Wind Fuel Project Page 1

9/6/09
Typical ceiling fan motor.
The outer ring is part of the rotor.
I drilled ten evenly spaced holes in it, and using Goop,
glued in 5/16" round magnets from Ace hardware.

9/6/09.
Ceiling fan converted into a windmill.
The blade design is my own, but
was inspired by Victor Schauberger.
Total cost, about $30.
The idea is to use it to keep a battery charged, in turn the battery, connected to an inverter, will supply household power.

9/6/09.
I thought this was a good opportunity to experiment with blade design.
I don't care for the typical flat blades. The first prototypes actually work surprisingly well.
The blade design is my own, but
was inspired by Victor Schauberger.
Rotation is counter-clockwise. That is how it was designed.
Looking at it, you would expect it to turn clockwise.
I first made a small prototype, and applied water to it, as if it were air entering.
The water hit the wide section, and swirled up and out.
Pressure forms within the curved area, pushing the blade counterclockwise.

The air is pushed through, causing a vortex spinning,
which adds energy, and creates vacuum when the air leaves the blade.
The blade is cut from 4" thin walled rigid grey conduit.
I get 10 ft. for $5 from a contractor with a big pile,
from which I made 6 blades.

9/6/09.
I would guess it takes wind at about 10+ MPH to get going.

9/21/09.
New 10 blade design. This works with very little wind. Maybe 2-5 MPH. Total cost- under $50.
Lots of recycled materials.
Generator is a treadmill motor, permanent magnets- $15 at a swap meet.
Gen cover- free- water bottle.
Blades- $5.
Front air dam- $1- Wal-Mart.
Pedestal- free- treadmill control panel support.
Angle iron- free- bed frame.
Swivel base- free- took spindle and drum off an abandoned car.
I did have to buy a lot of nuts and bolts, some paint, some pipe fittings.I had some pipe around.