Re: Abridged summary of wind-empowerment@googlegroups.com - 5 updates in 5 topics

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Luca Rossini

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Nov 21, 2014, 7:27:48 AM11/21/14
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Hello Group, 
I have a question: do you think it would be interesting to upgrade Hugh Piggot's design, by replacing the wood blades with fibres?
Casts could be done locally and there are strong materials made with locally resourced vegetal fibers, like jute.
- Has anyone tried this? 
- What do you think is the power increase at stake?

It could be useful for less windy sites where efficiency is important (which are the majority of the sites on earth..)

Your thoughts will be much appreciated!

Luca


On 21 November 2014 12:53, <wind-emp...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
Jon Sumanik-Leary <jonnyl...@gmail.com>: Nov 20 01:57PM -0800

testy
...more
Jon Sumanik-Leary <jonnyl...@gmail.com>: Nov 20 01:49PM -0800

test new categories
...more
j...@tieole.com: Nov 06 03:02AM -0800

One thing I would like to see from Technology - Turbine group is a paper on
building a low cost generator test bench. Also start some sharing on this
and also best practices for designing and ...more
tibo...@gmail.com: Nov 06 02:53AM -0800

Op donderdag 6 november 2014 09:20:16 UTC+1 schreef Jon Sumanik-Leary:
> Let us know what you think...
 
I like it!
...more
WindEmpowerment <windempowe...@gmail.com>: Nov 20 12:43PM -0800

test
...more
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Luca Rossini

Jon Sumanik-Leary

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Nov 26, 2014, 3:24:57 PM11/26/14
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Hi Luca,

Thanks for your question. Many people have adapted Hugh's design to use fibreglass or carbon fibre blades, e.g.
but I don't know of any who use natural fibres. I'm also not sure on the efficiency increase, but molded composites make forming concave shapes much easier and therefore more optimal aerofoil shapes can be created. The profile that Hugh used for his wooden blades is a compromise between good aerodynamic performance over a range of operating conditions, structural rigidity and manufacturability using hand tools.

I would estimate that you might be able to increase energy yields by 5-20% by using molded composite blades, but this is really just a guess. Perhaps Hugh has a better idea.

Regards,
Jon

Hugh Piggott

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Nov 26, 2014, 3:30:17 PM11/26/14
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hi Jon, Luca,

I am not sure why this is topic is called "Abridged summary of wind..." but it's an interesting discussion. 

My position on moulded blades is that yes it is possible to obtain more accurate shapes and better structure and perhaps also quicker easier manufacture but all of this depends on producing quite a large number of blades, because it is quite a process to develop the necessary tooling and workshop skills to produce strong composite blades.  So yes it is worth working on, but do it well or not at all.  It's much harder to do than carving blades from wood.

Luca Rossini

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Nov 27, 2014, 10:07:05 AM11/27/14
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Very interesting links, thanks!
I understand that the process involves many chemicals that might be difficult to source locally, too.
I will see with the people at GoldofBengal on how their process is, with jute fiber, which is rather easily available worldwide. Perhaps other natural fibers too can be strong enough.

About the title, probably my fault since i replied to another topic by mistake..!

thanks again,

Luca
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