Wind Turbine Generators

[murcott]

Hello Everybody,

I am building my own wind turbine. I need a gearless (direct drive) three phase axial flux generator. I'm making a really small turbine where which produces200W at wind speeds of 6 to 8m/s. The generator needs to operate at a low rpm to minimise the size of my gear ratio. Aorund the 500rpm mark would be perfect, anything more 1000rpm is too much.

I'm having trouble finding suppliers on the internet. Ebay is sort of useful, but I'm struggling to find exactly what i need. Can anyone reccommend some decent sources/suppliers?

Cheers,

Ben

 

[ScottyUK]

You're looking for a fairly specialised machine - probably a custom or semi-custom design, which means expensive and uncommon on the second-hand market. Have you looked at alternatives to gearing which have greater efficiency, for example a toothed belt drive? That could get you into the speed range where an automotive alternator becomes a possibility.

 

[OperaHouse]

Go to fiekdlines,com and ask that question. Most people roll their own there. Don't even think of using a car alternator. Some three phase motors can be modified. Bearings of most motors will not last long.

 

[itsmoked]

Opera's fingers clearly got tangled up.

[URL unfurl="true"]http://www.fieldlines.com/[/url]

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[murcott]

Cheers guys, I've considered car alternators before. I could modify one but this could prove a real mission fitting the permanent magnets etc.

I'll repost this link on the fieldlines forum.

Ta

 

[mgtrp]

The motors out of Fisher & Paykel Smartdrive washing machines have been fairly popular for use in microgeneration projects such as wind and hydro.

 

[Sparweb]

Murcott,
Don't gear it, and don't use an auto alternator.
The simplest route is to get a suitably sized used servo motor or DC motor.
I say "suitably sized" because your target power range is kind of low.
If you're willing to accept more power, and make bigger blades to match the size of motor you obtain, you will find it easier to procure the motor you need.
See you on Fieldlines!

STF