Windmills and Heat Pumps

Nov 24, 2005 3 Replies
S

Could anyone give me some figures on the economics/practicality of the following?



A vertical windmill with both a heat pump and a generator attached to it. In a northern climate as the wind reaches a minimum required speed a generator kicks in. As the wind speed increases the extra energy captured is used to mechanically turn a heat pump which extracts energy from the air/earth as is often needed when winter winds blow. This could supliment the required heat when it is needed most while still producing electricity for lights and such.



Questions: Would this system be economically viable? Can such a system be designed, configured and operated? Is it an efficient use of a windmill?


Constuctive commnets would be welcome.



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B

You wrote "vertical windmill" one supposes you meant vertical axis windmill? As to extracting heat from the winter wind - in winter it's cold. (Duh!) It might be better to extract heat from the ground - which is warmer - or better yet, a lake or stream.

Above all, with windmills - keep it simple. It's really really easy to get a failure either soon, or sooner.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

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S

there are exchangers extracting heat from winter air. is cheaper than geo-thermal i believe. using vertical axis windmills may be simpler because all gearing, turbines or other such devices would be located at or near ground level making them easier to service. This is a problem with horizontal axis wind mills. Im sort of lookin at sub divisions where vertical axis windmills could be used say one unit between several houses as part of the utility system.

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B

Windmills might be noisy but solar dish collectors would be perfect for subdivisions.

Bret Cahill

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