TDM with barrel blades

[FishbonzWV]

This is just great!  

I watched old glory standing straight out from the flag pole for three days in a row so I thought I would hustle up and get some blades made. So I piddled in the garage a couple of nights and finally had this thing together. Threw up the door and carried it outside to hold it into the wind.  

 Aghhhh

 Not a wisp of wind!

Three days now Forecast... winds light and variable 1 to 2.

Aghhhh

Don't laugh too loudly this is my first try and I've got plenty of barrel left!

The blades are 32" and a hub of 10".

I did get a bit of breeze maybe 3 to 5 and they actually turned fast enough to not see each blade. I'm just wondering if the blades will straighten out with a good blow.    

Come on mother nature...tease me !

Bonz

[FishbonzWV]

Oh yea,

Just read picksters post about formula and plugged the data in.

W = .0012 x d^2 x mph^3

W = .0012 x 36 x 0

w = 0

Yep that's right on the money!

[Ungrounded Lightning Rod]

Looks to me like momma nature's going to bust those puppies off the hub the first time she sneezes.

You need a second support some distance ALONG the blade to support it against wind loads trying to push it parallel to the hub.

I'd move the blades in until they're almost to the center and put a third screw there.  Better yet, use a bigger hub disk to get the outer support further out, too.  The more the separation, the more the strength.

Remember:  Those blades get pushed about as much as a solid circllar sail of the area they sweep - but all that force is on those three little arms.

[tecker]

Look out for dabreeze flying

[wooferhound]

OK ,  I only laughed softly

Looks like a pretty thin walled barrel your cutting on there. I'm going to have to agree with Ungrounded Lightning Rod on this too. you don't have enough Length screwed down there. Maybe if the hub end of the blades were pointed and mounted toward the center more and get it screwed down a coupla more times along the length of the blade where it's touching the hub.

The blades look so thin that they can't even hold thier own weight up. Not to mention a 25 mph wind Bending them back to the point that they are not effective anymore.

I don't know if you know the first rule of wind power, but you are discovering it

Rule #1 - When you put up your wind turbine, there will be 3 days of no wind.

Keep on experimenting and let us know how it's working and what your up to.

[MelTx]

   Welcome to the plastic blade club.I was working on my double rotor mill today and messed up so much,I had to lie down and sleep for 3 hours.I still got a tape drive motor like yours,I am going to work on that tomorrow maybe the pain between my ears will subside some.....Good luck on your project.           MelTx

[bobanne]

im another plastic blade experimenter and i have to say they are quick, cheap and readily available from plumbers offcuts, but i have made 3 blades from 10 mm walled pipe and they feel very strong at a diameter of 1.8 metres. i have shaped them as a normal blades with root down to tip as best as can be done with only 10 mm thickness and they are on a f & p smart drive im am just about to put her up on a 7 metre tower and i will post the outcome. it must be remembered and i am sure there are many experienced windies out there that will tell you that these blades will at some time in high wind hit the tower and shatter hopefully when no one is around it will only be a matter of time. flexibility is great but control is better.

Bob

[FishbonzWV]

Okay, moved the blades in and added another bolt.

Still no wind but forcast for 5 to 10 tomorrow. If these "self furl" too much I'll have to go to farm to check if some of the other barrels are thicker.

I hooked this thing up to a battery to see how fast it would turn and was amazed at how slow it turned. If cut in speed is two or three times this speed it just might produce some power without having to be a buzz saw.

 

Thanks for the tips.

Bonz

[wooferhound]

That's quite a collection of motors you have there.,.,.

Maybe you could just take 2 of those blades and glue or bolt them together to make it stronger.

[gonedrovin]

What is a "Tape Drive"?

[gonedrovin]

I need to ask..over here (Australia), a barrel is one of those wooden things with iron hoops that they put wine in. Is there some sort of plastic 50 gallon drum or something you blokes call a barrel?

Gonedrovin

[ghurd]

Yes.  35, 50 or whatever, gallon drum.

A tape drive motor is a PM gennerator as it is.  Read the Otherpower homepage and Search the board for 'TDM'.

G-