Idea: Low Wind Generator using Friction Roller

[eformx]

Have a look at...http://www.survivalunlimited.com/windpower/frictionroller.htm .  I was thinking of placing a wheel against a TDM shaft to increase RPM at slow wind speeds (5 to 10 mph).  The wheel mounted would to a shaft.  The shaft supported by  a few pillow blocks or a flange bearing.  The prop connected to the front of this shaft.  Like so...

SSS

    )

--)-)

    )

--}

Where the first bracket is the wheel, the set of 3 brackets represent the prop. The 3 S's represent a 5 Watt Solar Panel mounted on top of a case that houses the Wheel and TDM. The curly bracket represents the TDM.  The wheel resting against the TDM.  Has anyone tried this?  Pictures?  Will it actually increase RPM at low wind speeds.  

Inside the case the wheel/prop will reside above the TDM.  The Solar Panel will provide that extra voltage/current on windless sunny days.

Thoughts?

[skravlinge]

If you got the torque to do it any way of gearing up the speed will work.

[domwild]

Hi,

Previous posts suggest a problem with this type of setup. The suggestion is that the friction is a problem with a friction roller, i.e., too much resistance. Better to use bicycle gears and chains or Vee belts. Have not tried it myself. On ecoinnovation's website there was a picture of a homebrewed hydro setup with dual Fisher & Paykels being driven by an overshot wheel with bicycle gears. That picture may no longer be there.

dominic

[jacquesm]

friction => loss... pure and simple.

Best possible is helical gears, second best is probably a heavy duty timing belt (it sure is a lot cheaper than helical gears!). Expect to lose a few watts in your drivetrain anyway, and expect any cogging or friction in your alternator portion to be multplied by the same ratio that your gearring speeds it up, so unless you have an extremely low friction alternator you will see reduced low wind performance rather than increased (because it will take more wind to start the machine moving).