VAWTs and HAWTs, Turning Together

I can hear it now. We can't combine them because, well, VAWTs just don't work as well as HAWTs, and, everybody knows that.

Sorry, ladies and gents. I am feeling somewhat sour about attitudes concerning Harry Homeowner (that would be me) coming up against Over-Ambitious Over-Achiever. I would build a mix of both, if I had the money available for a HAWT, but VAWTs, which I will admit are not as capable of harnessing available energy UP HIGH, where it takes serious money to try anything, are my choice for down where I live. They don't do both high-speed in low winds (think airfoils, vice flat or twisted vanes) and low-speed in high winds (to survive bad weather), but I think that's mostly because too many of us have been discouraged by people who either have plenty of money to build HAWTs on high towers, or don't build anything, preferring to read the opinions of engineers working for companies that do build HAWTs on high towers, and thus have a dog in the fight.

But since I don't have the money for both an "up there" HAWT, and a "down here" VAWT, but I can build the VAWT from scrap, I like that approach.

OTOH, when I have a little more space, I plan to do exactly as the OP suggests. But all down where I live. Oversize reel-type mower blade used as a horizontal turbine, anyone?

And I've long wanted to build a Savonius with a self-feathering shape that would use the bucket affect Savonii do so well at low speeds, and then RETRACT what would look somewhat like a Fowler flap at the back of each bucket segment as speed increased, changing the presented shape from "flat curved" to lifting body.

Any takers on that idea? It seems like it could be adapted to both HAWT and VAWT, but so far it's only conceptual. And one thing I am NOT looking for, because at this stage I'd consider it to be an impediment, is money for development. What I'd like to hear about, if anyone else is interested, is thoughts on the concept, or even some tinkering sketches from which I could find the answers to life's persistent questions, with regard to the airfoil and speed-governing mechanisms.

Design a retrofit to adapt a VAWT system around several (maybe the top 5-10) most produced water towers. Reducing footprint of the land required for most utilities. Cities & townships would most likely see this as a selling point... Might be an idea to start with injecting the VAWT into the public's eye. Once people have been climated launch your revised PAWT (Pivoting-Axis) into production.

"And I've long wanted to build a..."

can you provide a sketch? I can't get my head around what you are describing.

thanks

chris

I'll try, Chris, but what software (free) would produce a usable sketch for CR4? I've long envied the people who make sketches that show up here, and would love to be able to.

Would Sketchup work? I can try it.

microsoft paint

Ah. Never had it. Never tried it. Wouldn't want to pay for it, nor use it illegally, so I may still need to try SketchUp. But I'll keep MS Paint in mind. Personally, I don't like MS products, but needs must ...

draft sight on the CAD side

or

http://www.scribblar.com/index.cfm

the ge one went away

Thank you. I'll see if I can do some kind of recognizable drawing.

There was recently a post about some professor in CA that had come up with a design where one VAWT would feed of the one in front due to a special spacing the prof had come up with.

I sent the link to Paul Gipe asking if it was all hokum - got a one word reply - YES

To me, this entire train of thought is comic book stuff.