Wind turbine Intro: Difference between revisions

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{{Category=Wind energy}}
#redirect [[Wind Turbine]]
 
{{ToolTemplate|ToolName=Wind turbine}}
 
Open Source Ecology is involved in researching, developing and building open-source technologies for clean, local electricity-generation. As well as [[:Category:Solar Power|solar power]], we like wind power. Wind power or solar or both may be appropriate, depending on local materials and local weather conditions.
 
Specifically, we are interested in open-source designs for a wind turbine that can provide electricity for a small community. Small wind turbines like this are usually 7 feet (2m) to 25 feet (7.6m) in diameter.
 
 
==Existing open-source wind turbines==
Several wind turbines have already been open-sourced and it should be possible to use them for the [[Global Village Construction Set]]:
 
*[http://www.applied-sciences.net/library/zoetrope.php '''Zoetrope'''] is a vertical-axis wind turbine made from common materials such as stove pipe, metal brackets, plastic sheet and a trailer hub. Generates about 150-200W in winds of 20mph (32km/h). [http://www.applied-sciences.net/library/data/zoetrope-wind-turbine.pdf Construction Guide]. The major parts are: [http://69.175.14.181/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22_30&products_id=175&osCsid=11bdc6671edf38fcc578ca1da051f8d8 parts kit for $159] (unless you could order one from a Fab Lab/ a hackerspace with a water-jet cutter), [http://www.amazon.com/2x1x1-Turbine-Generator-Neodymium-Magnets/dp/B0012DIXE4 24 neodymium magnets for $140], [http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hubs-and-Drums/Dexter/34822BX.html?feed=npn trailer hub for $26]. There are also a bunch of pieces like nuts and bolts, but those are the main one, and come to $425 excluding shipping.
*[http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_wind.shtml OtherPower.com] have several complete plans for wind turbines that can be built at home. Their site has -
**[http://www.otherpower.com/turbineplans.shtml Complete plans for a 10 foot (3m) turbine] that puts out 100W in 10mph (16km/h) winds and 700W in 25mph (40km/h) winds.
**[http://www.otherpower.com/bigmills1.html Design of a 14 foot (4.25m) turbine] that does 200W in 10mph (16km/h) winds and 1500W in 25mph (40km/h) winds. This is the record of a project rather than a replicable open-source design.
*[http://www.velacreations.com/chispito.html '''Chispito''' Wind Generator]. Chispito is made from recycled/salvaged materials, completely open-source with clear instructions and designed for simplicity. Open-source instructions for building both the turbine and the tower are available. Each turbine generates about 100W; most people seem to use a bunch of them. It could be made even more OSE-friendly if someone 3D-scanned the blades so they could be digitally fabbed. It would also be nice if the blades could be built larger or smaller, though in effect, you can scale by changing the number of turbines.
*http://www.scoraigwind.com/ has a lot of information on wind turbines, but no fully open-source plan
*[http://www.scoraigwind.com/pmgbooklet/itpmg.pdf Open source alternator] for wind turbines
*[http://www.onawi.org Onawi] is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing open-source wind turbines. No signs of progress yet, but watch this space.
 
==Vertical-axis, horizontal-axis, airborne, and kite generators==
The first design decision we have to make is which kind of wind generator best suits our needs
 
===[[Vertical Axis Wind Turbine|Vertical-axis wind turbines]]===
[[File:Pac_wind.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Pacwind VAWT Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Seahawk]]
Verical Axis Wind Turbines or VAWTs offer a number of advantages over traditional horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs). They can be packed closer together in wind farms, allowing more in a given space. This is not because they are smaller, but rather due to the slowing effect on the air that HAWTs have, forcing designers to separate them by ten times their width. VAWTs are rugged, quiet, omni-directional, and they do not create as much stress on the support structure. They do not require as much wind to generate power, thus allowing them to be closer to the ground. By being closer to the ground they are easily maintained and can be installed on chimneys and similar tall structures.
 
In addition, by being closer to the ground, VAWTs have the ability to take advantage of the tunnelling effects of small buildings and structures (provided the structures are build close enough) small VAWTs are also used in corners of buildings (usually the corner of a balcony).
 
Although VAWTs are not as efficient as HAWTs they are considered more reliable and much easier to maintain. One disadvantage of the VAWT is that the blade that moves ''into the wind'' also moves ''against'' the wind, slowing down the turbine. This could be addressed by a shield that adjusts to the direction of the wind and covers the blade that moves into the wind. This could be done with some kind of vane. However, this would complicate the design significantly, incl. bearings for the shield. So this may not be worth it ... probably easier to just build more VAWTs or build them bigger. But who knows ? Come up with a good sail/shield design and this might be just the breakthrough that VAWTs have been waiting for.
 
A good step by step guide can be found on [http://www.instructables.com/id/VAWT-Lenz-type-Stage-1-Converting-wind-power-to-/ this link]: a small Savonius wind turbine that takes advantage of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venturi_effect Venturi effect].
 
There is a small scale printable VAWT on thingiverse http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6899
 
===Horizontal-axis wind turbines===
 
===Airborne wind turbines===
A turbine attached to a lighter-than-air ballooon, such as being developed by [http://www.magenn.com/ Magenn]. I think we can reject this as too complex and too experimental for our purposes.
 
===Kite generators===
A high-flying power kite tethered to a generator on the ground. The kite tugs on the tether, which spins a turbine and generates electricity. All the machinery can be kept at ground level; only the sail is airborne. This allows for easy maintenance.
 
We can probably buy an off-the-shelf power kite. [http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/397570670-Kite-Power-Kite-Sport-Kite-5sqm-Sail-Area-Power-Tricktion-Kite-Quad-line-Control-wholesalers.html Here] is a 5m<sup>2</sup> one for $166. [http://www.virtualvillage.com/Items/003300-010 Here] is a 2.7m<sup>2</sup> one for $14. [http://www.powerkiteshop.com/ozone_method.htm This] seems to be a top-of-the-range one - it's $600 for 6.5m<sup>2</sup>. Alternatively, we could try to build our own kite.
 
This would need to be attached to the open-source [[electric motor]] we're designing, and a microcontroller. The control will be the main design challenge.
 
==References==
* [http://www.peswiki.com/index.php/Review:Homebrew_Wind_Power Homebrew Wind Power], Dan Bartmann and Dan Fink, Buckville Publications LLC., released: January 1, 2009, 320 pages,
ISBN: 978-0981920108.
 
== See also ==
* [[Wikipedia:Wind turbine|Wind turbine]]
* [[Wikipedia:Wind turbine design|Wind turbine design]]
* [[Wikipedia:Small wind turbine|Small wind turbine]]

Latest revision as of 16:55, 13 September 2011

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