and expence

thanks

[Dave B]

I know very little about VAWT's but I do know it will be an entirely different project with many different variables from my system. No way to compare the two and that's not to say that heating can't be done in the same way with a VAWT but I'm afraid I can't help much. Be realistic about the power required to heat with wind power and crunch the numbers over and over to establish the specifics of the machine you will require. Good luck with your project and keep us posted, there are several here who are interested in VAWTs.  Dave B.  

[ghurd]

Even if it is 2' smaller, I just want to say it again...

"Dang that's Big".

G-