Why are there three blades on a windmill?

Well some of you know that I was in Norman, Ok for training of the Bergey wind turbine. But I am now back and it was worth the trip to their company.

There was a lot of discussions about all the various types of turbines available on the market. Everything from vertical turbines right on up to the different turbines with one blade on up to the old fashion Aeromotors.

So because of these discussions that we had I am losing one of the turbines that I have in my line up. Let me go into more detail about why I am not going to use this particular turbine and various others.

I am going to start with the vertical axis type first, like the Windspire for example. Bergey actually tried to make this type of turbine work back in the 70's and was unsuccessful because they could not get the rpm's needed to generate power. But what they did find out that they could get torque which works great for pumping water, not good for electricity making. Also the blades are in a constant battle with each other in the wind never achieving the rpm's needed without a lot of wind speed.

Next is the one bladed machines. Which they are technically what you need to make a wind turbine generate a lot of power. But they are so lop sided that there is to much to go wrong. The other thing is you need a lot of wind to get it started. But once that happens it spins very fast and that's where things go wrong.

Two bladed machines are the next better choice. Again they are plagued with their technical problems. The problem with them is the blades get teetering back and forth causing alot of strain on the blades and the hub bearing. As the blade passes the tower it causes the blade to unload the wind blowing against it. Because the wind has to move around the tower. So the bottom has less force and the top blade has all the wind's force causing this teetering effect on the blades.

Three bladed is what turbine manufactures use because it is reliable and it helps get rid of some the other issues that other turbines with other blade configurations have. It is easier to balance the load on the hub with three blades. Like the two bladed turbines the three bladed turbines can counter act the teetering effect much better. Because there are always two blades in the wind. With the turbine being horizontal all the blades are in the wind at any given time not like the verticals which are not.

Now on to the reasoning of why I have decided to drop one of the turbines that I currently have. It's because it is a multi-bladed turbine. Since it has more then three blades the turbine will actually slow down, producing less power but more torque. Just like the Aeromotors in the old pictures of farms with windmills that you see with a lot of blades. Those turbines were designed for more torque in less winds to pump water out of the ground. Not for speed to generate electricity like we are today with the new wind turbines.

You may say just because I went to Bergey and they talked about these different blade styles. How are they correct? Well here is my take on that, they have been around thirty years and they are one of the very few left from the energy crisis back in the 70's. So to me that gives them a lot of credibility in my eyes. There are a lot of companies today that are trying to get rich quick and I'm not one of them. I believe you get what you pay for.

My mission is, "To seek out the best turbine, producing the most power, that can be reliable, and at is most reasonably price possible."

Stop back in the next few days and I will have more to say about my trip to Norman, OK and the Bergey product. I will also be talking about the turbine that is replacing the Skystream and Raum wind turbine too.

Verticle Axis why I say what I say about them.

I said a few weeks ago that I would not talk about vertical axis wind turbines anymore. But I have changed my mind, this is my blog and those that gave me grief in the past so be it. If you do not like it then do not read it. Life is full of choices and that is one of them, OTHERWISE READ ON AND TAKE IT FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH !!!!!

1. I have nothing against the Windspire, this just happens to be the one I see and get asked about a lot, or any type of turbine like it. Except I feel from looking at what reports that are out there, like NERL on the Windspire, on how poorly they performed or failed. This is common knowledge available to the public. What am I to say, that is to bad, but I hope they try again and get it right the next time. Good Luck with that.
   
2. Some person commented that how could I be against a Michigan company. I am not against them, I am for them. I think it is great that they are here creating jobs for Manistee and Michigan. Because when they are here that whole thing trickles right on down to everyone else. I want Michigan to be the light onto the world like it uses to be. We once were the state that everyone looked to for the answers. This state made everything, it was made to last and it did. Now where the hell did that go. Where has the pride gone in the products we make here in Michigan. It's not pride anymore it is just about the profits they can make off the consumer that knows no better. That is the problem I have. Lets make something that works and not just make something just to make money and get rich quick. Lets bring companies into this state that are going to make a product that can last the test of time. I have been by several of these products through out the area and almost everyone that I have seen is broken or falling off the top of the pole, especially the one right in front of Mastech where the Windspire is made. It has since been fixed, but why would you make something that would not last longer than a month or two. See what I am saying. What's wrong with this picture, I just don't get it. If these companies keep going down this road you may be here now, but sooner or later you can all kiss your ass goodbye too just like those before you and those jobs too.
   
3. I have talked to several people about these types of turbines and they all say the same thing they will not work. When I first got into this line of business awhile back I looked at becoming a Pac-wind and wind terra dealer, because I had someone that wanted a Pac-wind. But when I contacted someone that I knew that was a Pac-wind dealer he said I will box it up and give it to you, because the thing never puts out enough power to light a 200watt light bulb. Here is a dealer saying the thing does not work and is willing to give it to me for free. So hmmm alert, alert why do I want to use these products again? I guess I don't. He also made another valid point if they are so great why do not they use them commercially. HMMMM!!! again good point. I have another friend that is an engineer and he also does wind studies for a living, so he studies various types of wind turbines and he tells me to stay away from these units they just will not produce the amount of power needed. These manufactures can manipulate their numbers any way that want to make to a product look good. I have blogged about other things in the past few months that companies, mail order catalogs, do to make their products look better to the consumer. Also the vertical companies are not the only ones that do this type of manipulation the horizontal companies do it too.
4. Some guy, because he listed his name, from Manistee or somewhere I do not know said this is a poor way to promote the Skystream, one of the many typies that I have available as options to the customer. I am just putting out the facts. I will be the first to admit that the Skystream has had it's share of problems. If you want to know more about the problems, then here is a blog about the Skystream good and bad. The biggest problem with SWWP is their customer service, which for me has not been a big deal. But out of all the Skystreams I have installed two of them I have had to go back and fix. One of the units just stopped working and the second one, one of the blades had a crack in it. That is it!!! At least they we not wobbling at the top of the pole. But when I meet with a potential customer I am very up front about these issues that I have experienced. Are you that way with your customers Windspire dealers? They are machines and I understand they will brake, because they are machines. Nothing lasts forever, I do not care what type you use.
5. Another person said it sounds like I am anger and full of venom. I am a type of person that believes in getting the best product to the customer and at the best price. I am not doing this just for a quick buck like some of these people out there are. I am about the experience of the process and wanting the customer to have a great experience with their product they buy, the installation, and the great service they will receive after the sale. So because there are companies running around out there selling stuff just to make a quick buck. That hurts everyone, including you too. And when that happens it PISSES ME RIGHT THE HELL OFF and I am going to do everything I can to get the word out. I will try and not base information just on my own feeling but on facts and seeing it for myself. So that person whoever you are, you should do the same thing before you go spouting your month off without getting the facts first. That's all.

Well I think I have said enough about this for now. I am sure I will have more to say in the near future. So anyone out there that would like to comment on this feel free to give me a shout. But keep in mind I am moderating this blog from know on. More so to keep people from back-linking to other sites trying to promote there services not to keep comments off.

I believe in doing the right thing even if others do not. In the end we will all pay for it.

Boy, I feel SOOOOOOOO much better now that I got that off my chest.

Vertical Axis

I have one question why are they not used commercially? This is the last time I am going to talk about vertical axis wind turbines. Good luck. I will only focus on what I am currently doing and the products that I am using.

Vertical and roof mounted wind turbines.

I came across an article today on vertical and roof mounted turbines. This article is one that I have seen before so here is a link to that article. It is very well written and packed with a lot of good things to think about when considering a unit like this.

I was at Sea Shell City yesterday and I was watching the Windspires that they have there. Even though it was wind the looked like they were having a hard time spinning. Also they are way to close together so I think that they are stealing the wind away from one another. All wind turbines need to have a lot of space so that wind doesn't get disrupted by one of the others.

One other thing they are sitting right next to the building where there is a lot of of air turbulence.
It will be interesting see how well they will do there.

Are Vertical Axis Turbines Better?

I receive a lot searches everyday on vertical wind turbines. Here is a great article on vertical wind turbines. You should read it and it is a quick read.

Wind Power: Are Vertical Axis Turbines Better?

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