Blog Video: EWB-SF: Prototyping low cost wind turbine at AIDG Guatemala
by Catherine LaineApril 17th, 2008
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Tyler Valiquette of EWB-SF
When we first started in Guatemala with XelaTeco, we had the bold plan of manufacturing windmills based on Hugh Piggott’s design from OtherPower.com. We soon discovered that an essential component, permanent magnets, where difficult to obtain in country and that the cost of the windmill tower, battery bank, inverters, etc. were prohibitively expensive for the populations we wanted to serve. The size turbine we were considering would have been too expensive for a family and insufficient power for a community. So for a time we had to put aside our dreams of harnessing the power of wind.
In spring 2007, we teamed up with the San Francisco chapter of Engineers Without Borders to develop a low cost windmill as part of our Project Placement Program. The goal was to provide low cost (under $100) renewable electricity for LED lighting, cell phone charging, or small radio use, etc. The idea is to beat the price of a small (less than 3 watt) photovoltaic solar panel system. The initial inspiration for the project was a design developed by Ed Lenz made with coffee cans.
Just this last week, members from EWB-SF’s Appropriate Technology Design Team,Heather Fleming, Tyler Valiquette and Jesse Wodin, came to Guatemala to build a prototype of their vertical axis design.
Simple vertical axis wind turbine prototype. Wind is captured by the fabric blades which turn the steel axis.
Duration: 1min 7sec
Tyler Valiquette gives a brief description of the system.
Bicycle Gear affixed to the bottom of the shaft
The gears turn a small motor to generate electricity. Much work remains to be done in perfecting the motor and the electronics.
Heather Fleming and Jesse Wodin relax after a long week of prototyping.
Stay Tuned for more information on other designers/engineers participating in our Project Placement Program in Guatemala.
Related Post:
Link of the Day 03222008: EWB/AIDG/XelaTeco Project in Wired Mag
