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Liparis
Starting Member
Ireland
5 Posts |
 Posted - 05/08/2007 : 20:50:21
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Hi all.
Well here I am about to be a nuisance with thousands of questions. I want wind power, but don't know what I need. maybe I should start with what I intend using it for?
I have an addiction which is becoming increasingly more expensive to feed so need to save money. I suffer from orchid fever! My greenhouse heating is going through the roof. My plan is to heat water using wind power and pump it through radiators in the greenhouses. I'm in the process of building greenhouse number three which requires a minimum winter night temperature of 60f (15c) My other two require winter night minimums of 50f (10c) and 55f (12.5c) respectively. I know I may be asking the proverbial 'length of a piece of string' question, but I don't know where to start working out my needs.
I've looked at wind turbines for sale, but no way can I afford them, I need to build. Making what components I can and buying what I can't make. I've started by buying a set of admins plans for the blades - actually this is an example of my lack of technical grasp, I thought I was buying plans to build a turbine
I suppose I need to look at a hot water tank and perhaps heating and maintaining a water temp in the tank of about 50c - 60c, so what size of a turbine output do I need?
I suppose a word of warning needs to be, I'm a complete techno-idiot.
Cheers,
Bill.
Earth is the insane asylum of the Universe.
www.species-specific.com
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Rich
Starting Member
Spain
23 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2007 : 12:51:39
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Hi Bill,
First off, welcome to the forum! In answer to your question it depends, but before going off on a long spiel about dimensioning turbines and caluculating energy requirements etc., maybe you should consider all of your options.
If you want to heat your greenhouse, you may be better off looking into solar water heating - using solar panels for hot water to power conventional radiators.
To put it into perspective, a single bar of an electric fire requires about 1 kilowatt of energy to run. Run the fire fo an hour and you have consumed a single kilowatt hour (kWh) of energy (or one "unit" as supplied by your electricity company).
Now think in terms of wind energy. The 100W windmill described by Ben in his plans will put out about 100 Watts (0.1 kW). Run this, not stop, for 10 hours and you will have generated 1kWh (or one unit).
The bottom line is that the simple plans offered on this site are best taken as a starting point for experimentation or for small scale, low voltage applications (low voltage lighting - think caravans, small radios etc, battery chargers etc.)
Good news: I knew there must be some... It is quite possible to achieve your goal; reduced cost heating for your orchids. You might just have look a little further.
Here are a few good places to start:
http://www.gotwind.org
A great starting point for your journey into alternative energy. Buy the plans and have a go. Then build bigger and better 
http://www.otherpower.com/
Loads of DIY and information, especially on larger and more complex wind generators. Also fair bit on solar power.
http://www.homepower.com/
A good magazine based in the US, with online articles on renewable enrgy in the home. A good source of information on commercial products.
Whichever path you chose, don't be put off by wet blankets like me. Anytime you want any information this is a good place to start.
Above all, GOOD LUCK!
Rich |
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Liparis
Starting Member
Ireland
5 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2007 : 20:00:53
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Hi Rich,
Thanks for the welcome. I have looked into solar panels. I had a discussion with a company who were advertising the 'new type' which supposedly required less sunshine to produce more energy. Unfortunately, they would provide my winter requirements only in the summer and I would have to dig an enormous hole in the ground and install huge tanks to store the hot water until winter. This along with the cost of panels is price prohibitive and wouldn't be paid for until long after I was fertilising trees!
I'll certainly have a look through those links you posted and make a start. The 100 watt windmill will certainly be a starting point, I can throw away my extension leads and generate lights for my workshop in order to build my bigger windmills. Plural Oh my god, I may have another addiction
Anyway, Rich, thanks for the words of encouragement. No doubt I will be posting many questions in weeks to come.
Winter is fast approaching, I better get busy.
By the way, I have a badly damaged petrol rotary lawnmower, no damage to the engine, is it worth salvaging the engine to use? Also, herself says 'get rid of those two telly's out of the bedroom or else!'. Anything in a telly worth salvaging for these projects
Bill.
Earth is the insane asylum of the Universe.
www.species-specific.com |
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ll81
Junior Member
124 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2007 : 12:03:35
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Allways handy to have a small horse engine on hand. Nothing in a telly worth salvaging, risky to take the back off if you don't know what you're doing. I must confess I have a Lister D stationary engine (runs for hours on a pint of petrol) that I run at around 300 RPM (long stroke chugger) geread up on an old car dynamo for reserve battery charging.
woo-hoo |
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BushWhacker
Junior Member
Canada
276 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2007 : 01:39:12
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Liparis, you are looking at wind power when you out to be looking at something like this... http://www.aucklatsolar.com/
The losses you encounter when going from wind, to electric, to water heat are huge. If you have a fair amount of sunny days you are far better off to collect the infra red band of sunlight directly, and store the heated water in an insulated tank for use when the temperature drops.
JMHO. I'm a newbie too, but have done lots of reading over the last 5 years.
If you want some "hook and by crook" ideas I have some that I have yet to test but they do make sense. If you are going to pour a concrete slab for a greenhouse please!!! get a hold of me before you pour concrete. HINT: The slab makes an excellent heatsink.
Good luck,
BW
Think about how stupid the average person is; now realize half of them are dumber than that.
- George Carlin |
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BushWhacker
Junior Member
Canada
276 Posts |
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Liparis
Starting Member
Ireland
5 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2007 : 21:57:30
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Thanks for the links Bushwhacker. I shall certainly give them some study. Sadly, sunny days in the winter here are few and far between. we are a wet and windy climate.
On another note, I have found a Ametek motor, is it the right one? It's info is: Dimensions: 7.00" L x 4.00"H x 4.00" W, Ametek Motor 116123-03; 40 VDC nominal. Auction closes in a couple of days.
Bill
Earth is the insane asylum of the Universe.
www.species-specific.com |
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What do I need?
