Homebrewed Electricity > Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What tail size should I use? How much should it weigh?

(1/2) > >>

WindJuggler:
The size of the tail on the windmill determines how fast the windmill seeks the wind direction.

A general rule of thumb for the length of the tail boom is 60% of the length of the windmill diameter.
The weight of the tail determines the cutout or furling speed of the windmill. The more weight, the longer it will stay in the wind.

Related Stories . . .
http://fieldlines.com/board/index.php/topic,143615.0.html
http://fieldlines.com/board/index.php/topic,143616.0.html
http://fieldlines.com/board/index.php/topic,139513.0.html
http://fieldlines.com/board/index.php/topic,140577.0.html
http://fieldlines.com/board/index.php/topic,138264.0.html
http://fieldlines.com/board/index.php/topic,137182.0.html
http://fieldlines.com/board/index.php/topic,140197.0.html

coldspot:
Size ?
General rule of thumb-
20% of the rotor size

windy:
Is 20% the correct figure? For my 16 foot diameter blade, that only comes up to 3.4 square feet. That seems quite small. Any comments?

windy

DanG:
check your math - 16' diameter = 201.06193 square feet area....

windy:
 I was taking rotor size as the diameter.  I tried 20% of the 16 foot rotor sweep area which comes out to 40 square feet but that seems quite large. That would be a 4'x10' sheet. I looked at Dan B's book, Homebrew Wind Power and he states that "The tail vane should cover at least 5 percent of the swept area of the blade for this design". That was for a 10 foot diameter blade. Five percent of the 16 foot sweep area is 10 square feet. Correct me if I am wrong.

windy

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page