Two Small Wind Turbine Developments Propel Industry Upward

Hamburg, Germany [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] In Germany, with Conergy AG’s new SWT 6000 AC and SWT 7500 DC small wind turbines (SWT), the company can cover regionally varied energy requirements to best effect using an intelligent regenerative energy mix. And here in the U.S., the SeaHawk Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) from Torrance, California-based PacWind Technology are said to solve several problems associated with traditional propeller-based wind turbines.

The small wind turbines from Conergy incorporate a directional and patented control system for adjusting the pitch angle of the blades. In increasing wind velocity, this mechanism continuously turns the rotor blades at changing speeds, generating a maximum amount of electricity up to wind speeds of 40 meters per second. Compared with a static alignment, this patented control system boosts the current yield of the rotor by up to 80%. In stormy weather, the blades turn away from the wind, protecting the generator and the rotor blades from overload. The small wind turbines generate an absolute minimum in vibration and can be installed with a 7-meter (m) tower on flat roofs. The lightweight construction and tower heights for ground installation of 13 m or 19 m; installation is aided by a cable winch. The SWT 6000 AC can be integrated into three-phase stand-alone hybrid systems, for example, to provide electricity to small rural villages. The Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) from PacWind Technology are also said to be able to generate electricity in remote locations. The SeaHawk, the first in a series of patented, scaleable VAWTs from PacWind Technology, has a power output of 1 kilowatt (kW) and a maximum power output of 3.4 kW. It measures 55 inches high by 30 inches in diameter, and is scaleable to megawatt class turbines. Each wind turbine includes a three-function electronic charge controller for 12V/24V/48V systems, and a three-phase rectifier is included to complete the system. Due to silent and vibration-free operation, animals are not frightened by the VAWT and it is said to be visible to birds. “The SeaHawk incorporates PacWind’s patented, permanent magnet, three-phase AC generator, containing the most powerful rare-earth magnets in the industry. This allows the VAWT to produce more power at lower wind speeds compared to propeller driven generators,” according to the inventor and manufacturer, Phil Watkins, president of PacWind Technology.