| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Aaron Cake |
Posted - Mar 25 2007 : 11:05:28 AM
As I was driving back to London from Seaforth Ontario this Friday, I just happened to see the blades of a new wind turbine peaking out from over the trees. After a rew minutes of looking I was able to find an obscrure highway leading to the access road. The turbine was quite new and still not active, and the crew working on the site was happy to let me snap a few pictures of the car with the turbine in the background. The pictures are much like those in the Honda Insight brochure the dealers used to hand out. The only real shame is that the Insight is unable to tap all this clean power.
I could not get any techical detail out of the crew as to the output of the turbine but I did learn that it is a privatly funded installation that's going to be used as a test bed for future turbines in the area.
Everyone has seen pictures of these turbines but unless you stand beside one, you can't grasp the scale of how big they actually are. This turbine is 100 metres tall and the blades are almost 30 metres each.
Download Attachment:  Side View Of Insight With Turbine Over Hood.jpg
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Download Attachment: Insight At Base Of Turbine Rear View.jpg
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Download Attachment: Insight At Base Of Turbine Side View.jpg
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| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| CurrentOverflow |
Posted - Oct 03 2007 : 07:25:29 AM
69kv????? i hope you don't have squirrels down there :P |
| rtpj |
Posted - Oct 03 2007 : 03:55:56 AM
we have similar installation here in philippines, province of ilocos norte. tech spex are as follows:
2 MW capacity for each unit
output voltage of 3phase, 600 VAC stepped up to 13800 V to 69 KV transmission line.
tip blade speed is 120 kph
with tilting blade to control wind speed and following YO? principle to oscillate and face the direction of wind current.
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| jord4231 |
Posted - Apr 25 2007 : 08:00:39 AM
Hey Dave,
Thanks mate,
Yerp it was a Fisher and Paykel motor I used from a washing machiene I cut the coils and modified it to put out lower voltage.
I have a diagram of how I modified the orignal motor if your interested.
Jord
quote:
Originally posted by Timber
quote:
Originally posted by jord4231
I made wind generator a few years ago out of a rewired 3phaze motor and huge pcv storm water pipe cut up for the blades,
It worked quite well but problem was I never had enough batterys to store power I just had a single car battery I used it to run lights and a old car radio for my work area one day we had a really strong wind and the nut on the blades came loose guess I should have used a lock nut  never got around to puting it back togeather. I'll dig out the photos if any ones interested
Hi Jord,
That looks like a nice motor to use for a generator.
Is that one of those Fisher and Paykel motors, by chance.
Maybe a washing machine motor?
I really like the Radial Flux design of these.
These are one of the truely best motors to convert easily.
I bet that would REALLY work well with some Neo Magnets replacing the original ones!
Good Job, especially for only being 17 at the time.
I was 50 when I made my first working generator ... hehe
Dave (aka Timber)
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| Aaron Cake |
Posted - Apr 23 2007 : 09:23:22 AM
In order to switch, you can do it very quickly (a few milliseconds). Most devices will hand a very fast switchover, which is the basis of how offline UPSs work.
The simplest mechanism would be a DPDT relay with it's coil connected to mains. One set of contacts to mains, the other to the wind/solar inverter. Anytime mains is available the solar/wind inverter is mechanically switched out of the circuit. Doesn't solve the problem if the grid is down, though. |
| Timber |
Posted - Apr 22 2007 : 3:00:24 PM
Hi Aaron,
That's why you have the charger, it always backs the UPS or AE system and supplies constant power to the inverter, should the batterys not supply that power.
You would, of course, need to be able to switch directly to grid for system maintenance. (i.e. swapping out batteries, terminal cleaning etc.)
I wonder what's the best way to switch that over without having any downtime, (a seamless switchover, you might say). |
| Aaron Cake |
Posted - Apr 22 2007 : 10:59:04 AM
I'd need to be able to switch between grid sources and self-generated sources if there is not enough wind/sun. |
| Timber |
Posted - Apr 21 2007 : 5:54:22 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Aaron Cake
... it would have to be tied to the grid as well I would hate to backfeed the grid and kill someone working on the line...Canadian Tire actually sells this stuff now and the inverter isn't that expensive.
I don't think you would need to tie it to the grid if you didn't want to. The only way it would be "tied to the grid" is by taking power from the grid, just as your toaster takes power from the grid (in other words you plug the charger in to get power out)
Have you never made an electronic device that is powered from the grid?
The charger would only output DC to your battery bank and suppliment DC to your inverter. Anything on the AC side of the inverter would be kept isolated from the grid (i.e. a separate circuit or extension cord for that matter).
You DO have a very good point though, we certainly don't want to charge up our friends down the wire! Perhaps a UL Approved charger would be best. As for the inverter, yup, they're pretty cheap.
Maybe I can talk you into making some solar panels ... there are some pretty good deals on ebay for cells these days. I think the hardest part of that would be making a nice sealed case that will last under the constant, harsh, outdoor conditions of heat, rain, freezing etc.
As for the genny, if you've got a lathe, your in business.
If not, you'll need to grind, grind, grind like I did. Boy what a mess that makes in the shop, I made the mistake of having some Neo Magnets nearby and was picking grinings off of them for days ... hehe.
At any rate, it's a project probably worth doing ... if for no other reason than to have a nice UPS that will carry you through a stormy day when the lines are down from the wind.
Keep us posted if you decide to power your site with AE though, we love to hear about that stuff! |
| Aaron Cake |
Posted - Apr 21 2007 : 10:40:59 AM
I'd probably look seriously at purchasing the charger/inverter instead of building it. Since it would have to be tied to the grid as well I would hate to backfeed the grid and kill someone working on the line...Canadian Tire actually sells this stuff now and the inverter isn't that expensive. |
| Timber |
Posted - Apr 20 2007 : 6:21:57 PM
Hi Aaron,
You should seriously consider it.
It's a bit of an investment initially, but would suppliment your power requirements.
You say you would need 300W continuously ...
... I look at it this way:
Use both Solar and Wind, have as large a battey bank as you can(perferably true deep cycle batteries).
Use a good 3-stage charger (or use an inverter that has a charger built-in) to keep the batteries maintained.
If you had two Wind Turbines and perhaps 150W in Solar Panels, there would be days that you are getting your 300W for free (less initial costs, of course). Other days (and nights ... with wind) you might not get more than 50W ... but it constantly will suppliment.
I know darn well that I would be lucky to break even in my investment into solar panels, batteries, charger, inverter etc. but there is something very rewarding about building a system, using it, tweaking it, adding to it and even watching it work that is truely priceless.
(... but I know you already know this)
Why Heck Arron, I have absolutely no doubt that you could build your own charger and inverter, maybe even put together your own solar panels, convert a high voltage/low rpm 3-phase with some Neos ... I am not quite so talented as all that myself (I had to purchase some of my system, but I sure have had a lot of fun learning and putting this little system together one piece at a time.
Caution: The AE fever is serious and very addicting (and may cause permenant hair loss)! ... but is sure is fun ... |
| Aaron Cake |
Posted - Apr 20 2007 : 09:29:04 AM
That's a great turbine! For years I've thought about mounting solar panels on the south facing roof, and installing a small turbine on the garage. The only problem is that I don't know what to do with the power generated.  Powering this website would be cool but of course the requires a steady supply of about 300W... |
| Timber |
Posted - Apr 19 2007 : 8:40:23 PM
quote:
Originally posted by jord4231
I made wind generator a few years ago out of a rewired 3phaze motor and huge pcv storm water pipe cut up for the blades,
It worked quite well but problem was I never had enough batterys to store power I just had a single car battery I used it to run lights and a old car radio for my work area one day we had a really strong wind and the nut on the blades came loose guess I should have used a lock nut never got around to puting it back togeather. I'll dig out the photos if any ones interested
Hi Jord,
That looks like a nice motor to use for a generator.
Is that one of those Fisher and Paykel motors, by chance.
Maybe a washing machine motor?
I really like the Radial Flux design of these.
These are one of the truely best motors to convert easily.
I bet that would REALLY work well with some Neo Magnets replacing the original ones!
Good Job, especially for only being 17 at the time.
I was 50 when I made my first working generator ... hehe
Dave (aka Timber) |
| Timber |
Posted - Apr 19 2007 : 5:26:59 PM
Greetings,
New here, but have always liked your site Aaron!
Just love the way you bring those fun projects to life!!
I found your site years ago when I was trying to build a Bio-Feedback monitor.
I think I ended up using your "Lie Detector" circuit.
Didn't know you had a forum until today, so I joined up.
Here is one of my favorite projects.
Download Attachment: PVC_in_Action.jpg
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Here's my Permenant Magnet Single phase conversion ...
It was a 120/240V single phase with starter windings.
I squared off the armature to accept the Neo Magnets rewired the windings and get two phase ... about 50 Watts in 15mph winds.
Lots of trees around, so it's not too efficient ... but it works to help keep two 6VDC AGM Deep Cycle golf cart batteries charged.
Download Attachment: BladeSet2.jpg
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PVC Blades (10" Sch 40 PVC)
Download Attachment: Bolt_Array.jpg
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Sandwiched the blades together using some truss plates
My blades finally broke after about a year and a half. It was cold and very gusty high winds. Design flaw, these blades were too narrow at the root as you can see above. I'll make some more this Summer.
They sure did work well though, would start up at 4mph wind and start generating at around 6-7mph.
I also have a couple of small solar panels to supplement.
It's an ongoing project ... |
| marks256 |
Posted - Apr 03 2007 : 5:38:01 PM
I don't get out much.  |
| SpaceBison |
Posted - Apr 03 2007 : 10:58:49 AM
quote:
Originally posted by marks256
[quote=SpaceBison]Buffalo Ridge? Nice place, been through that area a couple of times.
Nope. Southern Minnesota, USA.
[/quote]Yep, that's Buffalo Ridge.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/novdec03/wind.html |
| jord4231 |
Posted - Apr 03 2007 : 08:23:39 AM
quote:
Originally posted by cyclopsitis
Nice pics Jord! Did it work well?
K
Thanks mate :)
Yeh it generated a lot of power during strong winds I just never had the time or money when I was 17 to buy batterys and make a good voltage regulator for it,
I wish I could find the better quality pictures of it, I'll keep hunting.
During strong winds where I actully got concerned it would take off and fly away I connected a 12v 100w halogen globe to slow down the blades and eventully it burnt out I guess this was also because it was unregulated, that bulb got extremely bright some times I ended up connecting the thing up to a car battery and ran a old car stereo and a few lights from it.
Jord |
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