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Forum Index : Windmills : What do you think?
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builtbyrag Newbie  Joined: 03/12/2007 Location: United StatesPosts: 2 |
I am new to all of this and looking at a DIY project. As such my experience and knowledge is limited in this area (although I am a quick learner and grasp concepts). I am thinking outside the box, so here is what I propose. We use a whole house fan to cool the house down @18hrs a day for about 5-6 months. This 36", 5 bladed fan pushes 11,224 cfm on hi/7660 on lo, from the house out thru the attic. I think the air speed is 38 mph on lo and 56 on hi......though I could be wrong. I would like to set up another 5 bladed fan above the electric one(600 watt/7.3 amp on hi 300/4.5 on lo). Use the air flow to turn my turbine. 1- Would this 5 bladed steel turbine hold up to the force to turn the the generator? 2- The wind speed is fairly high, so will this be a problem? 3- I would like to tie this back into the grid. 4- This setup will be in the attic so noise wont be a problem for the neighbors, but will it be so for us in the house? 5- As this is my 1st test, I dont want to break the bank. But would like to maximize the value of the this wind source....if it makes sense. Any other advice is welcome. I am putty in your hands so mold away. RAG |
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GWatPE Senior Member  Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
Question, do you pay for the energy to run the fan? The only way what you suggest could help you is if someone else paid for the energy to run the fan and then you were able to extract energy from the wind it created to run a generator that enabled you to sell some of this power back to the grid. You would then benefit at the expense of someone else. This would not be renewable energy, even though it may be free to you. become more energy aware |
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| builtbyrag Newbie Joined: 03/12/2007 Location: United StatesPosts: 2 |
I am using the fan to cool down the house, so yes I am paying the bill. My thinking was to put to use the hot air that is being generated by the fan in the process. How is this different than using the wind from the outside? It is constant, one direction and has enough speed. We use it about 18 hrs a day for 6 months. Is that not enough to pay back the cost of the wind generator and then cut energy costs? RAG |
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| GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
I think Gizmo and others have posted comments elsewhere WRT what you are trying to do. become more energy aware |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
Nah. If you put a windmill in the air stream from your blower fan, then your blower fan will need to work harder, and that means more power used, and more you pay to run that fan. Your windmill wont recover this extra power ( trust me, do the maths ) needed by the blower fan to drive the windmill in the first place. Windmills do take energy out of the moving air mass, so you need to put this energy into the air mass before you can take it out. A windmill outside in the wind is taking energy out of natures air movement, even if only a relatively small amount. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
Thanks Gizmo, I knew you could put it in better words than me. cheers, Gordon. become more energy aware |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
Its funny how often this sort of idea pops up. We had one recently where someone wanted to put generators on the wheels of his vehicle, and use the power generated to drive a electric motor to help drive the vehicle foward. I shows you are thinking out side of the box, and thats a good thing. But its not until you really think it through and take all forces into account that you realise its a actually a step backwards. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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vasi Guru  Joined: 23/03/2007 Location: RomaniaPosts: 1697 |
 this cycle is like a compensation to working things from here. Anyway, I think is a starting sparkle for everyone  (when I was child, I made a sketch with a electric motor connected to a bicycle dynamo, both on same axle - never built but not because I was too smart ). Is like a reflex.
The good news is: the things are WORKING! Not that way but are working. Motor is spinning when connected to a electrical source, alternator generate electrical power when is spinning. First steps... and more to come Hi @builtbyrag, You are in TheBackShed hands? If yes, then you are in good hands. Take your time to read entire forum. It helps a lot. It have everything: tehnical stuff, jokes, little fights, etc. Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton Elvish name: Mablung Miriel Beyound Arduino Lang |
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