|
Posted by Ulysses on June 2, 2008, 11:31 am
Please log in for more thread options
>
>
> I am going to build a wind generator using an Ametek PM motor as the
> generator to provide power to my pop-up camper on the beach. Most days
> there is a strong wind, especially during the day.
>
> Most of the designs I have seen use the "Aeromotor" design, where the
> generator is horizontal and it is attached to a propeller...and the
> whole thing is on a swiveling stand. It has to be kept pointed into
> the wind by means of a vane. I though about how this could be
> simplified. The idea of an anemometer came to me. What if you just
> mount the generator vertically on top of a pole, and then make an
> anemometer-style "propeller" using two sticks and four plastic
> funnels (with the narrow part cut of and plugged)? The unit then does
> not have to be mounted on a swiveling stand, and the cord can never
> get twisted up. Such a "propeller" is ultra-simple to build, balance,
> and repair...and CHEAP. Reverse-polarity (ie., the wind starting to
> drive the turbine in the opposite diirection) protection could be
> provided by utilizing a Schottky bridge rectifier, if this feature is
> really needed at all. You would have some loss in efficiency, this
> would result in four diode forward voltage drops....abt 1.2 volts
> total). In the "aeromotor" design, you only need one schottky diode,
> resulting in abt .3 volts drop. My concern about this is that with
> the generator shaft pointed up vertical, water might accumulate on
> the bearing and remain there, not draining off as it does with an
> "aeromotor" design. THis might then ruin a $65.00 motor very quickly.
> Having a disc/ pulley on the generator shaft as large as possible, and
> as close as possible to the motor base would help, but still
> wind-driven rain would soak the bearing. You could also drill an
> aluminum pie pan precisely in the center, and attach this to the shaft
> under the pulley. Then the downward-turned sides of the pie pan would
> provide more shielding from the rain...but still, whatever you do, it
> would be very suceptible to moisture corroding the shaft/bearings.
> Ideas?
It could work so some extent *if* you can produce a high enough voltage at
low rpms. The main problem with that type of propeller design it that it is
more limited on how fast it can turn compared to a turine blade facing into
the wind. I would think you would only be able to extract a few watts with
the anemometer design compared to many times as much power with a blade
turbine. If you get it to work let me know cause I would like to have a
"stealth" wind generator. One Idea I had was to make a Vee-shaped blade
(probably four blades) that would be very streamlined and could collapse
somewhat as the speed increases thus reducing drag.
I doubt it would turn backwards. One of the advantages of using a 3-phase
alternator is that it can turn in either direction because it outputs AC and
is rectified before it gets to the batteries. Making some kind of rain
shield probably would not be too difficult. I would start out with mounting
the propeller on a disc large enough to protect the bearings from direct
contact with rain and make some kind of weather shield below that, over the
motor.
| 
Yahoo! 
Google 
Windows Live 
del.icio.us 
digg 
Netscape 
XML Sitemap