Unique Savonius wind turbine

[tractorgp]

Been making some progress on the horizontally oriented Savonius wind turbine. Took this short video today with my tower mounted security camera. I'll post more info as the project progresses. The idea is to see how an "augmenter/overspeed" feature will work.

 

[Redneck in training]

That is a project I will be watching.

 

[otlski]

Are you going to make your own direct drive pm alternator?

 

[tractorgp]

Are you going to make your own direct drive pm alternator?

That is my thought and the design allows for it but this is mainly a test of the augmenter/overspeed control ideas. The turbine is in the "drag" category of turbines so not that efficient but the augmenter feature will (I hope) improve the efficiency somewhat - but I won't have any real way of proving that. This is a fun experiment and in terms of wind turbines it will not be that practical compared to alternative designs.

 

[otlski]

Here is a link to a wayback machine archive of one that was supposed to produce 250 watts. He never produced the kit after his lawyers advised him not to.

https://web.archive.org/web/20070707094504/http://www.picoturbine.com/ptdeluxe-plan10B.pdf

 

[breadtrk]

This is THE way to harness wind energy. Those propeller toys are junk compared to this. This belongs in the wind turbine thread.

 

[tractorgp]

Here is a link to a wayback machine archive of one that was supposed to produce 250 watts. He never produced the kit after his lawyers advised him not to.

https://web.archive.org/web/20070707094504/http://www.picoturbine.com/ptdeluxe-plan10B.pdf

Thanks for the link - will check it out. Don't know why lawyers would advise him not to produce a kit or whatever as the Savonius patents would have run out decades ago.

 

[tractorgp]

This is THE way to harness wind energy. Those propeller toys are junk compared to this. This belongs in the wind turbine thread.

If you mean the thread started by buickanddeere http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/336165-wind-turbine-just-opened-mail.html I wouldn't take a chance. I'd crucified in a blink

 

[breadtrk]

I wasn't brave enough either....

 

[otlski]

He said his lawyer advised about the potential for excessive voltage production. For that you would need high winds, open circuit voltage, be standing in bare feet, in the rain, in the mud... and touch it with your tongue.

 

[BukitCase]

Apparently not that unlikely these days - I had a car windshield sunshade that actually had a sticker on it - "Remove from windshield before driving" sheesh... Steve

 

[tractorgp]

He said his lawyer advised about the potential for excessive voltage production. For that you would need high winds, open circuit voltage, be standing in bare feet, in the rain, in the mud... and touch it with your tongue.

More danger in a bucket flying off

 

[tractorgp]

Here's another video of the Savonius turbine. You can't see it but I have a small mechanical load on the turbine (a strap on the shaft with a small weight attached). Stops to control the limits of the augmenter/overspeed rotational range are now in place and most of the bolts/nuts are set permanently in place in preparation for a pickup truck speed test.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Not as easy to build on your own, think it produces the same but has a bit less footprint.

Silent rooftop wind turbines could generate half of a household's energy needs : TreeHugger

 

[tractorgp]

Not as easy to build on your own, think it produces the same but has a bit less footprint.

Silent rooftop wind turbines could generate half of a household's energy needs : TreeHugger

Thanks for that link. An interesting machine for sure. Making the blades a challenge for home made. Looks like it would fit in the drag category (as opposed to a lift machine) and probably more expensive to produce compared with a typical small HAWT. Didn't notice any mention of overspeed control so must be by means of electronics only (not necessarily the best idea in terms of reliability). Also they must have had no shortage of development funds judging by the use of wind tunnels, etc. Didn't see any numbers re noise output, efficiency, etc.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I think the Savonius are a fantastic setup, especially in the "homemade" category. I have a few more articles on this spinning cone design and if any have specs will forward but yeah, there is no way I could build their version for sure....

 

[woodlandfarms]

Is this odd-looking wind turbine the most efficient you can buy? - The Washington Post



Hugely negative and well researched article

Hot air around a wind turbine | Skepsis Blog

 

[tractorgp]

Is this odd-looking wind turbine the most efficient you can buy? - The Washington Post



Hugely negative and well researched article

Hot air around a wind turbine | Skepsis Blog

From what I have observed you have to take most claims on unique windmills/turbines with a grain of salt. Darrieus and Savonius are the only true inventors of viable machines in terms of recent history (1900's on). Lots of other inventions (including some of my own) have improved the concepts in terms of efficiency, better self starting, smoother operation, and overspeed control. But for the most part, in my opinion, there is a lot of hype associated with it all. For both drag and lift machines efficiency deficiencies can be compensated for with a slight change in turbine swept area - so generally speaking no big deal. BUT I truly enjoy checking out the different ideas that come up

 

[BHD]

how tall do you plan on installing this machine?

and if it is horizontal how does it orient it to the wind direction?

 

[tractorgp]

how tall do you plan on installing this machine?

and if it is horizontal how does it orient it to the wind direction?

I have a tower from a small horizontal axis machine that I had up 25 years ago. The tower is only about 6 feet high (but I have other sections that I could add later) and that will be mounted in my pickup for some tests. The machine has a tail assembly and when mounted the machine will yaw to follow the wind. My posted videos do not show the tower and bearing mounted shaft that the machine fits on. Lately I've been working on improvising a simple tachometer and anemometer to give me some idea about what's go on during the tests. Will also make video recordings.