Author Topic: VAWT using a squirrel cage blower wheel (Read 21555 times)

paulc · « **on:** October 10, 2008, 11:43:16 AM »

Hello Folks,

I recently acquire a 12" tall by 12" diameter squirrel cage blower wheel.

On my small"test range" in the workshop the wheel is mounted on a vertical shaft and set of bearings. 3 feet away is my "wind" a 12" 3 speed fan.

Counting pulses from a set of magnets around the periphery of the wheel I can get about 50 rpm with the wheel alone on the shaft.

By using vanes,,, really just pieces of aluminum, and holding them in place I can raise the RPM significantly to 60 to 80 RPM depending on the vane size, the angle of the vane and the depth that the vane intrudes into the air path.

I have seen similar set ups using 4 vanes on the net.

What I would like to hear are suggestions on the number of vanes, is 4 a reasonable number? Length of the vanes, it appears longer gathers more air?

Anotther thing that seems to effect rpm is the spacing between the vane and the wheel,

the closer the better?

I really would appreciate hearing from anyone with similar experiencies or ideas

Thank you

PauLC

W1VLF

tecker · « **Reply #1 on:** October 10, 2008, 06:23:43 AM »

Thumb and fore finger test IF you can't hold it in strong wind it might be useable My guess is if you had 7 or eight you could get somewhere.

wooferhound · « **Reply #2 on:** October 10, 2008, 07:30:43 AM »

Here is an interesting story of a VAWT with vanes to help the airflow

The pictures are in the Links that are in the first and second comments

so you have to Click through to the pictures

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2007/12/12/9444/1180

vawtman · « **Reply #3 on:** October 10, 2008, 08:24:32 AM »

The good ole finger dynamo.It would be cool to see if the dynamo gets hotter with the vanes.

Not sure if it would work in this case though :v)

http://www.otherpower.com/images/scimages/5119/nice_vawt.jpg

Jeff · « **Reply #4 on:** October 10, 2008, 02:26:46 PM »

Google: Vortex

Then go with what you're doing, even with 4 average size panels that can be easily mounted (and sturdy!), do the same thing, only on the outside of the "cage" starting at the back, and extending even further rear-ward. Start with about double the outside dimensions of the front Vortex panels, and end up at the rear-ward end around 10-15% larger than the outside dimensions of the squirrel cage. You've now created a "double vortex" that also helps pull the air out of the squirrel cage.

There's a cool new wind turbine using that technique, but I can't find the URL quick enough.

If you had something about 3 times the size, you'd have the makings of one helluva VAWT! Myself, with the 12" size, I'd hook up a 90vDC motor to it & run in on 12-24v. I use 2 like that, but only one has a "squirrel cage". On 12v, they draw just under 5 watts! And put out a good amount of air too!

paulc · « **Reply #5 on:** October 11, 2008, 11:10:23 AM »

Holy mackeral VAWT man!!!

What a great picture !

Do you have any idea of where the turbine is?

Or if it was manufactured or homebuilt

What a great shot.!!!

vawtman · « **Reply #6 on:** October 11, 2008, 11:44:18 AM »

Here ya go Paul

http://www.pacwind.net/products.html#aeo

vawtman · « **Reply #7 on:** October 11, 2008, 02:24:48 PM »

Maybe try this idear

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RRXRUFrxKAQ&feature=related

LOl

Todd a · « **Reply #8 on:** October 11, 2008, 08:18:24 PM »

Here is some other vain ideas...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7TspdI4Sd1o&feature=related

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IdadfFnCgWM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34lCgeKU77Y&feature=related

I have seen others. 4 is really all you need, but more is fine. Curve them in a bit and you will be fine. It looks like more vains let you use shorter vains. I have seen some that actually constrict the vains towards the middle to accelerate the airflow even more. I have also seen wind scoops mounted on a directional vain. Lots of options.

veewee77 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 12, 2008, 08:00:01 AM »

Yeah. . . I don't believe this is possible, unless there are batteries in that big box under the turbine. That turbine may be charging batteries and in turn the batteries are running the inverter and etc. I'd bet that it wouldn't pull that compressor (or similar load) 24/7 without draining the batteries and having to sit and recharge, even with a good wind.

JMHO - YMMV

Doug

DBGenerator · « **Reply #10 on:** October 14, 2008, 02:32:55 PM »

Where did you find a 12" x 12" squirrel cage (centrifugal) fan? I could use one for a hovercraft project.

Dave

paulc · « **Reply #11 on:** October 14, 2008, 04:50:20 PM »

hello Dave,

I got my blower wheel from ebay.

If you search under "squirrel cage" you will get poor results.

Use the search term blower wheel.

Also try this place.

https://surpluscityliquidators.com/

This place has thousands of wheels

They are all surplus and the prices are good. They have wheels up 29" dia.

Shipping may be a problem

If you call ask for Steve McCracken.

I am looking at a lot of 9 15" wheels right now.

PauLC

W1VLF

paulc · « **Reply #12 on:** October 14, 2008, 05:02:18 PM »

Hello Todd,

Thanks for the links. Those were great.

Your right quit a few options.

I was able to double the no load RPM of the blower wheel by using 2 vanes of plywood 15" x 20" at 90 degree angles in front of the wheel.

So the next step is build a little test platform

And give it a try.

pauLC

W1VLF

vawtman · « **Reply #13 on:** October 14, 2008, 05:47:42 PM »

These type wheels are designed to run at high static pressures.Forcing air through heat exchangers and multiple turns of ducting.

Now if you try to force the wind into them if i was the wind i would seek another path of lower resistance.

Just my .002

Todd a · « **Reply #14 on:** October 16, 2008, 06:59:11 PM »

You can get them out of window A/C units... They are pretty small, but light and with many thin blade. Stack a few together and you might have a nice small wind turbine.

HVACman · « **Reply #15 on:** March 18, 2012, 09:59:48 AM »

Quote from: vawtman on October 14, 2008, 05:47:42 PM

These type wheels are designed to run at high static pressures.Forcing air through heat exchangers and multiple turns of ducting.<p>
Now if you try to force the wind into them if i was the wind i would seek another path of lower resistance.<p>
Just my .002

If you force it in with diverters it will capture wind very well, it will actually spin quite well without them anyways. I've set them aside while cleaning and they will spin like crazy on the ground in a good wind. I've propped them up before just for fun.

tanner0441 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 18, 2012, 03:48:36 PM »

Hi

Many years ago before computers sat on your desk and lived in big rooms on their own we used to have equally big AC units to keep them cool and the basic unit had two or three of those in them pushing air through the evaporator fin block and into the floor duct, and some rooms would have more than one AC unit in them each one doing 2 or more tons of duty.

So look at scrap yards and the internet, also they were mounted on two pillow block and driven by 3 horse motors.

There is a water driven unit on this site somewhere where they are using one of those, but I can't see it working for wind, they are designed to put energy into the air not take it out and a foot diameter is a radius of 6ins it would not have the torque to do much work.

Brian.

tecker · « **Reply #17 on:** March 18, 2012, 05:17:22 PM »

The bigger the better

fabricator · « **Reply #18 on:** March 20, 2012, 06:21:23 PM »

Holy zombie thread Batman!

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Author Topic: VAWT using a squirrel cage blower wheel (Read 21555 times)