Yep, it's good that it is there and in the mainstream but places like 'mike's windmill shop',and 'build your own PMA generators', etc are the far better places for us DIY guys to go.
More search terms:
hugh piggott
This guy's blades, combined with a high pressure neo magnet generator (you have to put in the right magnets yourself!-typical-DIY), a PMA unit, you can start generating electricity in VERY low wind speeds and get power for 90% of the typical inland wind conditions, instead of the crap that only gives you 'decent' power for some of the higher speeds. Be careful what you buy. For example, the wind generator at Canadian tire only works to give you power about 30-40% of the time if you live in most inland areas in Canada. Almost all of the province of Ontario, for example.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Wind-turbine-ge...oryZ3240QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I'm only doing research at this time, but I'm getting very close to buying this stuff. Very close. And I want to be sure I buy an actual USEFUL generating system, not overpriced stuff that fails to perform. Just as we do here on the forum and know for a fact that all audio equipment is not created equal, so all wind generators are not created equal. The understanding I have been forced to come to, after over two years of research.....It is possible to successfully genetate tons of electrical power in low wind areas, IF... IF.. you choose the correct low speed windmill generator design. The right unit will give you about 4-6x the energy return of the Air-x unit on Canadian tire's site, if you choose and build the correct low wind speed unit, and cost less than the air-x unit.
Stay away from the commerical units unless you can get them at cost, or realy know what you are doing and have the money to throw at what is more of an experiment than a real attempt to get off the grid. Or to at least protect yourself from the grid's issues and coming issues. If you spend the right $1000 right now, for example, tied around a bit of fun effort, you can almost get off the grid!!! Seriously, you can get halfway there, and build yourself a system that will give you power, when everyone else goes down.
For example, a CV transformer of decent size (2-4kVA) from sola can be found on ebay for practically pennies, and this will be costly at first, (it will eat a bit of your generated power) but it will allow you to use a modified sqaure wave generator, at first, and pump out clean sine waves. Modified square wave inverters are cheap and common. Save your big bucks until you are set up (up and running) for a proper clean sine-wave inverter. The sola tranny will still be useful-even then.$100-200 for the inverter, and maybe $100-125 for the CV transformer,and you've got a clean 1500-2500 watts worth of sine waves. Keep the stuff as back ups in case of main failures, after you switch over to serious sine wave inverters.
There is a guy who as selling 200 watt windmill generators on fleaby a while back, I'm looking for his stuff now, as it worked in 1mph winds! He had videos to prove it and show it, with a viritual farm of other windmills right beside it, all stalled, and his new design spinning merrily away. This is what I mean about getting power in low wind speed areas, which is most of the North American Continent.
There is lots of solar technology that is imminent that will reduce the costs of going solar to a large degree. Different 'focusing' and 'stacking' technologies. When we get our injection molding system up and rinning, for example, I can run clear plastics through it and create my own fresnel systems for focussing the light into my cells. I'm putting off making my solar panels until I can take advantage of using the injection and blow moulding set up to make lenses for pennies. I even have all the correct UV additives, etc,and knowledge, right in the factory, to pull off the manufacutre of a long life lens design.
More search terms:
hugh piggott
This guy's blades, combined with a high pressure neo magnet generator (you have to put in the right magnets yourself!-typical-DIY), a PMA unit, you can start generating electricity in VERY low wind speeds and get power for 90% of the typical inland wind conditions, instead of the crap that only gives you 'decent' power for some of the higher speeds. Be careful what you buy. For example, the wind generator at Canadian tire only works to give you power about 30-40% of the time if you live in most inland areas in Canada. Almost all of the province of Ontario, for example.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Wind-turbine-ge...oryZ3240QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I'm only doing research at this time, but I'm getting very close to buying this stuff. Very close. And I want to be sure I buy an actual USEFUL generating system, not overpriced stuff that fails to perform. Just as we do here on the forum and know for a fact that all audio equipment is not created equal, so all wind generators are not created equal. The understanding I have been forced to come to, after over two years of research.....It is possible to successfully genetate tons of electrical power in low wind areas, IF... IF.. you choose the correct low speed windmill generator design. The right unit will give you about 4-6x the energy return of the Air-x unit on Canadian tire's site, if you choose and build the correct low wind speed unit, and cost less than the air-x unit.
Stay away from the commerical units unless you can get them at cost, or realy know what you are doing and have the money to throw at what is more of an experiment than a real attempt to get off the grid. Or to at least protect yourself from the grid's issues and coming issues. If you spend the right $1000 right now, for example, tied around a bit of fun effort, you can almost get off the grid!!! Seriously, you can get halfway there, and build yourself a system that will give you power, when everyone else goes down.
For example, a CV transformer of decent size (2-4kVA) from sola can be found on ebay for practically pennies, and this will be costly at first, (it will eat a bit of your generated power) but it will allow you to use a modified sqaure wave generator, at first, and pump out clean sine waves. Modified square wave inverters are cheap and common. Save your big bucks until you are set up (up and running) for a proper clean sine-wave inverter. The sola tranny will still be useful-even then.$100-200 for the inverter, and maybe $100-125 for the CV transformer,and you've got a clean 1500-2500 watts worth of sine waves. Keep the stuff as back ups in case of main failures, after you switch over to serious sine wave inverters.
There is a guy who as selling 200 watt windmill generators on fleaby a while back, I'm looking for his stuff now, as it worked in 1mph winds! He had videos to prove it and show it, with a viritual farm of other windmills right beside it, all stalled, and his new design spinning merrily away. This is what I mean about getting power in low wind speed areas, which is most of the North American Continent.
There is lots of solar technology that is imminent that will reduce the costs of going solar to a large degree. Different 'focusing' and 'stacking' technologies. When we get our injection molding system up and rinning, for example, I can run clear plastics through it and create my own fresnel systems for focussing the light into my cells. I'm putting off making my solar panels until I can take advantage of using the injection and blow moulding set up to make lenses for pennies. I even have all the correct UV additives, etc,and knowledge, right in the factory, to pull off the manufacutre of a long life lens design.
Hi KBK,
I just want to give you a warning about the stuff being sold on the hydrogen Appliances website. That sight is full of more half truths and outright lies than any I have seen in a while. I own part of a small company that specializes in low RPM permanent magnet DC generators (windstreampower.com). We were also the manufacturer of small wind turbines for over 20 years. The re-used GM alternator idea is fine and dandy, but it is not the most efficient method. About getting power from a 1mph wind. I say, show me. And I don't mean some picture or video on the web. Show me. It is not realistic withing the known laws of physics. The amount of energy in wind is a function of the square of the velocity. The slower the wind the less the power in it. At that speed there isn't enough power to overcome bearing friction, let alone generate power. Most of the time the reason there is no power under 7 mph is that is the amount of force needed to overcome the cogging in the generator being used. Withoug going to a field would generator, where you use electromagnets powered by the generator, a slotless design, (as in the new SWW Skystream), doing some funky fet switching on and off of the poles (which we are playing with). It is basically impossible to get anything out of wind under 7 mph with a small machine. 3 mph is the slowest I have heard of anything running at, it the power was virtually useless.
My suggestion is to pick up Paul Gipe's book "Wind Power". It is pretty much the bible of wind energy. It will give you a good idea of what has been done and what works and why.
DaveM
I just want to give you a warning about the stuff being sold on the hydrogen Appliances website. That sight is full of more half truths and outright lies than any I have seen in a while. I own part of a small company that specializes in low RPM permanent magnet DC generators (windstreampower.com). We were also the manufacturer of small wind turbines for over 20 years. The re-used GM alternator idea is fine and dandy, but it is not the most efficient method. About getting power from a 1mph wind. I say, show me. And I don't mean some picture or video on the web. Show me. It is not realistic withing the known laws of physics. The amount of energy in wind is a function of the square of the velocity. The slower the wind the less the power in it. At that speed there isn't enough power to overcome bearing friction, let alone generate power. Most of the time the reason there is no power under 7 mph is that is the amount of force needed to overcome the cogging in the generator being used. Withoug going to a field would generator, where you use electromagnets powered by the generator, a slotless design, (as in the new SWW Skystream), doing some funky fet switching on and off of the poles (which we are playing with). It is basically impossible to get anything out of wind under 7 mph with a small machine. 3 mph is the slowest I have heard of anything running at, it the power was virtually useless.
My suggestion is to pick up Paul Gipe's book "Wind Power". It is pretty much the bible of wind energy. It will give you a good idea of what has been done and what works and why.
DaveM
good stuff. I like to reaserch stuff before I buy it. Since I don't quite know all this stuff yet, I haven't bought anything! Yet....
I di understand the motor/generator issues, it's the wind issue I ahve not quantified yet, in particualr, the subject you ahve touched in, which is the translation of that to what it means to attempting to torque a generator. I'm starting to get it, a bit. My problem with their video, was they were using the 'smoke' from the guy's cigarette to show oyu that the wind was moving slowly. Except they failed to give you enough footage to estimate that wind speed. Disingenuous, is the term, I believe.
The one I was really interested in, (the disingenuous one) was a unit that seems to be all about low power at maximums, but is able to continue to turn at low wind speed, and at least generate SOME power, which is better than none. Maximum output is rated at 200 watts, so low start up resistance is indicated. That was the unit that was on my short list for first purchase to take a closer look at wind power.
I'm about to go and take a look for that book you spoke of, and to take a look at your site.
I want the big tethered baloon shaped like a horizontially situated rotor, in the sky. This particular unit is an up and coming design out of the Ottawa, Ontario, Canada area. It seems like one of the better idea's I've come across, but aircraft might find it to be an issue. It always produces power......
OK. Now that I've looked at the site, I'm supposed to do the "buddy-buddy, hey you know me, where's my discount" crap. Nice try.
Well, need any Screen materials for your HT? Or, any seconds? B-Stock? Re-furbs? I'll take those in a heartbeat.
I'm so cheap, I needed mercury for an experiment, and I went and collected it from 100 underhood light switches on dead Fords in a wrecking yard, today. Man, that's not good. I gotta get off that cheapo thing. Next time, or maybe soon, I'm getting it from the chemical supply house. Although, I d rather use the thermometer replacement material, the Gallium eutectic mix that's all the rage. One heck of a lot less toxic. Anyone here know where to get it cheap?
I di understand the motor/generator issues, it's the wind issue I ahve not quantified yet, in particualr, the subject you ahve touched in, which is the translation of that to what it means to attempting to torque a generator. I'm starting to get it, a bit. My problem with their video, was they were using the 'smoke' from the guy's cigarette to show oyu that the wind was moving slowly. Except they failed to give you enough footage to estimate that wind speed. Disingenuous, is the term, I believe.
The one I was really interested in, (the disingenuous one) was a unit that seems to be all about low power at maximums, but is able to continue to turn at low wind speed, and at least generate SOME power, which is better than none. Maximum output is rated at 200 watts, so low start up resistance is indicated. That was the unit that was on my short list for first purchase to take a closer look at wind power.
I'm about to go and take a look for that book you spoke of, and to take a look at your site.
I want the big tethered baloon shaped like a horizontially situated rotor, in the sky. This particular unit is an up and coming design out of the Ottawa, Ontario, Canada area. It seems like one of the better idea's I've come across, but aircraft might find it to be an issue. It always produces power......
OK. Now that I've looked at the site, I'm supposed to do the "buddy-buddy, hey you know me, where's my discount" crap. Nice try.
Well, need any Screen materials for your HT? Or, any seconds? B-Stock? Re-furbs? I'll take those in a heartbeat.
I'm so cheap, I needed mercury for an experiment, and I went and collected it from 100 underhood light switches on dead Fords in a wrecking yard, today. Man, that's not good. I gotta get off that cheapo thing. Next time, or maybe soon, I'm getting it from the chemical supply house. Although, I d rather use the thermometer replacement material, the Gallium eutectic mix that's all the rage. One heck of a lot less toxic. Anyone here know where to get it cheap?
Hi KBK,
I've not seen the ballon one you are talking about. There have been a ton of ideas tried. Some of them are really creative and ingineous. I mean that, really good ideas. unfortunately there is often a little bit of something missing from making them really work as promised. The thing to think about when you say max of 200 watts is one large spot light is 200 watts. 2 standard light bulbs. 1/3 of the power to drive a 36" TV. 1/8 of the power to drive your microwave. You get the picture. Take a peek at your electric bill and see how many Kwhours you use a month. That is the total number of watts * the hours they were being use. That will give you an idea of how much you can make when your 200 watt machine at max power running continuous only makes 33.6 kw hours a week. That is assuming max output all the time. At 11 cents per Kw Hour (my local rate) you would be saving less than $12 per month. Not nothing, but that is the absolute max.
The thing that really stood out to me was the description of the voltage regulator they sell. "100% efficient" Impossible. Simple physics, impossible. There needs to be something monitoring the current. It will need to draw some power. They can be made very efficient, but 100% is not doable in this reality. I also liked the inverters they sell on ebay. The call them "military grade". Hmmmm, if you are selling them, then that means that the military didn't buy them. I wonder why? They all have the manufacturer info taken off, but then one even has their label stuck on there.... crooked. Fitting indeed. By the way those are modified sine wave inverters and are no good for a serious system. If you want to drive the likes of a good stereo and or computer you should really have a true sine inverter. They are not cheap, and there is no way around them. I wish it was simple, but alas it is not.
Anyway, drop me a line at work (dmelichar "at" bowlescorp.com) if you have any questions or just want some advice, I'd be glad to help. Maybe I can even help you out with pricing if there is something we deal in that you need.
DaveM
I've not seen the ballon one you are talking about. There have been a ton of ideas tried. Some of them are really creative and ingineous. I mean that, really good ideas. unfortunately there is often a little bit of something missing from making them really work as promised. The thing to think about when you say max of 200 watts is one large spot light is 200 watts. 2 standard light bulbs. 1/3 of the power to drive a 36" TV. 1/8 of the power to drive your microwave. You get the picture. Take a peek at your electric bill and see how many Kwhours you use a month. That is the total number of watts * the hours they were being use. That will give you an idea of how much you can make when your 200 watt machine at max power running continuous only makes 33.6 kw hours a week. That is assuming max output all the time. At 11 cents per Kw Hour (my local rate) you would be saving less than $12 per month. Not nothing, but that is the absolute max.
The thing that really stood out to me was the description of the voltage regulator they sell. "100% efficient" Impossible. Simple physics, impossible. There needs to be something monitoring the current. It will need to draw some power. They can be made very efficient, but 100% is not doable in this reality. I also liked the inverters they sell on ebay. The call them "military grade". Hmmmm, if you are selling them, then that means that the military didn't buy them. I wonder why? They all have the manufacturer info taken off, but then one even has their label stuck on there.... crooked. Fitting indeed. By the way those are modified sine wave inverters and are no good for a serious system. If you want to drive the likes of a good stereo and or computer you should really have a true sine inverter. They are not cheap, and there is no way around them. I wish it was simple, but alas it is not.
Anyway, drop me a line at work (dmelichar "at" bowlescorp.com) if you have any questions or just want some advice, I'd be glad to help. Maybe I can even help you out with pricing if there is something we deal in that you need.
DaveM
Just a couple links about windmills,off-grid,etc..
(don't think they were mentioned yet..ya might have already seen them.)
http://www.otherpower.com/
And thier forum:
http://www.fieldlines.com/
Lots of info 😉
(Edit: There are some good groups on Yahoo also!)
(don't think they were mentioned yet..ya might have already seen them.)
http://www.otherpower.com/
And thier forum:
http://www.fieldlines.com/
Lots of info 😉
(Edit: There are some good groups on Yahoo also!)
Hey Digital Junkie,
Thanks for those links, The otherpower.com is a really good site. These guys are really doing it all themselves and have a good design and concept that will work. I have looked into this site and gone through their methods. Sound info for a DIY'er. 7' blade diameter, 300 watts. Reality.
The only thing to be concerned about with these designs is to make sure that the bearings you use are tight and way overbuilt. If and when the bearings start to wear out, there becomes variation in the magnet gap. That means that sooner or later the magnets will start to chew on the wiring. Not a good design if you plan to sell them to consumers who don't maintain things. Perfectly fine for a DIY'er who will change the bearings before the machine eats itself.
DaveM
Thanks for those links, The otherpower.com is a really good site. These guys are really doing it all themselves and have a good design and concept that will work. I have looked into this site and gone through their methods. Sound info for a DIY'er. 7' blade diameter, 300 watts. Reality.
The only thing to be concerned about with these designs is to make sure that the bearings you use are tight and way overbuilt. If and when the bearings start to wear out, there becomes variation in the magnet gap. That means that sooner or later the magnets will start to chew on the wiring. Not a good design if you plan to sell them to consumers who don't maintain things. Perfectly fine for a DIY'er who will change the bearings before the machine eats itself.
DaveM
A year ago, I started the process by purchasing a weatehr station that has the capacity to recored wind speeds as well. I figure that's the place to start. Asess the local conditions.
According to the reason why they ahd the summer olymics here in 1976, the wind is good. I also live in what could be considered the higest part of the city area. I don't know how much longer I will be living here, but I want to have a few 400-600 watt units lying about if I have the urge to emply their 'insurance' along with my solar cells, in in this current world 'situation' if you know what I mean. Fortune favors the prepared. It's plusses all around, no matter what goes on. I blow off lots of chas in other ways, whay not this. I still gotta put together some of my approx 3000 watts worth of 3x6 1.35watt soalr cells. Don't wanna be thinking i of waht to solder with, when the lights are out. my quick and painless insurance policy is wind generators. No-one is doing it 'right' in the entire local area. It might be up to me to step up to the plate - and like a drug dealer with a habit, use it to fund my personal efforts. That's one way to learn, as I'm not about to buy an air-x from these guys. look at the price:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortme...4443281868&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true
That's Canuckistanian pricing, but the differences are not that great these days. 10-12% less in US $. about $699US.
I learn very fast and usually have to tell people to tell me only once, and to "speed up the information dump, please. Thank you."
Just found this a few minutes ago:
On the average, winds reach their highest speed during November in the Kingston area and during February in the Cornwall area. Wind speeds from all directions average near 20 kilometres per hour with the highest value in the range 25-30 kilometres per hour from the southwest. Summer wind speeds are generally 8-10 kilometres per hour lighter than during winter. Over the park, winds average 15-18 kilometres per hour from the southwest and would occur 40 to 50% of the time. The strongest winds experienced in the region will occur with thunderstorms during the summer.
According to the reason why they ahd the summer olymics here in 1976, the wind is good. I also live in what could be considered the higest part of the city area. I don't know how much longer I will be living here, but I want to have a few 400-600 watt units lying about if I have the urge to emply their 'insurance' along with my solar cells, in in this current world 'situation' if you know what I mean. Fortune favors the prepared. It's plusses all around, no matter what goes on. I blow off lots of chas in other ways, whay not this. I still gotta put together some of my approx 3000 watts worth of 3x6 1.35watt soalr cells. Don't wanna be thinking i of waht to solder with, when the lights are out. my quick and painless insurance policy is wind generators. No-one is doing it 'right' in the entire local area. It might be up to me to step up to the plate - and like a drug dealer with a habit, use it to fund my personal efforts. That's one way to learn, as I'm not about to buy an air-x from these guys. look at the price:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortme...4443281868&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true
That's Canuckistanian pricing, but the differences are not that great these days. 10-12% less in US $. about $699US.
I learn very fast and usually have to tell people to tell me only once, and to "speed up the information dump, please. Thank you."
Just found this a few minutes ago:
On the average, winds reach their highest speed during November in the Kingston area and during February in the Cornwall area. Wind speeds from all directions average near 20 kilometres per hour with the highest value in the range 25-30 kilometres per hour from the southwest. Summer wind speeds are generally 8-10 kilometres per hour lighter than during winter. Over the park, winds average 15-18 kilometres per hour from the southwest and would occur 40 to 50% of the time. The strongest winds experienced in the region will occur with thunderstorms during the summer.
Hi,
the wind power companies originally used a factor of about 0.3 to 0.4 for the average yearly output vs the maximum output if on load at full power full time.
It now turns out the companies are reporting load factors in the range 0.2 to 0.25.
I would really like a UK based wind power generator to join our forum and lambast me with real data, They seem to be very secretive.
Why would they want to hide the real data?
Well maybe something to do with the subsidy they get from all the consumers who pay a surcharge on their non-green power to pay the windies to produce uneconomic /unsustainable green power.
If the numbers are worse than the original submissions, government may give them up as a lost cause and put money where it belongs; wave and TIDAL power.
During periods of low demand the excess power is used in pumped storage (hydro in reverse) until peak demand comes along. There are going to be an awfull lot of artificial lochs in Scotland if this ever gets off the ground.
the wind power companies originally used a factor of about 0.3 to 0.4 for the average yearly output vs the maximum output if on load at full power full time.
It now turns out the companies are reporting load factors in the range 0.2 to 0.25.
I would really like a UK based wind power generator to join our forum and lambast me with real data, They seem to be very secretive.
Why would they want to hide the real data?
Well maybe something to do with the subsidy they get from all the consumers who pay a surcharge on their non-green power to pay the windies to produce uneconomic /unsustainable green power.
If the numbers are worse than the original submissions, government may give them up as a lost cause and put money where it belongs; wave and TIDAL power.
During periods of low demand the excess power is used in pumped storage (hydro in reverse) until peak demand comes along. There are going to be an awfull lot of artificial lochs in Scotland if this ever gets off the ground.
About the Air X... now please temper this defense with the understanding that I really hate the things. They are noise, and don't make enough power to be worth the tower investment in my mind. For that $700 US you get a turbine with a warrantee that you don't need to mess with, that won't self destruct in a storm and that has a highly sofisticated electrical controll built in. No regulator or charge controller needed. Now, I participate in selling these things and should be here shouting their praises, but the realities are what they are. If I was going to put up a tower, I would do it once and do it right. With the cost of towers it is worth putting up one large turbine and being done with it. Of course the issue with this is that if there is no power to be had from the grid, when that one goes down you've got nothing.
KBK,
Follow this link and take a peek at this new machine.
http://www.skystreamenergy.com/skystream/
This machine was designed to be grid intertied, and operate in low wind. They have gotten enough funding from outside sources (investors and government) that they have been able to buy tooling to bring the cost down. SWW is really the first company that has been able to invest in tooling to produce small wind machines cheaply. The true verdict is out on the Skystream, but we are on the list to get one, and we plan to set it up outside our office. With our windspeed it will be more of a demo than a real power producer, but right now. Anything we can do to make people aware of the possibilities of wind is a good thing.
With your 20kph wind speed I don't think there is any way you are going to make alot of power with wind. On the spec sheet of the skystream you will see what a 1.8kw turbine does at 20 kph~12.5 mph. That translates to about 400kwh per month or a 600 watt average output. The speed of the wind makes all the difference in the world.
On the topic of the big machines and why the utilities don't talk about why they are only getting .2-.3 of the rated power, why would they. Unlike a nuclear/natural gas/coal power plant, we don't have any control of the input power source. I would guess that new hydro installations don't make what they are projected either. Engineers who work in managment tend to be very optimistic about what their product can do. To the point of lying. I've seen it too many times. These machines are rated for their max output. That means optimal wind all the time. Not the real world. All we should care about is how much power are they making. How many tons of CO2 are they keeping out of the air? Things like wind turbines are subject to so many variables that it is near impossible to know how much you will really get out of one until it is in place. Wind measurements make for good approximations, but with changes in weather patterns... who knows what is going to happen? certainly not me.
DaveM
KBK,
Follow this link and take a peek at this new machine.
http://www.skystreamenergy.com/skystream/
This machine was designed to be grid intertied, and operate in low wind. They have gotten enough funding from outside sources (investors and government) that they have been able to buy tooling to bring the cost down. SWW is really the first company that has been able to invest in tooling to produce small wind machines cheaply. The true verdict is out on the Skystream, but we are on the list to get one, and we plan to set it up outside our office. With our windspeed it will be more of a demo than a real power producer, but right now. Anything we can do to make people aware of the possibilities of wind is a good thing.
With your 20kph wind speed I don't think there is any way you are going to make alot of power with wind. On the spec sheet of the skystream you will see what a 1.8kw turbine does at 20 kph~12.5 mph. That translates to about 400kwh per month or a 600 watt average output. The speed of the wind makes all the difference in the world.
On the topic of the big machines and why the utilities don't talk about why they are only getting .2-.3 of the rated power, why would they. Unlike a nuclear/natural gas/coal power plant, we don't have any control of the input power source. I would guess that new hydro installations don't make what they are projected either. Engineers who work in managment tend to be very optimistic about what their product can do. To the point of lying. I've seen it too many times. These machines are rated for their max output. That means optimal wind all the time. Not the real world. All we should care about is how much power are they making. How many tons of CO2 are they keeping out of the air? Things like wind turbines are subject to so many variables that it is near impossible to know how much you will really get out of one until it is in place. Wind measurements make for good approximations, but with changes in weather patterns... who knows what is going to happen? certainly not me.
DaveM
Hi,
the difference with Hydro power, is one can store the water and use it when increased demand materialises. You don't have to use the scarce water resouce in times of low demand.
Wind Power does not have that flexibility.
However wind, hydro and pumped storage together do form a synergistic system. But the capital cost is enormous. Can we afford power at any cost?
the difference with Hydro power, is one can store the water and use it when increased demand materialises. You don't have to use the scarce water resouce in times of low demand.
Wind Power does not have that flexibility.
However wind, hydro and pumped storage together do form a synergistic system. But the capital cost is enormous. Can we afford power at any cost?
The cost of power would not be so bad if we didn't spend all our rescources on a military industrial complex. I live in Vermont, and the best paying jobs in my area are building bombs, building military helicopters and IBM. Scarry that the only ones growing and hiring in the past several years are the military contract jobs.
Personally when I look around and see the number of $40,000+ cars driving around getting less than 25 mpg, I see that power is still far too cheap in the US. Americans will not change until it is too late. Without some government intervention we will run until the tit has run dry. I think that $10/gal would make SUV owners pay attention. 10,000 square foot houses would not be a good investment any longer.
Look at the billions being spent by the Bill Gates foundation on Aids. Now that is good work and truly working for the betterment of humanity. But to ask if we can afford to fund alternative energy. Of course we can. We just don't choose to. Oil won't be cheaper for vey much longer with the global environmental impact and global politics.
DaveM
Personally when I look around and see the number of $40,000+ cars driving around getting less than 25 mpg, I see that power is still far too cheap in the US. Americans will not change until it is too late. Without some government intervention we will run until the tit has run dry. I think that $10/gal would make SUV owners pay attention. 10,000 square foot houses would not be a good investment any longer.
Look at the billions being spent by the Bill Gates foundation on Aids. Now that is good work and truly working for the betterment of humanity. But to ask if we can afford to fund alternative energy. Of course we can. We just don't choose to. Oil won't be cheaper for vey much longer with the global environmental impact and global politics.
DaveM
There are over 4000 patents that have government-military inspired 'gag orders' slapped on them. Ie, black ops, and government intervention.
The inventors of said devices, or discoverers of differing 'effects' and physics, have been told that they cannot use their patents, or tell anyone about them, and if they do......well.
In essence, the technology has been around for quite some time, in multiple ways and formats, to completely kill all possible issues with energy production. Virtually..overnight.
It's just that the US military (and whomever is connected to them) wants all those toys for themselves.
So if you have something that will work, don't patent...PUBLISH. As far and wide as possible, at the initial point. Before you get slapped down.
For example, magnetic resonance motors are easy to build. They work beautifully.
41,700hz, with water, for example. Works well too. (explosive deconstruction)
Contrary to popular belief, brute force and ignorance is not required to break molecules apart, plants have been transmutatimg metals at room temperature or less, for untold millions of years. These are accepted facts, and used in modern cutting edge research. It's incredibly old news, if you look in the right areas.
The inventors of said devices, or discoverers of differing 'effects' and physics, have been told that they cannot use their patents, or tell anyone about them, and if they do......well.
In essence, the technology has been around for quite some time, in multiple ways and formats, to completely kill all possible issues with energy production. Virtually..overnight.
It's just that the US military (and whomever is connected to them) wants all those toys for themselves.
So if you have something that will work, don't patent...PUBLISH. As far and wide as possible, at the initial point. Before you get slapped down.
For example, magnetic resonance motors are easy to build. They work beautifully.
41,700hz, with water, for example. Works well too. (explosive deconstruction)
Contrary to popular belief, brute force and ignorance is not required to break molecules apart, plants have been transmutatimg metals at room temperature or less, for untold millions of years. These are accepted facts, and used in modern cutting edge research. It's incredibly old news, if you look in the right areas.
DaveM said:About the Air X... now please temper this defense with the understanding that I really hate the things. They are noise, and don't make enough power to be worth the tower investment in my mind. For that $700 US you get a turbine with a warrantee that you don't need to mess with, that won't self destruct in a storm and that has a highly sofisticated electrical controll built in. No regulator or charge controller needed. Now, I participate in selling these things and should be here shouting their praises, but the realities are what they are. If I was going to put up a tower, I would do it once and do it right. With the cost of towers it is worth putting up one large turbine and being done with it. Of course the issue with this is that if there is no power to be had from the grid, when that one goes down you've got nothing.
KBK,
Follow this link and take a peek at this new machine.
http://www.skystreamenergy.com/skystream/
This machine was designed to be grid intertied, and operate in low wind. They have gotten enough funding from outside sources (investors and government) that they have been able to buy tooling to bring the cost down. SWW is really the first company that has been able to invest in tooling to produce small wind machines cheaply. The true verdict is out on the Skystream, but we are on the list to get one, and we plan to set it up outside our office. With our windspeed it will be more of a demo than a real power producer, but right now. Anything we can do to make people aware of the possibilities of wind is a good thing.
With your 20kph wind speed I don't think there is any way you are going to make alot of power with wind. On the spec sheet of the skystream you will see what a 1.8kw turbine does at 20 kph~12.5 mph. That translates to about 400kwh per month or a 600 watt average output. The speed of the wind makes all the difference in the world.
On the topic of the big machines and why the utilities don't talk about why they are only getting .2-.3 of the rated power, why would they. Unlike a nuclear/natural gas/coal power plant, we don't have any control of the input power source. I would guess that new hydro installations don't make what they are projected either. Engineers who work in managment tend to be very optimistic about what their product can do. To the point of lying. I've seen it too many times. These machines are rated for their max output. That means optimal wind all the time. Not the real world. All we should care about is how much power are they making. How many tons of CO2 are they keeping out of the air? Things like wind turbines are subject to so many variables that it is near impossible to know how much you will really get out of one until it is in place. Wind measurements make for good approximations, but with changes in weather patterns... who knows what is going to happen? certainly not me.
DaveM
I'm aware, overall, of allthe 'general' issues, I've been toying with the subject and reaserching it for years, but only recently bought the cells, for example.
I'd buy many small windmills, and the wind is increased in level by a factor of about 3 and increased in stability of that level, by a factor of about 3 again, in the winter months. Windy, cold. Which is why I wanted a mixed system. Wind and solar.
I'd like to develop a completely different type of device, that I won't go into, but it was based on heat exchange.
http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?article_id=218392647
So we can power our Hi-Fi with cheese!!
I declare "slit cheese" public domaine. (no eddy fungus).
Also, perpetual cheese, bar any resistive mice.
So we can power our Hi-Fi with cheese!!
I declare "slit cheese" public domaine. (no eddy fungus).
Also, perpetual cheese, bar any resistive mice.
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