Development History
2003-2005
Experimented briefly with a HAWT, then built and tested several H style VAWT. The experiments clearly demonstrated the vibration problems with 2 and 3 bladed turbines. Started experiments with 5 or more blades of a VAWT.
2006
Built a mobile wind tunnel consisting of a diffuser, test section, contraction zone and fan. Conducted experiments on blade profiles, bluff bodies, small VAWT with solid aluminum blades and aerodynamic drag on cables at various skew angles.
2007
Started experimenting with horizontal cables attached to the blades of rotors with 5 or more blades.
The blades on each rotor started at the bottom of the central structure, went outward and diagonally upward, then vertical and diagonally back to the central structure. The joints from the diagonal and vertical blades were adjustable so data was collected using various blade offset angles.
2008
Build the first Darrieus shaped wind turbine with cross cables and struts.
2009
Hired the NRC to build computer models of this turbine with a diameter of 40 meters. They also did an aerodynamic and structural analysis of the 40 and 160-meter diameter models. Removed the central structure or pipe in the middle of the rotor. The rotor was raised using hydraulics and the support from the pipe. After the rotor was in place the pipe was removed by using cables and pulleys connected to the top hub. The pipe weight (2000 pounds) was more than doubled by using this procedure but the blades and cables remained motionless.
2010
Attached strain gauges on the blades and used equipment from NRC to collect data while the turbine was operating under various wind conditions. The NRC concluded the stress on the blades was low as expected.
2011
Constructed the Traction Drive with the small wheel on the outside of the big wheel. The generator extracted power from this drive system.
2012
Won first place in a worldwide competition organized by NASA’s media group ‘Tech Briefs’ and attended the awards ceremony in New York.
Built a Savonius rotor inside the Darrieus rotor to enable the turbine to start operating in low winds.
2013
Built and tested a new traction drive with the small wheel on the inside of the big wheel.
Started the construction of the 60-foot diameter 50 KW wind turbine.
2014
Completed the 50 KW turbine in January and collected data until March of 2016.
Travelled to Las Vegas and did a presentation at the AWEA annual convention.
2015
Designed, built and tested a novel aero brake system consisting only of 2 ropes that extended to the equator of the rotor which prevented the turbine from over speeding in potential runaway situations.
2016
Designed, built and successfully tested the Lux Hydraulic Pump.
2018
Designed and built a 100 Kw machine tied to the grid with a 20 year PPA.