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The Windbelt. Micro-Scaled Wind Power. Sarah Fanto. December 8, 2010. Early Wind Turbines. Wind Turbine Basics. The wind causes the turbine blades to spin. Gears transfer rotation from the blades to the generator The rotational motion in the generator creates electricity. Inefficiencies.
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The Windbelt Micro-Scaled Wind Power Sarah Fanto December 8, 2010
Wind Turbine Basics • The wind causes the turbine blades to spin. • Gears transfer rotation from the blades to the generator • The rotational motion in the generator creates electricity.
Inefficiencies • Energy loss due to friction in the gears • Turbine blades also move against the wind
Micro-Wind Energy • Generating micro-energy from wind involves smaller forms of rotating turbines • friction in the gears is the largest form of energy loss in the small-scale wind turbine • the friction is often greater than the energy produced
Micro-Wind Turbines • Micro-wind turbines for domestic electricity could create more carbon dioxide during manufacture, installation, and maintenance than the micro-wind turbines save during their lifetime. • Turbines in less windy urban areas are unlikely to ever payback their carbon costs • Currently small-scale rotary generators can produce 5mW of power at 12 volts in 10 mph winds • They can retail for thousands of dollars
Introducing the Windbelt... The first turbine-less wind generator
Anatomy of a Windbelt • Frame • Belt • Magnets • Wire Coils
Aeroelastic Flutter A self-starting aeroelastic phenomenon, with positive feedback, where aerodynamic forces couple with a structure’snatural mode of vibrationto produce a rapidperiodic motionandlarge amplitudes.This aeroelastic happening can produce rapid failure in structures and in many cases needs to be reduced or eliminated.
Power Generation • Moving magnets in wire coils • Electromagnetic induction Basic magnet-coil configuration www.humdingerwind.com/windbelt.html
Micro-Windbelt • The microWindbelts are small: 13 cm x 3 cm x 2.5 cm • Capable of powering wireless sensors and most battery powered wireless application in fluid flow
Large-Scale Applications: Windcell Panels • Panels are made up of 20 1m long windbelts in a 1m x 1m frame • The panels target energy costs of $0.05 per kWh in average windspeeds of 6m/s and a monthly energy of 7.2 kWh • Wind panels have an off-the-line cost of around $100
Advantages of a Windbelt • Cheap to produce, install, and maintain • Easily installed and maintained • Work art low wind speeds • Rugged • Lightweight/portable
Applications • Installed in the home • Remote applications • Charging batteries • High-efficiency LEDs • Radios • Walkie-talkies • Third-world applications • One laptop per child • Military applications
For More Information... • http://www.humdingerwind.com • http://www.worldchanging.com/archives//010063.html • http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/wind-power1.htm • http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/wind_how.html