Shop Truths, Phrases, Tales; and Outright Lies

[Frank S]

C-bag out where we are or I should say within 45 to 60 miles as the crow fly's there are at least 3 reasonably large wind farms. I haven't set up to do a data log of the average wind but just 12 miles from me there are at least 3 underground weather-stations online they are located in an almost perfect triangle to each other with our place located near the center of 1 of the legs This gives me a pretty good estimation of high low and average wind through out the year. When it comes to wind turbines I have spent years conversing with several folks on another forum. While in kuwait I designed several home brew axial and radial flux generators and built a very small scale model but never flew it.
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I am of several thoughts when it comes to home brew wind or small commercially available turbines the $$ cost averaging simply won't pay out. You can build a nice 1 to 3 KW axial flux or even a nice radial generator with ceramic magnets for little to nothing in cost providing you are a good scrounge and know where to scarf your magnets and copper in the scrap yards. Up grading to NEO. magnets will set your back some bucks but you can build a more durable and flex-able genny. Where the cost comes in is in an suitable tower and its anchorage You can erect a hobby tower as I call them which is nothing more than a single pipe using guy wires to secure it in place but those to me are pretenders. Most folks who decide to get into wind do not have my skill set so they would have to buy their engineered towers, such as a Rohn will set you back The Rohn guyed towers are a favorite among the Ham radio folks but Rohn engineers all types of towers both guyed and free standing Next comes the anchorage.
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Far too many home turbines have failed and caused extensive damage and sometimes even deaths from improper anchoring guys have been pulled from the ground towers have folded and so on
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Even a well engineered freestanding tower if there are not tons of concrete with deep roots to support the base one day there will be a freak 90 MPH micro burst of a gust that will bring it to the ground.
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Some engineers in fact mistakenly believe that a base designed for a 120 ft tower meant to support a set of 10 highway lights will support a wind turbine tower of only 60 ft with a 21 ft diameter turbine set and generator nacel for ever. WRONG WRONG WRONG Lobbing off the upper 60 ft of tower and using the bottom section may be plenty strong for the generator and turbine. However the forces against the turbine even if the blades are at "0" pitch of the turbine is rotated to full stall can be tremendous because wind is un-predictable at best, it can change directions by 1 to 180 ° in an instant leaving the full cord area of the blades facing the wind.
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I used to do some marine engineering for break waters and sea walls so in large part I associate wind engineering with marine and I have studied the effects of wind on both low and high structures. I would be comfortable in designing my own tower footing but would not ever place my stamp if I still had one on someone else's I'll leave that to the PE's with civil and structural degrees on their walls.
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Now for the short answer to your question about wind Yes I do have plans on wind but time and $$$ will make any design or build somewhere in the future.
As far as flexibility in my approach I am supposed to have 2 industrial UPS units coming to me which were used by a large international financial investments firm. When they arrive sometime next month I hope to be able to finalize my system design
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I have several industrial controls panels and switch gear to chose from when I start building my shop so some of this may even find its way into the electrical needs of it.