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i am looking at building a DIY VAWT using a Fisher and Paykal direct drive motor. I have been looking into grid connect inverters and there appears to be a lot out of China (the plug in type). I was hoping that someone might know how safe these things are and whether or not I should run a wind turbine controller in front of it for protection
cheers
KarlJ Guru Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178
Posted: 06:42am 15 Apr 2010
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VAWT a 300W GTI ....regualtions aside and rewired for appropriate voltage EG 12V
I cannot see it ever having a problem for a couple of reasons
VAWT is going to struggle to see 300W. more like 150W on a good day.
I hate to be pessimistic and I'm not my system HAWT 3m diameter (~7M2 capture area) just cracks 700W out of two stators one star one delta at 55V
200W at 12V is going to be about 13A so not unreasonable either.
Give it a try cheapo enough that you could do lots of work and gain some protection for the inverter but i wouldnt bother as they are just so cheap.
You can be the guinea pig
my rig BTW cost about $1700 for a 1.2KW approved GTI and I'm running at about half of what its rated at!Luck favours the well prepared
Thanks for that. Ill give it a try. BTW I am running 1.5kw PV system so the Wind will hopefully suppliment nicely as i am on a hill in TAS which gets reasonable winds between 10 - 40kph regularly
GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127
Posted: 10:56am 15 Apr 2010
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This is a location for a HAWT. You normally would use a VAWT in turbulent winds.
Any windmill GTI system should have an automatic overvoltage protection for the inverter. The novelty of replacing the GTI without it, will soon wear thin. Remember the "volts" are the problem and not the "watts".
Gordon.
become more energy aware
Downwind Guru Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333
Posted: 03:34pm 15 Apr 2010
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10-40 kph winds ???? well just think about you are missing on 1/2 or greater output, by the choice of picking a VAWT over a HAWT.
There is a thought that a HAWT needs to be high up and a noisy dangerious machine to work.
Only a poorly designed one fits this requirement and they can be quiter and safer than a VAWT with twice the output.
Simple..you have good winds, and you want to spend dollars on a design for less than half the power output you can have.........this is what i dont understand with building a VAWT.
Its like buying a voltswagon, when you could have a Monaro for the same dollars.
You have the fuel (windspeed) why not burn it instead of wasting it?
Pete.Sometimes it just works
oztules Guru Joined: 26/07/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1686
Posted: 10:25am 17 Apr 2010
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I bought a little 600w one for two hundred dollars so I could pull it apart to see how it ticked.
It ran for about 20 mins very nicely, and gets warm at 500w+, cool at 300W.
I can't say how well it runs long term, as it is not used for grid conect. It sits in a box, waiting to be dissected....when time permits.
I would use a battery as a crowbar....and a LV cutout although a vawt will never worry it I suspect unless the islanding kicks in (rapid V increase).
It takes about 15-20 seconds to fully synchronise, but holds on well after that. It disconnects instantly on mains loss, and auto reconnects 15-20 secs after mains returns.
These things are not street legal here yet, so I would caution against using it.
Over here it is not an option, as I know all the guys at the power station.... so I would last only a day or so before being warned or shot.
..............oztules
Edit..... but it would be nice though Edited by oztules 2010-04-18Village idiot...or... just another hack out of his depth
VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539
Posted: 11:31am 17 Apr 2010
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Hi Oz
I use some of those as voltage sensitive dump loads switching in at 27.25 volts and drop out at 26 volts and they work OK no smoke escaped yet at 600 watts the cooling fan comes on after a couple of minutes one on each phase with a second one switching in at 27.5 volts and out at 26.5 the ones I have are rated to 28 volts but I have taken them to 30 volts and no smoke escaped, since I bought these they have brought out 50 volt ones which would be better. they have a form of MPPT built in so work from 12 volts to 50 volts. Haven't taken the case off as I might let smoke out.
All the best
BobFoolin Around
oztules Guru Joined: 26/07/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1686
Posted: 11:57am 17 Apr 2010
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I have the 50v 600w version. I played with it briefly the day I got it, and have done nothing with it since... so can't say how well it performs other than that. I do see a role for it as a reinforcement for the pure sine 3kw unit I have. It "grid" ties with that ok too. (can now combine a 24v and 48v battery system in the same circuit
............oztulesVillage idiot...or... just another hack out of his depth
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