On Tue, 25 Oct 2005 12:19:19 GMT, "news" wrote:

Rick wrote:
On Tue, 25 Oct 2005 12:01:21 GMT, "Jim" Jim
wrote:

http://www.bwea.com/pdf/mid%20wales%20microwind.pdf

There are a couple of commercial windpower systems (i.e windsave)

http://www.energytech.co.uk/Windsave%20040205.pdf

The concept seems simple enough, there are a couple of homebrew
turbines out there (mast mounted), but afaik not one that can be
connected as easily. Despite this the system is not avaliable for
DIY installation.

Would a homebrew roof mount system be a reasonable project?


A roof mount is NOT an efficient place for a wind turbine.

given the requirements of the OP it most certainly is.

The turbine
needs a smooth flow of air.

no it doesn't, all it needs is sufficient airflow to turn it.


Need may be have been the wrong word. A smooth airflow has more power
obtainable from it, than a disturbed airflow.


The air will become unsmooth some distance before it reaches the roof.

so ?

Less power will be obtainable from a turbine mounted on a roof, than
one mounted on a pole.

Its easy enough to make for a small turbine, but are you sure that
your building can take the strain ?

eh ? a 1-2Kw wind genny will destabilise a few hundred tons of brick,
mortar and slate ? even in the hebrides, that's a nonsense.


If the mount was at the bottom of the wall, then maybe it would have
to effect the whole wall, but the mount will likley be attached at the
top of the wall, where only a few bricks (for example) will need to
come loose.