[Cialug] tornado-proofing your data?

Thu May 29 09:58:34 CDT 2008

I dunno what I was thinking when I typed horizontal, its a vertical
rotor.

There is a lot of conflicting research out there. I made two differant
types of shrouded rotors and connected them in one "frame". The top
rotor is a Savonius rotor and the bottom rotor is paddle rotor. I used
the two differant types so I could do my own testing regarding the
efficiency.

Generally speaking the "engineer" types say the Savonius is in-efficient
and slow moving. However, it develops a lot of torque in low speed winds
and does well in "dirty" wind. (gusty wind that changes directions) This
means its well suited for standing vertically on the ground.  I didn't
want to mess around with a 8 ft prop on top of a 50ft tower. The
downside is that this "device" is large. Its 4ft wide, by 18ft tall. I
had to put wheels on it so I could move it around the shop.

Eliminating the tower reduces your cost by 30-50% and eliminates a ton
of hassle. Adding the shrouds to the rotor almost doubles the efficiency
making them as efficient as the horizontal prop types.

I still have yet to figure how to collect wind speed data using a linux
box. Anyone know of some Linux software that collects data from a serial
port and dumps it into a .csv file? At the moment, I take the .csv file
from a windows box, copy it onto a thumb drive, carry it over to a linux
box and import the data into a Mysql database.

On Thu, 2008-05-29 at 09:18 -0500, albus wrote:
> Is the  horizontal axis wind generator  one of those Helical / S curve models
> I seen on Science Channel or what ever channel it was on, that
> was in Chicago IL? Some professor at the Illinois University of
> Chicago was experimenting with the concept. They've got them
> in use at some buildings down town Chicago I guess.
> 
> They only run 380 RPM regardless of wind speed I guess and
> they take much less wind to turn than these big a$$ fan types they're
> putting up all around here. Plus they don't vibrate or throw parts off.
> They can stand vertical or lay horizontal too.
> 
> I've been looking for info or a link to those.
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Dan Hockey" <icepuck2k at mchsi.com>
> To: "'Central Iowa Linux Users Group'" <cialug at cialug.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 6:57 PM
> Subject: RE: [Cialug] tornado-proofing your data?
> 
> 
> > If you are serious about using a liftruck battery look into the
> > Exide/Enersys Loadhog series, stay away from the sealed gel cell batteries.
> > The Loadhog batteries are more money but last longer than Deka and some
> > other cheaper batteries. The company that I used to work for use to have
> > clow valve for a customer, they had some Loadhogs that were 14-15yrs old,
> > and that was in an electric forklifts.
> > The Enersys rep that I used to deal with at the time was planning his system
> > around 48v 1100ahr Loadhog(3800lb) battery. He figured about a 20yr life
> > span because it was for a stationary use and the battery wasn't being
> > bounced around.
> > -dh     
> > 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: cialug-bounces at cialug.org [mailto:cialug-bounces at cialug.org] On Behalf
> > Of Dave J. Hala Jr.
> > Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 8:46 AM
> > To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group
> > Subject: RE: [Cialug] tornado-proofing your data?
> > 
> > 
> > You forget...I'm a bohemie with a welder. I'm fairly confident that I
> > would not build a structure to hold all those pv panels.  I'd probably
> > build a frame using a 14ga 1in box steel and 18ga sheet stock. I'd put
> > it 6-8 inches off the ground (so the bunnies could have a home) and then
> > I'd put up a 50in tall cattle panel fence around it to keep the dogs off
> > of it.  I realize that dogs and bunnies don't mix, but if you have an
> > ample supply of de-wormer and bunnies, you have happy dogs.
> > 
> > I've just finished the mockup of a prototype 2kw (in 25 mph wind)
> > horizontal axis wind generator that sits on the ground. Photos will be
> > available as soon as its painted and spinning in the back yard.
> > 
> > I'd use an Outback systems inverter to combine the two seperate power
> > sources and charge the battery. I wouldn't use the optima batteries.
> > They cost too much and only have a 3-5 year life. I'd purchase a 24 volt
> > forklift battery that has been recently taken out of service. There have
> > been numerous reports of re-purposed forklift batteries being used with
> > wind turbines and being in service in excess of 15 years.
> > 
> > :) Dave
> > 
> > On Wed, 2008-05-28 at 08:21 -0500, murraymckee at wellsfargo.com wrote:
> >> That's assuming that you built a structure strong enough to hold the
> >> panels against the wind during the storm.  And even if the frame holding
> >> the panels survived you'd have to contend with the panels being blown
> >> out of the frame.  
> >> 
> >> Murray McKee 
> >> Operating Systems Engineer
> >> WFFIS - Wells Fargo Financial Information Systems 
> >> 800 Walnut Street
> >> MAC F4030-037
> >> Des Moines, IA 50309-3605
> >> WORK (515)557-6127 Cell (515) 890-9660  FAX (515) 557-6046
> >> MurrayMcKee at WellsFargo.com 
> >> "This message may contain confidential and / or privileged information.
> >> If you are not the addressee or authorized to receive this for the
> >> addressee, you must not use, copy, disclose, or take any action based on
> >> this message or any information herein.  If you have received this
> >> message in error, please advise the sender immediately by reply e-mail
> >> and delete this message.  Thank you for your cooperation."
> >> 
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: cialug-bounces at cialug.org [mailto:cialug-bounces at cialug.org] On
> >> Behalf Of Dan Hockey
> >> Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 11:11 PM
> >> To: 'Central Iowa Linux Users Group'
> >> Subject: RE: [Cialug] tornado-proofing your data?
> >> 
> >> * Backup onto a remote server located in the underground fruit cellar in
> >> the
> >> back yard.
> >> *Use a combination of a solar/wind power the power it.
> >> *Since you only need about 500 watts, you could do this for a reasonable
> >> cost.
> >> 
> >> Have you priced solar panels and batteries lately?
> >> 
> >> 500 watts x one hour = 500w/hr or 0.500Kw/hr
> >> 0.5Kw/hr x 24hrs = 12Kw/hr <- and that's just for one day.
> >> 
> >> Now for the battery pack..
> >> Using the Optima blue top (55ahr) for this example.
> >> 
> >> (55ahr x 12v) / 1000
> >>          660  / 1000
> >>          =0.66Kw/hr just for one battery.
> >> 
> >> 55ahr x 20 = 1100ahr
> >> 
> >> (1100ahr x 12v / 1000 = 13.2Kw/hr
> >> 
> >> 1 battery = $169.95 x 20 = $3399.00
> >> 
> >> Keep in mind your solar array is going to be 2x to 3x larger in order to
> >> charge the battery bank with the ~4hr of useable sunlight(for ia) for
> >> fixed
> >> solar panels.
> >> As you can see this is starting to get expensive to keep your data safe,
> >> that doesn't include the inverter and charge controller. You will be the
> >> only one in town with the highest uptime after the tornado blows
> >> through.
> >> -dh   
> >> 
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> Cialug at cialug.org
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> >> 
> >> _______________________________________________
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> > -- 
> > ___
> > Dave J. Hala Jr.
> > President OSIS, Inc.
> > www.osis.us
> > 
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> >
> 
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-- 
___
Dave J. Hala Jr.
President OSIS, Inc.
www.osis.us