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Tim
New Member
73 Posts |
 Posted - 03/09/2008 : 15:50:54
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One of my work colleagues and I happened to be discussing repairing their ailing washing machine earlier today, they mentioned that the outer drum was plastic.
Just wondering, I know that some people are modifying direct drive washing machine motors for use as wind turbine alts, but has anyone used a frontloading washing machine drum assembly as the basis for a DIY radial alternator?
It just occurred to me that given the size of these things if the clearances are OK it might be possible to epoxy magnets onto the inner drum (especially given all those perforations for the epoxy to key into) and mount coils on the outer drum.
With that sort of diameter it shouldn't need to spin very fast at all so perhaps could be suitable for a VAWT. And with the depth of the drum to play with, each coil could be a foot or so long (!) with foot-long lines of mags passing under them instead of a single mag under a smaller coil, if you see what I mean.
Am I barking or does anyone know if someone has tried it? Google hasn't brought much up.
Edited to add: and if the inner drum was plastic too, then the coils might mount to the inner drum with the tower mounting disappearing up the loading hole, and the magnets could go on the inner surface of the outer drum (with a steel strap or two on the outside to link the flux) and that outer drum might then serve as direct mounting points for the vawt buckets.
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Edited by - Tim on 03/09/2008 16:05:49 |
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Capt Slog
Junior Member
United Kingdom
186 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2008 : 16:03:50
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Never seen it tried.
Remember though that longer coils mean more resistance, and so you might not gain. |
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Tim
New Member
73 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2008 : 16:06:52
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that's true Capt, perhaps I got carried away on the road to Damascus there
Edited to add: thinking about it though, with the "line of mags" idea, might there be a better ratio of total flux per metre of copper, especially as each mag's flux might well throw a bit further, being confined in one plane as it would be by its neighbours' same-polarity flux? |
Edited by - Tim on 03/09/2008 16:47:45 |
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shawn
Junior Member
United Kingdom
175 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2008 : 17:01:33
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During the Bosnian war I remember seeing on TV that they had washing machines suspended across the river on ropes with vanes attached to the drums to generate electricity. Can't tell you anymore than that as to the mechanics of it. |
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Hefhoover
New Member
United Kingdom
82 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 19:23:28
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A very interesting idea Tim, you could have two units back to back with the vanes mounted on one drum and the shaft driving the other drum fitted with magnets.
I worked as a Hoover service engineers for a few years, so this is of particular interest to me.
Some brands of machines had PM motors fitted (early Whirlpool and Phillips machines come to mind)and these could be adapted to water power as the gearing was about 100:1.
Hope this is of use, Hef :-) |
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MattM
Junior Member
USA
130 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2008 : 16:14:10
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I bought a 710 rpm washing machine two years ago and it burnt out the bearing in 18 months. We're on the second set of bearings now. I'm not sure what the rpm's are on most washing machines but this model said it was 15% faster than the average. How many rpm's would such a device be turning as a wind turbine?
Go Huskers! |
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vawtman
New Member
54 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2008 : 17:22:28
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| One thing on my to do list someday is to build a wind turbine solely from a washing machine.May not be very productive but cool. |
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gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
1061 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2008 : 17:48:41
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I once thought, as a publicity tool to convert a washing machine into a complete wind generator.
Probably possible with a Fisher & Paykel machine, but none in the U.K.
The headline would read 'Gotwind turns white goods green'
http://www.randysworkshop.com/
Ben. |
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Hefhoover
New Member
United Kingdom
82 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2008 : 20:38:51
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Boom Boom! Don't give up your day job, Ben
Matt, 710 seems a very low spin speed, most UK front loaders start at 1000RPM going up to 1600RPM and their bearings are usually beefy enough to cope with the speeds.
I've not dealt with any of them, but I know that LG have a direct drive (Fisher & Paykel type)washing machine in the UK.
Here's an interesting link to one being used >
http://www.itsnoteasybeinggreen.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11508
Hef  |
Edited by - Hefhoover on 06/09/2008 22:07:29 |
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Jerry-S
Starting Member
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2008 : 22:58:46
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That VAWT in the above link looks great.
How much torque would something like that generate???
Would it be enough to belt drive a car alternator on a largeish ratio?? |
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MattM
Junior Member
USA
130 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2008 : 04:03:05
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Hef,
After I read your last post it made me go look at the washing machine and I couldn't find the rpm's for it. My mistake. The Maytag dryer unit is the laundry machine thats rated at 710 rpm.
Go Huskers! |
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a possibly barking idea, but....
