alt.energy.homepower

On Aug 29, 4:53?pm, Rich Grise wrote:
> On Wed, 29 Aug 2007 12:09:07 -0700, BobG wrote:
> > The model plane guys have variable pitch props now. Instead of
> > fretting about the thing blowing apart from centrifigual force in a
> > big wind, just feather the prop. A $5 microcontroller and a gearhead
> > motor could modulate the blade pitch to control the torque and speed
> > under varying wind profiles. Work smarter not harder. Technology.
>
> Do it mechanically. Build a centrifugal governor into the nose cap
> (or whatever it's called), and have its output feather the blades as
> needed.
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A mechanical solution would have been an excellent suggestion in the
50s or 60s before electronics. I think my idea of having the pitch be
a function of wind speed wins two ways... dont need to slow the blade
down in high wind, and it will allow power to be generated in much
lighter breezes than with a fixed pitch. Will your mechanical design
be able to adjust pitch to handle both these situations of high and
low speed wind?