It's a bird, it's a plane ...It's a bird !

[Stewart Corman]

For all those who have been waiting patiently (one month late) for me to stop with the 12 inch toys ...here are the first pics of the 10' 8" experimental prototype:

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r203/scorman1/Turbine%20project/4378.jpg

Note that I only mounted three of the six blades on a single rotor to first characterize performance for a "conventional design"
They are 48 inch NACA4425 tapered from 3inch at tip and 9 inches at root (which is the 25% station). The pitch was set at 7 degrees presuming a TSR = 6.
The center void area only comprises 6.2% of the available swept area.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r203/scorman1/Turbine%20project/4364.jpg

tilted almost to the ground allows assembly and setting of pitch angle
note that tail rigidly fixed, as this entire assembly is not a permanent installation and can be lowered at will by a single operator.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r203/scorman1/Turbine%20project/4365.jpg

closeup of the hub assembly and generator w/ 1:1 cogged flat belt drive

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r203/scorman1/Turbine%20project/4373.jpg

raising using 50' cable winch bolted to tree for anchor, and permanent 14' gin pole w/ pulley for three way purchase

When wind blows, I will post video clips on my website under "turbine project" album, but other pics are available now:
http://s145.photobucket.com/albums/r203/scorman1/

[Stewart Corman]

Resistance ...what did you think I was going to say??? :rolleyes:

I have implemented a multiple resitance calrod load to simulate resistance heating. I now have the capability to provide NL, 6.8ohm, 3.4ohm , and 2.2 ohm load in series with the internal 1.2 ohm winding resistance of the DC brush motor.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r203/scorman1/Turbine%20project/4419.jpg

It is a 3 phase unit rated at 20KW/220v, so each leg is 6.8 ohms.
By simply measuring the DC voltage across the load(s) , I can calculate the rpm which defines the TSR at the measured WS. (note the banana plug tap for connecting to hand held meter).

Just changed the blade pitch angle yesterday to 12 degrees ..previous 7.5 degrees was too hard to start ..hopefully can get some real numbers if/when we get some wind

Stew Corman from sunny Endicott