Richard J said:
Hi Geogios,
I live in the Playa Grande, Cabrera region at about 700 feet elevation off the coast. I?ve been monitoring the wind speeds for over two years. My average annual wind speed is around 6.5 M.P.H. I presently produce all my power with a 24.5 Kw generator, two 3.6 kw inverters, 32 batteries and a few solar panels.
I would be interested in some info on your wind turbine. Do you have a web-site? Is the 10 kw the only size available?
For myself I would prefer a series of small turbines over one large one.
1) Easier installation, size of tower and weight of turbine. Can be raised and
brought down without using a crane or heavy machinery.
2) Capability to take one off line if it needs to be repaired without disrupting
all your energy production.
3) A smaller turbine usually produces less of a fluttering effect. The further
the turbine is from your loads or house the greater the loss of energy and
the higher the cost of wiring.
Looking forward to knowing more about the characteristics of your wind turbine,
Richard J
Hi Richard,
I know the Playa grande area well. I play golf there everytime I visit the DR.
The area has a wind class 4, which is a "good" wind sourse.
A very important factor is inspecting your "wind site". Visit:
www.windpower.dk/core.htm
click turbine sitting. Read all pages. This editorial will help you to decide
if a wind turbine is SUITABLE for your location.
Using multiple smaller turbines results in:
1. More wear & tear
2. More towers
3. More wires, transfer switches & misc connections.
4. More noise. Small rotors spin faster=increased fluttering!
5. Higher cost for overall kw production.
6. Aesthetically, your home will look like...well you know.
For small turbines "bergey" is the best. I located a few authorized
distributors in Santiago, DR. Go to
www.bergey.com, click world distribution
and zoom into DR.
I suggest buying only the turbine. Given your elevation at 700 feet,
you can install a pivoting tubular metal tower approx 30 feet high. This tower
can be custom made locally having the "hinged" point 10 feet above
ground. Fix a counter weight at the bottom for easier erection. The reasons for this type of tower are:
1. Protect the turbine from hurricanes.
2. Easier inspection of components, lubrication and general maintenance.
3. Bring turbine to the ground when travelling abroad.
4. Replace rusting support wires.
My turbine design is based on large blades with slow rotation but high
torque. This design is less noisy, gives longer bearing life, is hurricane
proof and produces power even under a light breeze. Permanent magnet
generator is used with special design for low inertia-high efficiency.
Due to patent procedure, more info is not yet available, sorry.
Basically, three(3) models are tested:
a. 1kw for battery charging.
b. 10kw for stand alone.
c. 100kw for resorts.
Investing in windpower can be confusing and costly. Look at all products
out there before deciding how to go about it...Georgios.
