Comments on: Vertical Axis Windmill Invention

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.

By: Glen Bolton

Glen Bolton — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:21:45 +0000

Hello all,

I am interested in learning more details about the
VAWT designs that have been tried, especially anything
concerning the Broadstar system that has been alresdy
shown in limited detail. Is anyone working on some
new concepts here in Texas? thank you, Glen Bolton
glenbolton@tx.rr.com

By: Peter A, Ruoss

Peter A, Ruoss — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:49:38 +0000

My carboard Model works just fine and is speed controlable. Please go to the link below.

http://ca.youtube.com/peterruoss

By: Victor Cheboxarov

Victor Cheboxarov — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:08:00 +0000

Yes. It’s a Voith-Schneider turbine. Despite of complexity, this turbine is better for low speed rotation (low noise!) than usual VAWTs and propellers. In 2005 we patented VAWT with passive mode variable pitch plus variable airfoil!

By: Pinto NH

Pinto NH — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:27:52 +0000

Very effective on low velocity of winds. It has twice of torque than the horizontal axis turbine. Furthermore, works on water current, low water current! More effective than traditional water turbine. We have similar (in concept) designs, based on our prototype made from biscuit’s can.

By: Glen Bolton

Glen Bolton — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:27:30 +0000

Tom, what is the present status of your wind machine? Have you built and tested a large model? I am working on a similar turbine with automatic control of the wings angle of attack etc.

What is your opinion of the large vertical mag-lev machine shown on, You Tube? I don’t know if is is real or not, but I suspect that it just exixts as someones dream. Your device looks like the wings are offset from the central axis so the moment arm is greater on the windward side. Maybe a good idea but how about balance during rotation?

Respond please if you can, Regards, Glen Bolton

By: Christian Bowes

Christian Bowes — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 14:58:43 +0000

It’s a Voith Schneider Propeller working in turbine mode-nothing new to it! Much research has already been conducted into such a device and in fact most variable pitch giromills work on the exact same principle. Complexity limits feasibility and performance won’t be higher than current vertical axis turbines.

By: Ant Williams

Ant Williams — Thu, 24 May 2007 11:13:41 +0000

Yrs & yrs ago my Dad built such a contraption – not based on aerofoils as yours seems to be, but with blades that were either perpendicular to the wind direction on one side of the tail axis, or folded away on the other.

This large contraption – 5 metres across – was cause for much hilarity. The inertia of the whole thing slowed its response to wind direction change too much – the result of which was a wild, octopus-like flapping and clanging. A great conversation piece – even if it never pumped water!

He lost interest in it at that point – so we’ll never know if he was onto something!

Good luck.

By: Phi Tran

Phi Tran — Fri, 04 May 2007 03:39:55 +0000

Years ago; during my research of wind turbine I have tested the basically the same design (just 4 airfoils instead of 8). Here my problem.
1- It requires too many moving parts (to turn the airfoil . . .).
2- The turbulence make those in the back become the liability rather then the asset.
3- I respect the “Inventor”. He may discover some other thing that I could not.
4- Any way we should cheer any effort in this area.

I you wonder how ours look alike then it is:
http://www.nextenergynews.com/windpower/windpower9.html
and
http://www.nextenergynews.com/hydropower/hydropower1.html

I hope this helps
Thanks
Phi

By: Max Kennedy

Max Kennedy — Tue, 01 May 2007 03:37:30 +0000

Basically a Voith Schneider Propeller adapted to wind power. Should work but complexity brings reliability into question.

By: Adrian Akau

Adrian Akau — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 07:04:48 +0000

I have seen a similar design for an under water current device that produces electricity from moving water. Presenly a similar design without the blades can be found on another web site for children in Africa to pump water from under the ground as they play. If Tom were to put some seats on his invention and to install it in place of the merry-go-round children’s water pump, it could serve to pump water from the ground and, at the same time, provide entertainment for the children. Tom has a really good idea.

adrianakau@aol.com