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Forum Index : Windmills : Low cost trubine for Africa
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| alternativeidea Newbie  Joined: 23/06/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 2 |
Hi all, I am working with Sustainable Resources Ltd. (http://www.sustainableltd.org/)to develop a low cost wind turbine for use in rural Malawi. I was hoping to pick your brains as I am new to wind turbines (although I have got a lot of great info from this site). Material availability and cost are the biggest constraints of the design. At this point it is unclear what materials will be available. Jan Snyder of Sustainable Resources Ltd. will be in Africa for the month of July and I would like to put together a rough proposal with design flexibility that can be discussed with locals and those who will be building the turbines. Given wind speeds (2-10m/s at a height of 2m), cost and materials, a Savonius type wind turbine made from 55 gal. drums seems to be a good place to start. Most likely a single pole stabilized by guy wires will keep it up in the air. Most likely charging a car battery. Some questions: Bearings- Do you have any ideas for simple yet effective bearings that can either be made or sourced from scrap i.e. a car etc? Something weatherproof or immune to weather, dust, etc. Depending on the height of the turbine maintenance may be an issue. Generator- I have read that a car alternator could be rewired to work at the low RPMs of this turbine. This is not ideal from an efficiency standpoint, but do you think it is appropriate for this application VS a handmade axial flux? With the axial flux does one need the neodymium magnets or would a standard magnet be sufficient to induce a current? Links to a simple axial flux how to? Links to rewire an alternator how to? I will have Jan keep an eye out for a F&P motor (my fingers are crossed). I would also like to have him be able to identify a scrapped electric motor that would make a good generator. Easy to spin by hand until you short the wires correct? Are there any other signs to look for? Probably will not have any type of electrical control system or regulator… any ideas for a simple way to wire a light to turn on when the battery is charged? A Savonius is self regulating in high winds correct? I really appreciate any help, input and comments, as do the Malawian people whom it will benefit. Thanks, Kyle |
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vasi Guru  Joined: 23/03/2007 Location: RomaniaPosts: 1697 |
Best links about axial alternators: Scratch Built Axial Field Alternator - with Neo magnets. Microwave Wind Generator - with ceramic magnets. How to build blades - HAWT turbine. VAWT Turbine and Construction Details Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton Elvish name: Mablung Miriel Beyound Arduino Lang |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5119 |
Hi Kyle The humble old Savonius is a good choice for low RPM high torque applications, like pumping water or grinding grain. Efficiency isnt the best, but you have space to spare and can easily build a larger mill or multible mills to allow for their lower power output. They can be built with basic tools and readily available materials ( timber, 44 gallon drums, etc. ). Car axles and hubs make good long lasting bearings. To generate electricity from the low RPM savonius you need a low rpm alternator, like the F&P Smartdrive, but I dont imagine they grown on tree's in Africa. I'm currently testing a Chinese made push bike hub motor, which has a similar power output to the F&P Smartdrive. If these could be sourced at a reasonable cost, they would be a good alternator for the Savonius windmill, using a simple belt drive. Will be interresting to see what the other forum members can come up with. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| alternativeidea Newbie Joined: 23/06/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 2 |
Vasi, Thanks for the good links, that site has lots of info and those alternator how to's will be a helpful resource. I wonder if scrapped microwaves can be found in the main cities...that would be a good source for magnets. Glenn, Thanks for the reinforcement on the Savonius. Yeah, I'm not too optimistic on finding a source for F&Ps... Let me know how the Chinese bike motor turns out though 
Kyle |
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Cornelius Newbie Joined: 26/12/2008 Location: NorwayPosts: 27 |
Are you thinking of those from goldenmotor?  |
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| windman1000 Regular Member  Joined: 21/06/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 91 |
For Low Wind You Could Add In A Transformer On A 3ph PMA, And Hook Up PMA To The Out Put Of Transformer Taps And The Rectifier To The Input taps Of The Transformer. Here Is A Little Data On a MOTECK Motor With No rewireing Of Coils. These Test Were Using 12v Battery Bank For The Load Side Test, And A Industrial 3ph Transformer. --------------------------- no transformer , just motor to rectifier 70 rpms no load 42v-- with load 13.1v 1.9 amps 115 rpms no load 69v-- with load 13.1v 3.1 amps 190 rpms no load 114v-- with load 13.2v 3.9 amps 300 rpms no load 182v-- with load 13.2v 4.3 amps 460 rpms no load 284v-- with load 13.2v 4.5 amps -------------------------- this below is with 3ph transformer input to 520 taps output 115v taps to rectifier 70 rpms no load 8.9v-- with load 8.9v 0.0 amps 115 rpms no load 15v-- with load 13v .8 amps 190 rpms no load 25.4v-- with load 13.3v 8.3 amps 300 rpms no load 40.6v-- with load 13.4v 14.4 amps 460 rpms no load 62v-- with load 13.5v 17.5 amps If You Change the Tap 520 To A Lower Tap Like 420 Your Amps Would Be More But So is The Torqe To Turn Motor. |
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