Wind Power - Various

[glenn-k]

Maybe not practical but does demonstrate other uses of wind power.

http://www.videosift.com/story.php?id=10398&where=index

[glenn-k]

Wind power for buildings - wonder if they do something to eliminate possible harmonic vibration problems?

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/wind%20power/

[Amanda_931]

Curious.

It might make the sound/vibration worse.  Especially if that is an office park sized building there.

The wind turbine part has a fin on it to make it swivel, but I don't see how it does--tilt maybe.

....later....

Aha, it doesn't have to swivel, it turns in wind going up the building.  Just saw it on Treehugger.  And it's only 60 pounds--so that's not a photoshop or equivalent illustration up on a 35-story office building--bars are spaced to keep birds from getting sliced.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/10/miniwind_turbin.php

[glenn-k]

My wind generator is louder at low speeds due to harmonic vibrations in the tower - probably set up by the permanent magnet generator.  As the wind picks up it gets quieter.  This is a problem with mounting a wind generator on a building.

[Amanda_931]

But would a handful of little (relatively speaking) ones be less--or more--likely to have the problem.

a) they might cancel each other out

b) they might cause strange "audio moire" patterns (I think I invented the term, but if I'm bothered by tinnitus, a fan motor going nearby sometimes morphs into distant music or newscasts--no tinnitus or no fan, then I don't get the effect).  I suspect that two fan motors might have the same effect).

[Sassy]

b) they might cause strange "audio moire" patterns (I think I invented the term, but if I'm bothered by tinnitus, a fan motor going nearby sometimes morphs into distant music or newscasts--no tinnitus or no fan, then I don't get the effect).  I suspect that two fan motors might have the same effect).

Well, it's good to know that I'm not the only one who hears music or newscasts when there's a fan on...  :-/

[Amanda_931]

We cool!

8-)

[glenn-k]

WoW-- get down mamma --- Hey Amanda and Sassy -- I've got an idea -- how about we hook up a little amplifier to you guys and we can boogie to a little of that music going off inside your heads.  --Think I have a few voices to chip in. :-/

I haven't run two wind generators together yet but Bergey says that two running make very little more noise than one.  Running on a pole away from the house they make a fairly pleasant noise most of the time.  The harmonic noise is not too bad but you wouldn't want it randomly vibrating through your walls if you were trying to sleep.

[benevolance]

Glenn

I guess the noise the wind generator makes will be music for your dancing as you make that George Bush fund raising video...

And remember...No matter how sexy the girl or what she promises you....never, ever shave the wheels....Bad story...

[glenn kangiser]

I'm not even gonna ask. :-/

BTW - Peter - did you get a chance to check out the wind robot in the video - first post -- that guy must be quite a mechanical genius.

[benevolance]

Dude,

I watched that video...Bad music and all... but the machine was ingenius! I am not sure exactly how it works..I think I have some of it figured out...But truth be told I had to watch it several times and sketch some of it out and work on the problem of what made it go on paper and in my mind...

It is mind boggling that one guy came up with this from scratch

I say we send his robot to Mars...at least it would go forever as there is plenty of wind there....

[glenn kangiser]

I understand it is not precision machined or anything like that.  I saw a long crankshaft with multiple throws on it in one part.  It doesn't seem like there is a lot, if hardly any sail area-- maybe just the wind acting on the body of it is enough.

The guy has many more including one weighing 2 tons capable of transporting 7 people.  Interesting stuff.  Do a search on his name for more.