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Forum Index : Windmills : blade spin direction
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| dazz Regular Member  Joined: 15/04/2008 Location: Posts: 78 |
here's probably a really dumb question if I've overlooked an obvious answer. Is there a preferred spin direction for wind generators? i.e. facing the blades with the shaft behind, is it better to design the blades so it spins clockwise or anti-clockwise? If it doesn't matter then do most spin one way or the other, or is there just a general mix out there of both ways? |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
Hi Dazz This is a good question. When the windmill furls ( turns out of the wind ) or yaws quickly, the gyroscopic forces make the turbine want to tilt back or foward, depending on the direction of turbine rotation. As the turbine shaft is fixed on the horizontal, the gyroscopic fores act on the blades themselves, causing them to bend. Now depending on which way the turbine is spinning, this may cause the blades to bend back enough to hit the tower. Now I dont know which way the turbine should bend, or if its affected by your location on the globe, north or south, maybe someone else can help with that one. Another thing to consider is if you plan to put up more than one windmill, windmills spinning in opposite directions looks really stupid! Been there, done that. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| dazz Regular Member Joined: 15/04/2008 Location: Posts: 78 |
Thanks Glenn, Neither of those two had occured to me. I thought the second was quite apt, but hillarious 
I was mostly thinking shaft nuts having RHT/LHT and making the thing spin so such nuts didn't undo. that sort of thing |
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GWatPE Senior Member  Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
Hi Dazz, my setup has no nuts on a shaft etc. The windmill alternator stator is bolted to the yaw box. The yaw box has a trailer stub axle with a crown nut. The blades have 3 individual bolts to the rotor. Direction of rotation makes no difference. The F&P in std config has splined shafts. I don't see a problem here. If you use a tapered shaft there is a possibility of nuts working loose, or binding. I hope this helps... Gordon. become more energy aware |
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| dazz Regular Member Joined: 15/04/2008 Location: Posts: 78 |
thanks Gordon. So what you are saying is that the job just needs sensible design  I can live with that! |
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WineGuy Newbie  Joined: 16/04/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 10 |
Here's what I think I remember from Physics class. I believe that the clockwise turning produces a force away from the face, whereas a counter-clockwise motion produces a force toward the face. We did an experiment using a flat stick with a nail through the center of it, kind like a small helicopter. Spin it one way, it drops lick a rock, spin it the other way, and it flies (not very well, but it flies). So the clockwise rotation tends to push the blades toward the generator (mounted behind the blades) where counter-clockwise would tend to pull them off the shaft. Sure wish I was smart instead of so darn cute! |
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| brucedownunder2 Guru  Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548 |
I better stay away from this one ,eh? Bruce Bushboy |
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| dazz Regular Member Joined: 15/04/2008 Location: Posts: 78 |
why Bruce, whatever do you mean |
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Gill Senior Member Joined: 11/11/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 669 |
Those interested, Do a search of this forum for the topic: Furling Bicycle I reckon this is what WineGuy is referring to. And good to see Bruce is behaving himself at last 
Gee that gave me a laugh. was working fine... til the smoke got out. Cheers Gill _Cairns, FNQ |
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Bryan1 Guru Joined: 22/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1457 |
Well guy's with my new genny I'm making it's a complete oppsite to Glenn's design, where the blades will spin anti clockwise and the furling will from left to right. This project is only costing me time and very little cash so yes it will be interesting to see how it performs. I have my 80sp to use which did survive the last blade failure and put it this way the yanks get their blades going clockwise and as we are on the otherside of the world 'aving our gennies going anti clockwise would be the right way to go.
Cheers Bryan  |
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