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Victor
Junior Member
United Kingdom
392 Posts |
Posted - 02/12/2007 : 21:24:53
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I mayt be interested it`s down to cashflow at the moment,but I`m interested in chipping in.
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gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
875 Posts |
Posted - 02/12/2007 : 21:51:23
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Please remember you will also require a bridge rectifier, Futurenergy suggest using there own? - £16 or so.
Also their turbine uses a 1.8m (almost 6 Ft diameter)propeller.
http://www.futurenergy.co.uk/products.html
This size of prop is not advisable with my PVC design I produced (4 Ft).
The futurenergy alternator is more suited to a set of 3 bladed carved wooden blades at a 6 ft diameter.
Sorry, just being realistic at what is achievable, so people don't get disappointed.
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Del
Junior Member
United Kingdom
369 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2007 : 21:53:42
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Nice one Victor.
Yes, Ben's right, the bladeset that Futurenergy use with these generators are five bladed and 1.8m in diameter. There are four generators to choose from (12v, 24v, 36v, 48v) and all have different cut in rpms and reach their max output at different rpm's so reasonably each would require different blades (length & number of blades) to match the generator characteristics.
4 foot diameter PVC blades would work to an extent, but would certainly not get the best out of the unit as you'd need larger heavier blades to give you the torque to spin the unit to achieve it's max output.
Personally I'd use wood and have 4/5 blades and only 4 feet diameter as I just don't have the land for a bigger set in my current property. However I'm moving in around a year and will then go for a slightly bigger set.
As for the bridge rectifier, Futurenergy do say that they will only guarantee their unit when used with their own bridge rectifier unit which is £16.20. Dick Strawbridge (It's not easy being green) used one of these generators with his waterwheel and he built his own bridge rectifier and says so in his book. I'm no electrickal wizard but I can't see how you could go too far wrong using your own unit but £16.20 is fairly reasonable.
For those of you considering this please do take a good look at the Futurenergy website and give them a call if you've got any queries. They do provide a really excellent downloadable comprehensive document on making your own turbine using their generators so should be able answer any questions you have.
Cheers
Del. |
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galeforce
New Member
United Kingdom
73 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2007 : 23:33:43
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| Del, If the 48v generator can be connected to the grid via an inverter, then I will have one too. |
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Del
Junior Member
United Kingdom
369 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2007 : 20:10:26
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Hi galeforce,
I don't know a lot about grid inverting I'm afraid. I think you need a generator with an input of at least 48 volts but that's the sum total of my knowledge on the subject. If that's right the Futurenergy generator will work with a grid inverter. In the 48v configuration the unit is a 1.5Kw generator.
I'd speak to Futurenergy direct to get some advice on the subject. Let us know what they say and if you want to add yourself to the list of potential purchasers.
Cheers
Del. |
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chris_psmith
New Member
United Kingdom
77 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2007 : 10:27:39
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Galeforce / Del,
On the website is says: 'Available in 12V, 24V, 36V & 48V DC versions, they are suitable for battery charging, water/air heating and Grid-Tie installations.'
So looks ok to me.
rgds
chris |
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bs85
Starting Member
United Kingdom
40 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2007 : 10:46:33
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It all depends on what grid tie inverter you have.
The windmaster 500 on future energy's site has an operating voltage range of 35 – 150 Vdc.
Sma do the Windy Boy 1100 LV which has an operating voltage of 21 V to 60 V but it costs around £1000
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chris_psmith
New Member
United Kingdom
77 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2007 : 10:58:51
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| They sell a grid tie inverter for £695 to match the turbine. |
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chris_psmith
New Member
United Kingdom
77 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2007 : 11:10:42
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Well as we seem to be very close to having enough people to make the deal, I am interested in everyones thought process about which one they are going to pick.
I am building a Benesh VAWT (2m tall by 0.5m wide with 4 to 1 gearing, so 100rpm giving 400rpm at the generator.
I had thought originaly about just going for the 12v as it had lowest rpm start with 26W at 230rpm but only has a max of 662W at 380rpm.
BUT, based on the wind we have just had for the last few days I am now not sure.
The 24 V has 26W at 258rpm, 296W at 400rpm but goes to a much greater max of 1142W at 490rpm, so about the same start power, half the power at 400rpm but much greater max.
The 36V loos of no real benefit with 42W at 371rpm and a max of 1333W at 725rpm, so have ruled that one out.
BUT, the 48V has a much higher start rpm with 42W at 380rpm and a max of 1472W at 610rpm.
So it seems like a real balnce, get greedy at go for the highest power with the 48V one but possibly lose out in real terms as it will have lower rpm through most of the year, go safe with the 12V one where you have best chance of getting power through the year, but miss out in the higher winds, or take a slightly more calculated risk with the 24V one getting something through the year, less in medium winds but twice as much in higher winds.
Thought, thoughts, thoughts!!! Currently thinking 24V is the best option. (as trucks are also 24v i assume it is quite easy to get a 24v to 240v transformer as well) |
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Del
Junior Member
United Kingdom
369 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2007 : 15:17:43
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Hi Chris,
My thinking is EXACTLY the same as yours. I like the 12v low cut in and can see that it will produce power quite a lot of the time. The 24v is undoubtedly better assuming you have that tiny bit extra wind for the slightly higher cut in. I can't see the poin in the 36v unit really. The 48v version is BIG power but needs more wind for that higher cut in so could be doing nothing a lot of the time.
My other thoughts are around an inverter. 12v units are plentiful, 24v not too bad but 36v and 48v inverters (especially pure sine) are a little rarer on the secondhand market. And a new big pure sine inverter is very big bucks.
I'd also like to have a single battery bank ideally so will have solar power going into the same bank.
And then there's the system of charge control. I have a 30A solar charge controller and will undoubtably need a wind charge controller but I'm not sure if I can run both on a single battery bank and maybe it's best to just have a single high amperage wind charge controller that has a solar input.
Anyway, for me it's the 24v unit all things considered.
What about everyone else?
Cheers
Del.
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galeforce
New Member
United Kingdom
73 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2007 : 19:31:51
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Del,
Got a reply from FuturEnergy, and this is what they had to say about the 48v motor.
The 48 volt PMG is incorporated in our 48 volt 1Kw Upwind Turbine which operates with the Windmaster 500. Therefore, our 48 volt PMG (and rectifier) will work with the Windmaster 500 but we could not be sure of its compatibility with any other grid tie inverter available on the market.
We hope this is of assistance to you.
So Del count me in for a 36v/48v PMG. I will let you know ASAP
Wind today, gone tomorrow. |
Edited by - galeforce on 10/12/2007 19:59:25 |
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galeforce
New Member
United Kingdom
73 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2007 : 10:46:31
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Del the 36v will not work with the inverter, so its the 48v version for me.
But then again we don't have that much wind were I live so can someone help.
Galeforce Wind today, gone tomorrow. |
Edited by - galeforce on 11/12/2007 13:04:53 |
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chris_psmith
New Member
United Kingdom
77 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2007 : 12:28:37
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Well I make that 5 possibles, need everyone one to firm up:
Del -
Galeforce -
Chris psmith - Yes, After Jan 15th (pay day!)
Victor -
bs85 - |
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Del
Junior Member
United Kingdom
369 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2007 : 13:01:03
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| Definitely. |
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bs85
Starting Member
United Kingdom
40 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2007 : 17:38:08
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| Yes definitely one |
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Topic |
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Which "off the shelf" option to go for?
