EcoRenovator  

Go Back   EcoRenovator > Improvements > Wind Power
Advanced Search
 


Blog 60+ Home Energy Saving Tips Recent Posts


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-30-16, 02:22 PM   #1
gtojohn
Journeyman EcoRenovator
 
gtojohn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 314
Thanks: 39
Thanked 50 Times in 45 Posts
Default Idea for vertical axis attic heat powered

I was thinking about this one again yesterday. I was working in the hills and saw 2 large horizontal turbines, maybe 3 meters each just above the tree tops, not spinning! What a waste. They should have been much taller. I noticed the neighbor's whirlybird attic vents were moving right along. I know it takes a lot more power to turn big propellers especially against an electrical load, but perhaps you could generate some micro wind from your attic heat and or the wind. Just throwing it out there, not sure the best way to implement it but there's no shortage of attic heat where i live.

__________________
1.47 kw solar, R-40+ attic insulation, 4 layers radiant barrier, solar attic fan, solar mini pool pump
gtojohn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-16, 06:26 PM   #2
MEMPHIS91
Journeyman EcoRenovator
 
MEMPHIS91's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Oxford, MS USA
Posts: 496
Thanks: 69
Thanked 87 Times in 61 Posts
Default

I'm not sure it would ever pay for itself. Plus the reduced air flow due to more fiction on the wind turbines might keep more heat in the attic longer, off setting the power savings. I have seen some pretty cool vertical wind turbines, but the general rule of thumb (heard from several turbine guys) 12mph of wind= 100 watts of power. The math just doesn't add up in my eyes. I looked into buying the cheap ebay micro turbines but they just won't make enough power to be worth the trouble.
Either buy a good sized turbine and mount it as high as you can, or spend the money on solar.
Just my 2 cents
__________________
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ ה' אֶחָד
MEMPHIS91 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-16, 10:58 AM   #3
gtojohn
Journeyman EcoRenovator
 
gtojohn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 314
Thanks: 39
Thanked 50 Times in 45 Posts
Default

Yep, cheap solar has pretty much killed small wind!
__________________
1.47 kw solar, R-40+ attic insulation, 4 layers radiant barrier, solar attic fan, solar mini pool pump
gtojohn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-16, 09:59 PM   #4
nibs
Apprentice EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 206
Thanks: 1
Thanked 18 Times in 17 Posts
Default

As a once upon a time small wind turbine builder I agree, there are few places where a wind turbine is more viable than PV.
My units were designed for use on sailboats, and were I still cruising would expect my wind turbine to out perform a solar array $ for $.
For almost every other application PV wins, no moving parts, no management hassles in high winds no noise etc.

nibs is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:17 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Ad Management by RedTyger
Inactive Reminders By Icora Web Design