I found some ideas online to build a turbine like this. I decided to do a quick 3d model of it before I built it. Hope you enjoy it and I hope it sparks some more interesting ideas and designs. Feel free to comment about ideas. I will be adding a video of the parts and of me building it. And I will also add a video documenting how well it works.
25 comments
No ping yet
8bluestone says:
October 16, 2011 at 10:43 pm (UTC -5)
Great design. Looks like Bike Tyres and PVC Tube cut in half will get you there…for blades….Well Done
ThinkStage says:
October 16, 2011 at 10:44 pm (UTC -5)
Very cool
To see more innovative videos like this or want to share your own ideas visit ThinkStageDOTcom
aacowboy12 says:
October 16, 2011 at 11:03 pm (UTC -5)
@Ozarkorganicshiitake
heppolt design by johann steinlechner is much beter
BCNbananas says:
October 16, 2011 at 11:34 pm (UTC -5)
Obviously a bright young man designed this
Ozarkorganicshiitake says:
October 16, 2011 at 11:51 pm (UTC -5)
Thats horizontal!! Come on wtf!
cabidas says:
October 17, 2011 at 12:07 am (UTC -5)
@scarlejr I know your vid is from a while ago. Would funneling the air to the one side decrease turbulance?? Say if you hand a long funnel the lenth of the turbine that points toward the cup side. A second outer shell would then encase the turbine from the wide part of the funnel and then come together in a long fin shape to allow it to point in the wind direction.
youngdrjung says:
October 17, 2011 at 12:09 am (UTC -5)
Could this design keep moving during a good rain? I drew up an idea for something like this a year ago, for that reason. While I wanted the ‘mill to pick up the wind, I also wanted a sort of waterwheel that could generate some power during a storm by catching rain water. But how to protect the alternator, etc. Which is why I haven’t built my design yet. Still on the page *sigh*
cpovey1 says:
October 17, 2011 at 12:25 am (UTC -5)
Not very efficient, I’m afraid. The wind only drives the blades a maximum of 1/4 of a rotation, and it actually has to fight the wind another 1/4 of the rotation/ A regular propeller is driven the entire time over it’s entire length.
What you have drawn is an undershot waterwheel powered by airflow instead of water.
This is just like a screw versus a paddle wheel, and the screw easily won.
RepublicAmerica says:
October 17, 2011 at 12:56 am (UTC -5)
I’m no scientists but isnt that horizontal, not vertical?
Roboallen9 says:
October 17, 2011 at 1:26 am (UTC -5)
There is one issue I see with this design…. What if the wind direction changes? I mean, you’re only able to catch wind that is going in 2 directions. If there is a side-wind, you’re not going to generate any power (unless the whole thing rotates to face the wind; which is why VAWT’s are vertical rather than horizontal, to eliminate the need to constantly turn and face the wind).
generatorblue says:
October 17, 2011 at 1:41 am (UTC -5)
@marineassetservices Good idea! Unfortunately, I was using the weight of the belt. The generator was located higher than the drive bicycle rim. Maybe I will try that dryer belt again. They are very well built. The one that I abandoned outside a few years ago is still together after many winters.
marineassetservices says:
October 17, 2011 at 2:10 am (UTC -5)
@generatorblue mount the generator on a hinge so the weight of the generator sets the belt tension, to achieve the correct tension the generator can be placed closer of further from the fulcrum of the hinge.
TheNavneetyadav says:
October 17, 2011 at 2:45 am (UTC -5)
@crazyskier537
hey dont mind if its horizontal its an awesome idea
TheNavneetyadav says:
October 17, 2011 at 2:57 am (UTC -5)
the idea seems quit feasible and could be used at the domestic premises.
it has got potential ………..
James12345cb says:
October 17, 2011 at 3:20 am (UTC -5)
Hey, I like your video on your vawt. I just made my first VAWT video, I’m looking on suggestions before I decide to build a working model. If you search for ” VAWT, Simple easy to build, powerful” you’ll find it. any comment welcome.
breeannaqktjbl says:
October 17, 2011 at 3:24 am (UTC -5)
True Free energy devices exist,But the Establishment doesn’t want ppl to know this,Get a real free energy motor at LT-MAGNET-MOTORdotCOM ,The revolution begins!
darquetan1 says:
October 17, 2011 at 4:15 am (UTC -5)
You may want to check out using a flat drive belt (initial tension at about .25.to .75 %)and pulleys as they consume less energy than pulling a v-belt into and out of a groove (using a standard v-belt sheave). You could also make several sections that couple together to get the specific length that will make this work for different space requirements at 10 to 20″ in dia.
me a dark_tan2003@yahoo.com if you have any questions or if I may be of help.
solarnowconsulting says:
October 17, 2011 at 4:39 am (UTC -5)
@crazyskier537 @crazyskier537
Actually there are mainly 2 kinds of wind turbines: VAWTs (vertical axis wind turbine), and HAWTs (horizontal axis wind turbine), and although this seems like it should be considered a HAWT, HAWTs are considered to be propeller-type turbines so these are normally considered VAWTs turned on their side. They normally perform better when vertical because wind speed is higher the further from the ground … this design is used for building tops for aesthetic reasons.
solarnowconsulting says:
October 17, 2011 at 5:05 am (UTC -5)
@crazyskier537
Actually there are mainly 2 kinds of wind turbines: VAWTs (vertical axis wind turbine), and HAWTs (horizontal axis wind turbine), and although this seems like it should be considered a HAWT, HAWTs are considered to be propeller-type turbines so these are normally considered VAWTs turned on their side. They normally perform better when vertical because wind speed is higher the further from the ground … this design is used for building tops for aesthetic reasons.
crazyskier537 says:
October 17, 2011 at 5:49 am (UTC -5)
AHAHHHHAHHAHAHAHH you wrote its a verticle turbine, but its actually horizontal!
Ok, i’m done… =}
MrMatt027 says:
October 17, 2011 at 6:11 am (UTC -5)
Very nice and given a nice paint job, it’d be pleasing to the eye as well.
southboundhammerdown says:
October 17, 2011 at 7:02 am (UTC -5)
Steve, where did you get these plans?
URTARDS says:
October 17, 2011 at 7:20 am (UTC -5)
One key thing to remember is to always match your blade size with the generator size. If you put to large a generator on a small set of blades it’ll never turn no matter how high the winds (if the gen is waaaay large) so best bet is to oversize the blades for the gen so you’re sure to get output in slower winds. There’s much to be said here but that’s the skinny of it.
authmaax says:
October 17, 2011 at 8:07 am (UTC -5)
yeah… one can see that is is difficult
. the pulley in the generator causes too much drag because of the diameter ratio, it is too small.
scarlejr says:
October 17, 2011 at 8:57 am (UTC -5)
A clothes dryer belt is a great idea! thanks