Author Topic: Volvo dudes 2007 Vawt Challenge (Read 3596 times)

disaray1 · « **on:** January 01, 2008, 05:18:47 PM »

Okay, all you vawt heads! The last day for submission of vawt entries is today!

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2007/10/10/52711/090

Time to make the Volvo Farmer (and Jacquesm and Ron and me) pay up. Who wants to be first? :/

David

PS. Mine made 24 watts in a freak gale...and my hat never left my head. Now to find at least 280 more old hard drives for magnets....

CmeBREW · « **Reply #1 on:** January 01, 2008, 01:42:55 PM »

Well you can keep your mula -- 'cause I failed last year to get even what I would call "a USEFUL design". I did at least get a more consistent 1-10 watts all day long instead of just a brief 25 watt max for a few seconds in a big gust as with my previous method. Hopefully this year I can achieve something more useful. I've learned alot. I am still working on a version of the Lenz2 and a few others. Who knows. They are very fun and intersting.

It was a good challenge.

Yes, Hawts sure are WAY easier to make and easy to get good useful power from. (IF you think you can get away with putting one up that is)

I finally decided (for the time being) to 'risk it all' myself and make and put up a quick 7' diameter PVC (3) bladed Hawt out of a Permanent magnet motor, and even though its down at ground level for temporary testing (6 ft high/ blades about 2 ft from the ground!), in a horribly turbulant location at the corner of my house, and even though the blades are most likey out of balance and need changes and adjustments, it is actually doing pretty good even as is!

Nevertheless, I will keep on experimenting with Vawts.

Have a good year people!

fcfcfc · « **Reply #2 on:** January 01, 2008, 02:50:18 PM »

Hi: Your challenge comes about 2 years too soon. That's about how long it will be before mine is complete, maybe. With a sweep area of 144 sqft though, your power requirements will be pretty easy to hit...

Volvo farmer · « **Reply #3 on:** January 01, 2008, 11:00:01 PM »

Don't fret.

In two years, the gallium arsenide thin film solar panels will flood the market bringing the price down to less than $1/watt.

So even though you will have a nice VAWT in two years, you could supplement it with very cheap solar, once the breakthrough occurs.

coldspot · « **Reply #4 on:** January 01, 2008, 11:58:25 PM »

I wanted to try a "Jumbo" type

But Volvo dude never answered my question

(would this vawt type, {vawt laying on its side}, be allowed?)

So I didn't go ahead with any building.

I'll try one maybe this summer, I do have a mini (11" blade Dia. 3/4" blade width)ready for a "Turbine Tail", using a little stepper and will only run LED's for fun and night view of turbine pointing direction.

ghurd · « **Reply #5 on:** January 02, 2008, 12:25:44 AM »

Didn't someone say the gallium arsenide thin film solar panels would be so cheap and efficient, we could buy them to chop the PVs appart and use the AL frames for nearly free heat sinks?

Might even make a profit scrapping the AL frames?

G-

catweazle · « **Reply #6 on:** January 02, 2008, 12:34:46 AM »

"In two years, the gallium arsenide thin film solar panels will flood the market bringing the price down to less than $1/watt."

Hehehe... You're an evil man...

Thanks for the laugh though.

disaray1 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 02, 2008, 05:59:08 AM »

I'm not laughing. I've heard that also in two years, pigs WILL be able to fly, and at that point, I'm gonna get a bunch of those flying pigs and cover them with the G/A thin film, and tether them with some extension cords to my power shack. With long ext. cords, the pigs can get above the trees and cloud cover and therefore gather 10 or so hours of sun a day. Covered with the film, there's no need to apply sunscreen to the pig. <hand wringing, maniacal giggle>

David

Volvo farmer · « **Reply #8 on:** January 02, 2008, 06:54:50 AM »

I'm sorry I prevented you from building that turbine by not answering the question, some questions slipped by me as the thread got old and dropped off the front page. Hopefully you will build it anyway and post the results in here.

pepa · « **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2008, 07:37:46 AM »

coming soon, just having fun, working at my own pace. pepa

Volvo farmer · « **Reply #10 on:** January 02, 2008, 08:35:26 AM »

For posting pictures of that monstrosity, I hereby grant you a one year extension of the deadline ;-)

TomW · « **Reply #11 on:** January 02, 2008, 09:57:26 AM »

Volvo;

Bravo, A good effort deserves some slack on the timeline.

Cheers.

TomW

feral air · « **Reply #12 on:** January 02, 2008, 09:59:13 AM »

pepa, that's freakin' awesome....and scary.

clarsondd · « **Reply #13 on:** January 02, 2008, 06:58:01 PM »

flying pigs?

that will never work. they have been working on that for decades. Just because they can fly doesn't mean they will. The most you'll get is a few hours of flying time per day. No one has every gotten a pig to fly more then two hours. No way your going to get 10 hours per day. And, whatever you save on the PV will be literally eaten up by your feed costs.

You need to wait till 2012 when the genetic engineered "blowup" pigs are available. They have an oversized bladder. All you need to do is hookup your hydrogen generator, blow them up, and they will float for hours. Really cool if you get the ones that glow in the dark.

You just need to get a solar detector so you can automate blowing the up in the morning and bringing them down in the evening. Your have to be careful in setting the set point on your hydrogen dump controller so they don't come down too fast. Oh yeah, you'll need to size your tail ground appropriately. A netural/ground bonding might work, but i'm not sure. If it isn't sized right, when you get lightning, you'll give a whole new meaning to "blowup" pig. Not the kind of bacon you want to bring home.

There are a few issues that need to be worked out, but they have a few years yet to do that. And, when combined with the methane collector, it is a no brainer.

coldspot · « **Reply #14 on:** January 02, 2008, 11:13:37 PM »

VF-

you didn't do anything but a fun post about working on a tuff project.

"prevented", No

I had many other issues in 2007

But this year will be better, (starting with a little 40' three leg tower,,:))

but,

If i could get

"a one year extension of the deadline"

I'll be starting some new fun things.

Thanks

disaray1 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 03, 2008, 05:59:21 AM »

Clarsondd- I know your just another one of those "nay-sayers" and trying to bring me down from my euphoric state, but it's not gonna work. Blow up pig. Hhmmph. Listen, I've talked to many a pig and it doesn't take much to convince them to do things they wouldn't normally do, especially after a few cocktails. I've even seen them dating University of Alabama football players.

You do bring up an interesting point though about the glow in the dark pig. After they've been floating around up there all day, you could bring them in the house after dark for mood lighting. Thanks for that idea.

Now that I think about it, I do recall seeing an ad for a blow up sheep, in the back of some questionable magazine I was looking at not too long ago. Couldn't figure out what they would be useful for, but I have an idea now....

fungus · « **Reply #16 on:** January 03, 2008, 06:33:46 AM »

Thinking over this one ...high voltage VAWT

(Thats a motor conversion

Volvo farmer · « **Reply #17 on:** January 03, 2008, 07:09:22 AM »

I'm accepting applications on a case by case basis for extension. You should use Pepa's example when submitting your application.

It's only $100, surely this silly contest is not your primary motivation for building a large VAWT?

pepa · « **Reply #18 on:** January 03, 2008, 09:09:33 AM »

its simply two sets of barrols tied togather with three pillow blocks. with the frame it should work verticle on my winch up tower or horizonal on my shop roof ridge. all in fun even if some people think it is a monster. pepa

ZooT · « **Reply #19 on:** January 03, 2008, 11:22:34 PM »

Think I'm gonna' leave this thread and never return if anyone even mentions a dump controller for a flying pig...... 8^P

healerenergy · « **Reply #20 on:** January 03, 2008, 11:33:24 PM »

So does this mean that the deadline for everyone has been extended for everyone. I would like that I think. I have been working on a design which has been morphing continuously for a long time and that recently came together. Now it is time to see if the theory of my design stands up. Now I need to do some research on a few things so my machine will fit into the guidelines which been set. I hope you repost a clear list of all the guidelines so we can stay within them.

George

disaray1 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 04, 2008, 06:06:05 AM »

George-

I think Volvo will grant extensions if you post a few images showing your current progress- and as in the original thread, I will also pay 100 additional clams if the thing is built completely of salvaged stuff. I'll extend this offer (to everyone granted extension by Vman) for an additional year also-- Pepa's machine looks like it could claim both prizes!

David

hiker · « **Reply #22 on:** January 05, 2008, 04:47:23 AM »

hey pepa...

looks awsome..is the bike wheel for a belt drive?

or that chain hanging from the wooden disk?

looks like fun..................................

pepa · « **Reply #23 on:** January 05, 2008, 03:14:01 PM »

hi Hiker, the chain is fixed and works like a sprocket that turns a small sprocket that turns the main pma at about ten to one, and the bike wheel turns three small motors for charging battery packs. the wheel will also turn a bike mph meter. lots of fun, pepa.

healerenergy · « **Reply #24 on:** January 11, 2008, 04:37:50 AM »

I guess I will have to wait till next year because all I have is a collection of scrounged parts with nothing put together yet.

George

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Author Topic: Volvo dudes 2007 Vawt Challenge (Read 3596 times)