Comments on: Vertical Axis Windmill Invention

By: Henry

Henry — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:36:37 +0000

I think as Tom does not seem to have posted here or on his site for some years he must have realized that his idea has been done before. Talking of which Micheal Max – you have two ideas on your site – border-x which seems to me to be identical to an RFID tag and the hollow shafts – these have been used in jet engines since jet engines where invented. The wind turbine would work allot better if you joined the three rotors together and rewound the alternator to work with three times as much torque, the same is true of your car application. You don’t need more alternators you just need one correctly sized one, which would have one third of: frictional losses, complexity and cost.

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:42:06 +0000

there is no need to change the pitch of the blades if you make them the right shape to start with, think of an [anemometer], plus if you have it cowled in such a way that the wind would only strike where it is needed

By: Manoj

Manoj — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 03:41:09 +0000

Hi,

well there are lots of talented people here, well i am just a student i want some help in building a vertical windmill, my interest is on the geartrain thats being used but i also need to have a simple vertical axis windmills to finish the project, i have tried with some blade designs but i would like to improve

i would appreciate any kind of help

By: Larry

Larry — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 13:55:55 +0000

Its a waste of time patenting this windmill because its nothing many other people have already designed and made.
Its Pretty obvious to make the returning blades reduce their angle by a lever or cam mechanism.
Everyone has though of it. I’ve already made a bunch just the same in the past.
Its a good type for residential (not an open field) where the wind path is hindered by buildings.

By: Nick Torbay

Nick Torbay — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:36:33 +0000

The vertical axis turbine could surely be made simpler, fairly flat design with many blades, plus a clever cowling device to keep the wind powering from 1 side, centrifugal clutch & centrifugal brakes 1 moving shaft, anything would be better than that tired old horizontal design with 3 blades, only needs some imagination.

By: Michael Max

Michael Max — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:57:34 +0000

Gary, I have to parse the e-mail or elso it wont get posted. again its, max at horizontalwindmills . c o m

The website is, horizontalwindmills . c o m , you can e-mail me from there as well.

By: alpha_omega

alpha_omega — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:44:14 +0000

I like where the article states that the inventor claims ‘this is the most complex ever devised.’ A pretty clear indicator that it has no future. I can say that with certainty because the concept goes back hundreds of years. I have various wind power books that bear out this same concept from the 18th century.

By: gary

gary — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:53:46 +0000

max tried to email you but seems to be a problem with your address. max-at-horizontal windmills.com

By: Michael Max

Michael Max — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:28:08 +0000

Hello Gary, there are some small pics you can look at on my website, just click to enlarge. If you are interested e-mail me at,
max-at- horizontal windmills . com

By: gary

gary — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:24:31 +0000

I am currently working on building wind generators with 3phase motors converted to generators. Wanting to us vertical airfoils. Having a hard time finding any building plans for one. The post here sounds like you guys are pretty up on the subject. I like tom’s idea just rather large and to many moving parts. Anyone have an idea.

By: gupta

gupta — Thu, 20 May 2010 19:14:29 +0000

Endorsement of vertical axis models – now if you take these turbines and rotate them 90 degrees and then stick them on rooftops, I’m smitten!

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:41:43 +0000

I have recently provisionally patented a much better design. Simplicity makes reliability. I have invented a way to finally make wind power a truly viable power source.

I was not even working on windmills when the idea hit me, but maybe thats why I was able to see the solution so clearly.

I need help building the prototypes, data logging during the static and dynamic testing. Testing will be done in Texas at either Boca CHica Beach or South Padre Island. I have a meeting Monday at UTB-TSC in Brownsville, TX, e-mail me if your interested.

Regards,

Michael A. Max

By: Ken Gray

Ken Gray — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:34:02 +0000

Sorry, 1700s not 1500s

By: Ken Gray

Ken Gray — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:26:27 +0000

There was a (Flour) windmill of the same design in opperation in Margate, kent in the 1500s

Regards
K.Gray

By: tony

tony — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 08:03:25 +0000

A great piece of engineering. But the more moving parts you have the more time you have to put into maintenance. We need to think of how easy it is to switch on a light switch which is linked to a mains system and build your system as close to that reliability as you can. The simplest way of designing something that does the job is usually the best.

By: TY

TY — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:42:12 +0000

Eventhough it is great to see the efforts put into the concept this design would ecom=nomically not viable. this design would need to be installed at high elevations and would take more space for safety resons.

The design has too many components and maintenance costs would forbid the introduction of this system.

Nevertheless, kudos for the efforts and interest in renewable energy.

By: Shane Folie

Shane Folie — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:05:39 +0000

An amendment to my post above is it has stators not vortex generators to smooth the airflow.

By: Shane Folie

Shane Folie — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:02:47 +0000

I have been working on a similar design but my design varies in the fact that the airfoils are fixed and the blades are almost flat on one surface with a large camber on the other surface. The Blades also incorporate a leading edge on both sides and no trailing edge for the reason I will explain.

Operation
1. Wind hits the forward blade creating lift therefore assisting rotation up. As the blade design should work this way for about 10 degrees.

2. After lift effect has finished and because blade is fixed the drag or wind hitting the flat surface of the blade creates more rotation.

3. As the blade passes to the back and because it has 2 leading edges it creates lift downwards further creating lift but still in the direction of rotation. I have also incorporated a vortex generator on the center axle to smooth the turbulent air from the front blade creating clean laminar air flow.

4. There is a nacelle incorporated on the bottom 1/3 of the drum to negate any effect on the blade from the wind as it moves forward into the first position.

This design only has 1 moving part. Any comments appreciated.

By: Bill Lange

Bill Lange — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:55:35 +0000

Simpler is better. Maintenance would be a problem with that many moving parts and bearing points. Being anywhere near it during a heavy wind might be hazardous to your health!

I’m in the process of getting a patent on a really different and revolutionary VAWT design.

Keep an eye out for ERIN!

By: Frank Porter

Frank Porter — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:03:12 +0000

Countless prior art at patent office of similar complexities. None became practical commercially. Simplicity is the key. Wind should do work entering and leaving. A plenum chambered design with fixed rotor and stator blades can do this effectively. Take a look.
Frank in Billerica.