HI Jim, my name is Al Rampone. I am a retired helicopter pilot. I am building a 30ft diameter pnumatic water wheel. It will develope 5,475hp at 8rpm. We intend for it to power a 3.75mw generator. We hope to have our prototype working by the end of the year.
Al,
Sorry it took me so long to reply, but I haven't been making all that much time for this site because it hasn't been as productive for me as say LinkedIn, and believe it or not, Facebook and Twitter. I am interested in being kept up to speed though. Feel free to message me on here or email me at JimmyjamGE@Gmail.com for a more timely response.
I just found your comment from 7-18, sorry about that, I did not know there was a comment section at the bottom of the profile. Seems an unusual place for it.
Please share more about what you are doing. Photos, theory, prototypes, science, etc. so that the rest of us can cheer along if nothing else.
Start a thread or something so that we can all participate! Go ahead and send me stuff directly as well paul@floridasolarenergy.net
I'm speaking primarily from my work with diesel generators, but I'd imagine it would have to hold true for wind (AC power anyhow). The smallest wind generator that GE Wind builds is 1.5mw... and it goes up from there (it's an 80 meter blade diameter). Check out the AWEA (awea.org) American Wind Energy Association, there's a bunch of links there. Beregy is another company making smaller ones, I'll send you a couple others as I think of them.
I know the 60hz line frequency is a BIG factor when connecting to the grid... it HAS to be 60hz within milli-seconds. That's most of the 'heart' of the 'Smart Grid', but also load factors are another matter. My big generators do not connect to the grid, it's either grid OR generator. There's a massive box of electronics that senses "Zero Cross" (the point when the AC voltages of both are at zero volts... between +60vacpeak and -60vacpeak (120vac total).. and the switch between them happens at that EXACT moment. Any difference in the 60hz timing and there are massive sparks and switch/load damages are very possible.
alrampone wrote:
Dave, Thankyou for all the good info on wind generators. I have heard of wind generators up to 1.25mw. Do you know of any larger than that? I will try and contact some of the manufacturers you mentioned. On my project. a generator that turned at 60rpm would be better than one turning 900rpm. Thankyou Al
Al: Now that I'm awake (was just getting home last night when writing the previous note) but, an AC power generator's RPM is going to be 60 RPM, to get the 60hz line frequency. The torque to turn it is dynamic in that it's a result of the electrical load on the unit. Hence, a larger load (more current drawn) will require a larger HP to turn then at idle - no load. There is a govenor to maintain 60 RPM/HZ rates.... loads fluxuates (until limits are reached and fuses/breakers are popped... or transformers explode!). So, apparently it's the 'gearbox' where all the 'magic' is performed. Again, I havn't found info on the actual blade RPMs. I did see on the smaller consumer wind generators are outputting DC voltages, to charge batteries, which in turn power invertors, such as solar cells. Those are electrically controlled for 60 hz. SO blade RPMs are not as critical.
Again, I'm only getting REALLY interested in these windmills... am search all such information myself. It seems really difficult to dig out. I understand that 10-15 mph wind is about what's needed, anything over that the blade is either pitch controlled, magnetically and/or frictionally braked. All done in the gear box. I did see where the Univ. of Wisconson (at Milwaukee) was just awarded a sizable grant (stimulus money) to study gearboxes which currently have a lifespan of about 5 years. I havn't found the RPM/torque spec's or nothing, maybe you can contact them...don't recall they webpage address (GE Wind is another good place to look). I wonder about the effects of ice and required lighting, as well.... I have to deal with them on my TV towers (have three, each at 1000AGL). I would have to imagine the generator RPM/torque specs would be fairly standard.... you could try to get some Catapiller or Kohler diesel power generator info for those specs (I operate one of each, at work... a 600kw and a 1000kw... running two TV stations... transmitters, air conditioning, studio and control rooms, 100%.... there's a 25kw battery UPS to keep the computers going until the diesel fires and runs up to speed... about 15 sec. after loss of grid).
In checking other things, I think that a PTO (farm tractor power take-off) operates near 600RPM and a PTO generator at Tractor Supply specs at 18hp for a 10kw generator. I seen another 1kw generator, belt drive, needed 5hp but didn't get the RPM. Hope that helps!
BTW.. the Air Force Museum also has a restoration hanger... it's 'on base' and you have to take a bus to get to it. It's not open all the time, was there a couple of times but didn't see the A&P's anywhere (think it was the weekend). Yeah... to see EVERYTHING out there... it's a three day, continuous walking event.
alrampone wrote: Dave, let me pick your brain about wind energy. What is the largest KW generator your devices can run? What rpm must the generator turn to produce electricity? Who are some of the US manufactures of the generator? By the way, I've been to the Air Force Museum, AWESOME!!! Only one better place, Silverhill MD. About 12 large hangers where they rebuild planes for the Smithonian. You can talk to the A&Ps. Its by appointment only. Thankyou Al
Dave, my name is Al Rampone. I am a retired helicopter pilot. I am part of a group building a 30ft diameter pnumatic water wheel. It will develope 5,475hp at 8 rpm. It should run a 3.75mw generator and provide clean electricity to 3,600 American homes. These devices can be placed in industrial parks next to the end user. This will eliminate long transmission lines. (the grid)
Thanks for the note! I'm just "getting here", just registered today. I don't have any current projects that I'm working on, hope to get into the business tho. Do know a couple of other retired helicopter pilots, being from Dayton (Home of the Air Force)... I'm only a fixed wing pilot, VFR at that (sunday afternoon, rubber band, puddle jumper type!). Will look forward to some pictures of your project, when you get them. I remain mostly interested in wind energy now.... being familiar with planes. I know the PV cells too but just don't get as interested in them.
Dave, my name is Al Rampone. I am a retired helicopter pilot. I am part of a group building a 30ft diameter pnumatic water wheel. It will develope 5,475hp at 8 rpm. It should run a 3.75mw generator and provide clean electricity to 3,600 American homes. These devices can be placed in industrial parks next to the end user. This will eliminate long transmission lines. (the grid)
Thanks for the note! I'm just "getting here", just registered today. I don't have any current projects that I'm working on, hope to get into the business tho. Do know a couple of other retired helicopter pilots, being from Dayton (Home of the Air Force)... I'm only a fixed wing pilot, VFR at that (sunday afternoon, rubber band, puddle jumper type!). Will look forward to some pictures of your project, when you get them. I remain mostly interested in wind energy now.... being familiar with planes. I know the PV cells too but just don't get as interested in them.
I do have CAD drawings of my device, and pictures of my small crew working on the project. I will have to get someone to show me how to post them to my site. As you can see my site is not as elaborate as yours.
Hello Again,
No worries----if you could give me a link to your site---maybe I could get more info from there. I am also looking for plug ins right now (sort of interactive map) to zero in on each state and community where these projects are.
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Check out this link... it's a newsletter type of web-site about all the various 'green energy' methods. Dave
