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wind turbine test

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donbar

Electrical
Sep 23, 2003
2
We have a wind turbine in the field and need to determine the horsepower that it is producing under various loads.
Any suggestions other than buying a dynamometer. It is a vertical axis so the test can be done at ground level.
Calculated HP is 10-20 and RPM levels are estimated at
0-150 rpm.
 
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Resistive loads, volt and amp meters. This is how all locomotives are tested. They use a dynamic braking unit to load the locomotive under test. They fire wall the test piece and load it. Then they do the math. You can do the same thing. I have used lots of light bulbs for load tests. (50kW)
 
Continuing the "light bulb method" here is 1000W and 1500W bulbs. The nice part about bulbs is you can easily change the load by screwing/unscrewing.

You are talking about 20hp => 15,000W which would be 15 1000W bulbs.

Mount bases on a two-by-four.

Bulbs:

Cheapest place I can find sockets(mogul base size):

Send in a picture!! :)
 
A generator test load bank would be convenient with all the bells and whistles. I would guess you need some power vs wind speed data? or is it just rpm and kva?

What about a couple of electric stoves. 240 Volt with steps of 1 to several kW depending on which elements you turn on.

Jim

 
Do you have an electric generator coupled? or the wind mill delivers only a shaft for mechanical power output?
 
Sorry, Been out of touch. This prototype has a shaft with a right bangle drive but up to date we have only pumped water. What we are trying to accomplish is varying the load on the turbine to read torque and rotation from a sensor we have installed. I think a device that performed like an eddy current brake would do it. Not sure how to
attach photo..
 
Unforunately no can attach photos.. But if you can put them on a web site and bracket them with <img> they will show up here. There are free sites where you can post pics.
 
If you want a rough idea of the power, pump water for some hours recording the volume and height of the pumped water. Calculate the work pumping the water. W= Vol*d*H, then divide work by time and you will have the average power.

assuming 1000 liters pumped in 1 Hrs, 1 meter height.
W = 1000*9.81*1 = 9810 N-m
1 hrs = 3600 sec
P =9810/3600 N-m/sec = 2.725 Watts.
 
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