permaculture

[Douglas Woodard <dwoodard@becon.org>]

Lawrence, for some reason wind energy seems to attract the self-deluded 
and scam artists, and these categories appear to shade into each other. 
This stuff at the URL you've posted looks to me as if it falls under 
these headings.

Wind power is getting to be a fairly mature field after close to 120 
years of science-oriented work beginning with Poul La Cour in Denmark, 
following over 1000 years of tinkering and testing by artisans.

When you see something new talked up, see if the talk links to a 
discussion of the way the device works plus at least a year of tests 
with data. If it doesn't, don't waste your time.

You might want to look at Paul Gipe's site
http://www.wind-works.org

click on "articles"
then "small wind"
then "inventions and questionable wind turbines"

Caveat emptor.

People who want to use wind power should read Paul's latest book, and 
maybe Hugh Piggott's work via
http://www.scoraigwind.co.uk

not to mention
http://www.homepower.com

Rooftops, buildings in general and trees slow the wind and create 
turbulence which is destructive to wind turbines. The power in the wind 
varies directly as the cube of the windspeed; twice the speed means 8 
times the power. Economic use of wind energy depends on return on 
investment; long life and low maintenance. Wind energy converters need 
to be up in undisturbed, smooth strong winds. That's the way to get the 
most out of your investment, whther it's money or sweat and time. If you 
can't get them there, solar power (photovoltaics for example) may be the 
way to go.

Doug Woodard
St. Catharines, Ontario



Lawrence F. London, Jr. wrote:
> Next Gen Wind Energy you have Never Seen
>
> http://www.hacknmod.com/displayMOD.php?hack=1586
>
> "We've all become accustomed to seeing the typical triple blade wind farms on the horizon.  Hopefully, times are about 
> to change.  New helix shaped, low profile wind turbine designs can easily atop any building or structure, providing it 
> with power."
>
> "
> Helix Wind Turbine
> Quietrevolution QR5
> SideWinder
> Disk Wind Turbine
> Wind Belt
> "