alt.energy.renewable

BobG wrote:
>
> On Aug 29, 2:28 pm, "Paul Hovnanian ." wrote:
> > The propellor design is somewhat critical if you want any sort of
> > efficiency. Just any old fan won't do.
> ======================================
> 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.

Two issues here: Horsepower (the windmill involves much higher forces
than any model airplane) and cost. The OP stated that a decent ( .
Honda) generator might be beyond their means. This pretty much rules out
anything but the simplest rig.

One other thing I just thought of was something like the windmill
battery chargers people use on sail boats. Although these units aren't
cheap (nothing on a boat is :-|), one can use their design as a start.

--
Paul Hovnanian paul@
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The blinking cursor writes; and having writ, blinks on.