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Bergey Windpower Case Study U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland |
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Electric Propulsion Research Project |
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This is NOT a recommended configuration ! |
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The picture above shows an innovative, but scary, application of small wind
systems. In 1982 the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland installed a
Bergey 1 kW turbine on top of the mast of a small sail boat as part of an
experimental program on fuel-less electric-propulsion. The sailboat had a
bank of batteries in its keel and an electric motor driven propeller.
The problem was that in putting the turbine on the mast they were subjecting the machine to extremely harsh conditions that were never anticipated in designing the product. We never considered a tower that would swing back and forth and might hike over to as much as 45 degrees. This would be hard on any wind turbine, but particularly so with a passively controlled turbine with a free-pivoting tail. On top of that there was a huge risk to the cadets and staff actually sailing the boat because they would be in harms way if the blades failed. When shipping the turbine we assumed that they would be installing it on a dock mounted tower. When we found out what they had actually done we put up quite a fuss and, luckily, were able to convince them to mount the turbine on the dock. The system as shown above was actually sailed in Chesapeake Bay. Small wind systems have been used by the thousands on sailboats for auxiliary power. The difference is that the wind turbines are mounted much closer to the hull so that they are not swung back and forth very much. |
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