Comments on: Small, Low Speed Wind Turbine

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:07:05 +0000

The Honeywell-Ace wind turbine claims to produce 2,000 kW/h per year with a 6 ft diameter blade. If this were true and at an electric cost of 0.1$ per kW/h it would produce $200 of electricity a year.

The reality is that even at 7 mph wind speed this turbine would produce no more then 17.3 watts of electricity or 152 kW/h per year. At 12 mph wind speed it could not produce more then 87 watts of electricity even if it operated at 35% efficiency. In practice, 35% average efficiency is a very high value for a wind turbine system.

The conclusions of this basic analysis is that this turbine, at 12mph wind speed, would produce a maximum of 762 kW/h per year. This translates to $76.2 per year, at $0.1 kW/h, in electricity production.

It would seem that Honeywell’s claim of producing 2,000kW/h per year from this turbine at low wind speeds is false. However, at 17 mph wind speed this turbine could produce the advertised value if this was a 35% efficient system.

The above calculations show that this turbine, at 17mph wind speed, is a 300 to 400 watt system and is essentially a toy worth about $500. For Honeywell-Ace to market this product for $4,000 indicates a real problem with the Honeywell and Ace management.

RPS

By: Jake

Jake — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:14:31 +0000

Agreed, there is very little energy in the wind at low speeds. I would like to see the wind speed power curve for this turbine because I bet it is very inefficient at higher wind speeds. Don’t believe the hype, crunch the numbers yourself. Wind will work for some sites, but it looks like this one is bogus.

By: Tom Mcinerney

Tom Mcinerney — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:55:18 +0000

The comments by Russ (June15) and ,particularly , Will (June16) are apt/correct. The Honeywell device is actually a scaled-down version of a machine-design once {during the Carter Admin RenewableEnergy R&D program} featured on the cover of PopularMechanics Magazine. The aspect that limits its efficiency is the large number of blade-elements in the rotor-structure– this guarantees a low tip-speed ratio , but also ensures startup torque.
* * *
Hello Ali -
Regarding large wind turbine economics , please see:
http://www.ewea.org/fileadmin/ewea_documents/documents/publications/reports/Economics_of_Wind_Main_Report_FINAL-lr.pdf

And also , perhaps:
http://www.nrel.gov/wind/pdfs/41435.pdf

-regards , Tom Mb

By: Ali

Ali — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:42:44 +0000

Hi guys, I’m just wondering if this methodology is worthwhile to be used on a very large scale. I’m not talking about this particular small wind turbine instead overall technology. I’m from and in Pakistan where we’re facing power shortage crisis due to lack of water deposits. Water energy generation is the only medium over here. I’m just wondering if renewable wind energy is answer to the question? Pakistan has strong windy locations and pieces of land where turbines can be installed. Off what sized turbine, costing how much, can produce 1 megawatt? Please enlighten if anyone has knowledge about it. Would be appreciated.

By: Caleb

Caleb — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:36:17 +0000

so it’s supposed to produce 2000kWh/yr. that means lets say you pay $0.10 that means you save $200/yr it would take 22.5 yrs to pay it off. I think we need to go back to the drawing board on this one.

By: Romur1

Romur1 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:18:35 +0000

The average wind speed where I live is 9 MPH. My electric rate is $0.08/kWh, multiple that by 2000 kWh/year and my saving is $160/year. Divide that into the $4500 cost and it will take 28 years to pay back the cost of the unit. A lot more than the 4-5 years stated on the earthtronics site.

It’s BS like this that turns people off to alt-energy.

By: russ

russ — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:06:34 +0000

Another good source of information about small wind turbines from an independent source is http://www.wind-works.org

Will – this may be of interest to you as it contains info about shrouded turbines – not complimentary but in studying something you need to study the bad along with the good and then come up with your independent analysis.

By: Charles

Charles — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:48:49 +0000

Claim 1- 2 mph is about .3-.4 Watts. A new fluorescent bulb is 13 watts. What is this claim about? 2 mph, as mentioned, is no electricity and if you figure in the losses through the wires you could actually be using electricity. Claim 2- 1580 kWhrs per year translates to about US$160.00. How can they claim in the video 12-36 month payback! and the $4500 does not include installation. Read the books (before you buy) about small wind energy and site placement as well as the calculations mentioned in the other posts. Wind energy is great but we must be realistic about claims. This isn’t one of them.

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:57:32 +0000

Well I have the perfect name for this slimy product. They should call it the Placebo Axis Wind Turbine! What a perfect example of no-conscience corporate greed at work. There is a reason no-one has been marketing wind turbines that operate in the really low wind speeds. That would be because there IS NO POWER THERE! OK, wow so you can get an unloaded propeller to spin, that looks nice on a promotional video. Hey, why not make a model that is designed to be hidden inside your garage, that way the neighbors won’t be upset by how unsightly it looks. The various government agencies that are offering grants and subsidies had better take a look at where their money is being spent and put the brakes on for products like this where the waste of precious public taxpayer’s money is so blatantly obvious to anyone with a kindergarten physics degree. The ONLY way a product like this can be considered successful is in the way it might qualify for such grants and subsidies, not by the way it can generate even the slightest bit of ROI based on electricity produced. Two thumbs down!

By: Will

Will — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:37:47 +0000

2000 kwh per year = 5.4 kwh per day = 225 watts per hour. A 6ft diameter rotor has a swept area of 2.5m2. Assuming a 50% efficiency a turbine would need to operate in an average wind speed of 7m/s (14mph) to create this much power. Most wind turbines operate significantly under 50% efficiency. especially at low wind speeds.

0.5 air density (0.625) * V*V*V (7*7*7=343) * area (2.5m) = 545 watts /hr, *0.5 efficiency =272w/hr

1. Turbines in low wind speeds never come close to achieving 50% efficiency.

2. Nowhere except Alaska and Shetland (maybe Greenland) have average wind pseeds of >7m/s

3. This claim is about X10 more than realistic expectations (depending on location)

4. The power available in 2-3mph wind is miniscule. There is no advantage in capturing low windspeeds.

5. THere are soooo many bogus claims from manufactures preying on honest people hoping to reduce their carbon footprint. Someone needs to start preventing this. It is damaging to the industry. This claim needs to be backed up with real data. THe more bigus claims are put out there the harder it will be for companies to sele turbines that actually acheive viable results.

By: Jane Ferreira

Jane Ferreira — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:26:35 +0000

A thought relative to the distribution point, Ace Hardware, is to form relationships in locales with electricians who can install – otherwise, consumers run the risk of purchasing then trying to determine the best method, location of installation. And oh yeah, how does the net metering work in my city, state. Just a thought but a move in the right direction.

By: Ahsanullah Soomro

Ahsanullah Soomro — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:49:56 +0000

Very nice technology. I felt happy as came to know the mentioned technology. Through this concept I am sure every household will install small wind turbines, this will not only help to reduce the gases emission but also help to enhance the utilization of alternative energy resources. one thing is moving in my mind, maintenance cost should also be discussed along with its initial cost as mentioned $4,500 and its life.

By: Ruth Case

Ruth Case — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:50:15 +0000

This is great! Much better than noisy giant turbines blighting the landscape that may become hazardous in the future due to lack of maintenance (such funding is always a problem). Also transporting the energy across the country allows giant corporations to own our government as the oil giants have for more than 50 years.

By: Zahira Ameen

Zahira Ameen — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:56:46 +0000

I’m sure this would work on top of any skyscraper, too.

By: Julie Lancaster Cowan

Julie Lancaster Cowan — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:56:29 +0000

Would work very well in New Zealand which is quite windy.

By: Nicklos Stefanisko

Nicklos Stefanisko — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:56:06 +0000

I like this, it looks like that with two or three of them one could easily set up a personal wind farm. That said, I’d like someone to study the impact of large scale wind farms in general on weather patterns. I’m concerned that taking the energy out of the wind could disrupt the weather somewhere else, like a butterfly effect. I don’t think a house with a couple of these on the roof would be a problem though. The question is at what point does our ability to take over shadow the planet’s ability to give.

By: russ

russ — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:09:17 +0000

I like wind power! I am all in favor of it – however I am also for truth in advertising!

At 2 mph wind speed virtually zero power will be generated – there is no force to convert to electricity. This claim is pure hocus pocus!

They make great claims about not using a gearbox – wonderful! That only means this is a high speed unit with more potential for bird kills plus a lot of noise.

Very few places have an annual average of 12 mph or greater wind speed as well. Average wind speeds for an area are available form the government. These are a start. Please note that the numbers posted by the gov site will be at 10 meters (33 feet) elevation – not at roof top.

These guys do not offer a power curve on their web site – for good reason as it will show the truth.

Anyone selling like this is only interested in the government subsidies and incentives.

There are honest turbine suppliers out there if one looks. I recommend a site http://www.homepower.com if anyone is interested in the truth about wind.

The are studies that tell the truth about small scale wind – two of those are as follow:

1. Encraft Warwick Wind Trials Final Report
2. Site Selection and Factors Influencing Small Wind Systems’ Energy Output

The planet needs saved! We will not accomplish this with magic such as this represents.