Hello everyone!!
New guy here...
It's been a year since I first found this site and posted my first question. Since then, I've only looked without touching....untill a few weeks ago when I started construction on my first turbine. I decided to do a Lenz II.
Not really knowing what I was getting into and out of fear of it self destructing, I think I went with a "robust" design based on a welded steel "space frame" with an Aluminum skinned wings.
The wing construction has 4 steel ribs, welded to 2 square tubing spars and a 3/16" trailing edge section. Then skinned with .030 aluminum.
All of the parts were laser cut. The spars and trailing edges have precut holes for rivets that secure the wing skin...which is was also precut. The ribs have locating tabs that fit into the spars for "dummy-proof" alignment.
All the structure parts in the wing clicked together and were welded.
After painting, they recieved the skins.
The skin was first riveted to the cord spar, then pulled around and riveted to the trailing edge.....then the remaining spar. I was very pleased at how well it worked. I love it when I plan comes together!! In just a few minutes...all 3 wings were done.
I chose to use a stationary spindle with rotating hubs/bearing carriers.
The alternator is the basic twin rotor, 12 pole design that is nicely described on Ed's website.
My first attempt used 8" disks and I had troubles getting the coils packed into the stator in the desired positions. I felt like I was trying to get 10 lbs of stuff into a 5 lb bag. Out of frutration, I abandoned my first attempt, took what I learned and tried again. My next alternator is currently being built on 9" disks. When I burned the disks, I put notches every 30 degrees on the OD which was used to align the magnets. Another attempt to "dummy-proof" everything.
After a quickie with a can of my favorite rust-o-leum...
The rotating assembly was put together:
One of my design goals was to be able to easily change the wings...just unbolt them..and bolt something else in place.
That's where I'm at right now. Behind the scenes, I've nearly finshed the tower. It's made from rectangular steel tubing : 4X4X 3/16" wall. At 18' tall, I'm planning to secure it to the side of my shop wall which is made from concrete block. It should get the Lenz about 4-6' above the roof.
I haven't cast the stator yet...but I was able to wind the coils. I need to make a stator mold.
That's all for now. I'm new to this board and learning the controls as I type...I hope these pics show up OK.
Whattaya think so far??
-Rob
