Arthur2 wrote:
"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
m...
B&Q takes wind turbines off shelves Turbine range withdrawn from sale
after recent survey reveals they don't work as effectively as first
thought

http://www.diyweek.net/news/news.asp?id=11999





This subject has been on my mind for the past 2 days.
All wind turbines seem to be blades mounted vertically on a horizontal
axle/axis.
These can only be 100% efficient if the wind blows directly onto the face of
the blades.

If instead of blades they had the things you see on some wid speed
measurement devices
that have 3 or more cup shaped receptacles on horizontal bars fixed to a
vertical axis.
The wind can hit these assemblies at any angle it chooses with no difference
to the efficiency
of the 'machine'.

I can only conclude that the prevalance of bladed wind turbines means there
is a basic weakness
of the wind-vane method.eg transmission of energy or torque or something
like that.

Anyone got any ideas on this?

Arthur



Hopeless efficiency. Extracting energy from the wind requires use of
airfoils and very careful attention to aerodynamics.