Three Wind Generator plans and info

[Daddymem]

CHISPITO WIND GENERATOR
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
DIY 1000 watt wind turbine

How much wind do you need to make a return on these?  Any place that has some kind of wind maps like the solar maps out there?

[Amanda_931]

The middle one is for students to build.  

And while the vertical axis ones like that--well, those not made from a tin can--may be the ones most suitable for low winds and roof mounting, that one is kind of a educational toy.  

The Chispito one mentions 30 mph winds.  Not a gale (that's 45 mph) but it might be enough to trigger "wind warnings on area lakes."

Somebody a few years back had a book, and originally also kits, for some fluttery nylon things that could be used, in the small sizes as yard ornaments or possibly mole repellers, but in the bigger ones could be used for power.  Not even quite sure how to look it up any more.  If it's still there.  All it was was the part that turned.  You got to add your own works to generate electricity.

Might also look here, for a bigger VAWT (I just learned that--Vertical Axis Wind Turbine )

http://www.windstuffnow.com/main/vawt.htm

Bergey has wind maps on its site: http://www.bergey.com/

I'm looking at it but from the url it looks like you have to find it on the site directory.  Bear in mind that sometimes wind is very very local.  An acquaintance from Kentucky--in one of the areas marked white for "fuggedaboudit"--says that he had friends with wind generators that worked well because there was a venturi effect between two hills.

[glenn kangiser]

Bergey is the one I use and Amanda took care of the map situation there.

Other wind info.

http://www.poormansguides.com/
windmill

http://www.scoraigwind.com/
Hugh Piggott - Scoraig Wind Electric

http://www.fieldlines.com/
the Otherpower.com Discussion Board  Make your electricity from scratch!

I don't know if you make a return on any of these  but in my case, anything I gain is good. I get some wind most mornings and afternoons probably 25 to 33% of my power from wind and nearly all stormy or cloudy or night power comes from wind.

Power production starts about 7 mph and max output I think is about 25.  Lots of info on Bergey.

[Daddymem]

Bleh...Looks like I'd need to be 50 m in the air for my Wind Power Class 3 based on the bergey maps then.  Figured I'd check it out since there has been a lot of interest in wind lately around here.  We got one in the next town over at Mass Maritime and they want to put a farm in Nantucket.  

[glenn kangiser]

For good payback that could be true, but if you were using it and needed a pretty good boost of power or power during storms or night then you would still get a good benefit - Compare where I am to where you are - I'm not in the best area but it is a great help.

I'm at 85 feet - 100 would be better or more would be even better.  It blows up there many times when it is calm on the ground.  You need to be about 30 feet above the tallest trees also to get away from turbulence- for best operation.

[Amanda_931]

Am I right in thinking that the wind turbines with the blades--like the Bergey are wonderful if you can put them up out of the turbulence, but the, ahem, VAWTs are probably better for home use, especially if you are going to have to roof-mount them?  Less noise, don't mind the wind coming from everywhere, etc.?

[Daddymem]

Here's google video of a rooftop design:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1604098739706419266

[glenn kangiser]

I don't see that ventilator turbine having enough power to put out more than a few watts.  I don't think I would want a wind generator of any type anywhere on my roof.  Harmonics will go right through the building and roust you out of bed.

The Bergey is supposed to be back from the ridge a bit but all I have is ridge from either side so I get some buffeting from turbulence when the wind hits the mountain and comes up from underneath, but most of the time it has no problem.  

I haven't played with any of the VAWT's but would think they do better close to the ground.



Interesting DIY site - http://windstuffnow.com/main/

Has a little on VAWT too.

Found the other one I wanted to post.

http://www.i4at.org/lib2/windturb.htm



Lots of other cool stuff there - check it out.

http://www.i4at.org/library.html
Appropriate Technology Library

[Amanda_931]

Hmmmm.  That drawing in Glenn's post might have either the best of both standard wind turbine and VAWT or the combined worst of them.

Closer to the ground--yep, what I would have thought about the VAWTs--maybe not so subject to winds changing direction all the time.  And just maybe not make the whole roof sing.

And no need to deal with a tower.

[Amanda_931]

This turned up on Treehugger today.

I've seen something else that used the "roof effect" to boost the power of a wind turbine--too lazy to look it up right now, but I don't think it was this one.

Reputedly "inaudible" (whatever that means in this case) on the roof.

These guys thought they would be in real production last spring.  This has never happened before!  Not ever.  (On the plus side, their web-site has been updated this year--but then so has the sun-cube's) 

Since the last time.  Still waiting on the Sun Ball or Sun Cube.

I don't have any wind to speak of here, can hear it blowing down the valley in the treetops.  It has its good points, a thunderstorm would have to be coming out of either the north or the southeast to blow me around much.  Both are possible, but not all that common.  Open field up the hill might be worth exploring.  But probably with a tall enough tower that it would run into small aircraft problems--Life-Flight goes nearly overhead, for instance.

http://mag-wind.com/

the treehugger story

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/magwind_vertica.php

* Productivity: 1100 kWh/month in a 13 mph average wind
* Name Plate: 5 kW rated output in 28 mph wind at sea level with 80% relative humidity.
* Cut-In Speed: Less than 5 mph.
* Top Speed: Greater than 100 Mph.
* Economics: Fully burdened cost over 10 years is 3.5 cents per kW.
* ROI: If current bill is $300 per month or more, then ROI 3 years or less.
* Maintenance & Operation Costs: Minimal
* Deployment: Rooftop Urban or Rural Setting.
* Total Estimated Production Run 2006: 3,500 Units
* Production Units Ready Spring 2006