Adapt Homebrew Wind Power generator into a vertical axis generator?

[MackL]

Can I adapt Homebrew Wind Power generator into a vertical axis generator, not using Homebrew Wind Power vanes but using my own vertical vane design?

I'm looking for around 3KW of power.

Here in Texas we have 3-10 MPH wind and the vertical wind generator design will turn freely in low wind, whereas the horizontal wind generator will not turn unless the wind is up to 8 MPH or more.

[wdyasq]

When you build it, I want to see it.

I calculate it will take about 3000 SF of area to gather 3kW of usable energy at 8mph wind...

And, you will have the first successful VAWT know to most of us ...

Ron

[MackL]

GUS Canada Vertical axis wind turbine--GUS 5kw ----check this out

[TomW]

Mack;

whereas the horizontal wind generator will not turn unless the wind is up to 8 MPH or more.

This fell out of the south end of a north bound bull!

It is simply NOT TRUE My 8 foot dual rotor vertical axis turbine spins in the slightest breeze. They all do.

Good luck building the turbine itself as you certainly will need it.  

Just curious where you got that don't turn til 8 MPH bull?

3 KW at 10 MPH is going to take a massive machine of any style. Something on the order of 70 foot diameter horizontal at least after you figure in losses. Thats not much wind so it takes a huge swept area to get 3KW out from 10 MPH. Reality is not on your side regardless of the style turbine when hunting 3 KW in 10 MPH "wind". My numbers are from the IRC "bot" using 10 MPH and various rotor diameters until I exceeded 3KW the bot assumes 80% generator efficiency a Cp of 0.20 and air density of 1.225, I believe.

Sorry to inject this reality but thats how it is.

The good news is:

To answer your initial question. Yes, you could couple a dual rotor axial alternator to your VAWT would just need to follow the commonly used methods to find the right coil turns and wire size like any other machine once you know your RPM. Plus mechanical skills to do the connections, of course.

Seriously, good luck with it. We keep waiting for posts of success stories on VAWTS folks have built.

Tom

[SDSUMetalHead]

I myself am going to be trying to figure out how to tie in formulas to convert a homebrew generator to a specific swept area/tsr of a vawt. I think your goals are extremely high. You would need a massive swept area without a lift based design and need it to be mounted high. I am waiting to upload some schematics I have made with swept areas and such so I can have some help calculating the magnets and coil sizes I am going to need. Good luck with everything, and I hope you follow my research (once I can figure out the generator, things will move forward). Good luck on what you decide to do.

[scottsAI]

Just for you Tom 3kw at 10mph is 46 foot dia assuming 36% system efficiency:-)

Have fun,

Scott.

[electrondady1]

thanks for the link mackl that builder is just down the road from me.

here's something just down the road from you.

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2007/9/20/13541/2945

i think the big alternator that danb makes would certainly be capable of 3kw

[TomW]

Scott;

Thanks for the correction and you could well be right. I just passed the IRC Bot sizes at 10 mph til it exceeded 3KW at 10 mph that # was 70 and like 3100 watts or so. Not sure what it uses for the calculations. I could well have misinterpreted the answer, too. Wouldn't be the first time the problem was located between the keyboard and the chair!

Maybe RossW will chime in with how the bot calculates it.

It is a fairly large DIY project was my point and 46 feet is pretty big for D.I.Y. A vertical would require a large footprint for that swept area. The 3 KW from a dual rotor seems entirely feasible from here and has actually been done I thought at higher voltages. As you know, its all in the details.

Thanks for the info.

Tom

[scottsAI]

Understood, though maybe you were guessing, so give you the actual.

I use a spread sheet I wrote, found link later, my numbers agree.

http://warlock.com.au/bladecalc.htm

Have fun,

Scott.