Posted by markzoom on February 22, 2007, 11:16 pm
> On Thu, 22 Feb 2007 16:23:28 GMT Snap Whipcrack.............. wrote :
> > Try a water wheel. All early settlers located near streams and rivers to
> > capture power from water wheels. Grain mills, power plants, factories,
> > saw mills, you name it. The age before steam was the most efficient.
> > Maybe we can go back there again when the oil runs out.
> Hydro power is the same thing on a larger scale. But unlike wind you can
> store it up and then release it at controlled rate.
Actually most people can't, but if you have room for a lake then a
solar pond (google it)
might give you more heat than you can use.
This thread though is about driving heat pumps with wind turbines.
> --
> Tony Bryer SDA UK
Posted by markzoom on February 22, 2007, 11:11 pm
> markz...@digiverse.net wrote:
> > Just a thought...
> > The average air conditioning heat pump will output over 3 times the
> > input power in heat (in the heater configuration).
> > So how about having the wind turbine run a heat pump compressor
> > directly (no electricity)?
> > Without the additional heat fom the motor, that would be over twice
> > the rating of the wind turbine. IOW a 500 watt turbine should output
> > 1kw of heat (or cold). Up to you wether it's used for heating water or
> > air.
> > The mast could double as the "radiator"/heat exchanger absorbing
> > ambient heat and you could have a fridge at the bottom of the turbine
> > as a bonus (with electrical backup for low wind days, obviously).
> > The question is:
> > How do heat pumps perform at variable speeds? Any refrigeration/ air
> > conditioning techs out there?
> > If the variable speed is a problem, any thoughts about solutions?
> Try a water wheel. All early settlers located near streams and rivers to
> capture power from water wheels. Grain mills, power plants, factories,
> saw mills, you name it. The age before steam was the most efficient.
> Maybe we can go back there again when the oil runs out.
Well yes, it should be possible to run heat pumps off waterwheels too,
if you happen to be next to a stream. In my particular case (and most
people's?) that's not really feasible though.
My point was that if all that's needed is some heat/cold when the
sun's not out and at night, powering a heatpump with a wind turbine
directly (like a simple 3-blade vertical axis one) might be very
feasible.
Posted by adm on February 23, 2007, 10:17 pm
>> markz...@digiverse.net wrote:
>> > Just a thought...
>> > The average air conditioning heat pump will output over 3 times the
>> > input power in heat (in the heater configuration).
>> > So how about having the wind turbine run a heat pump compressor
>> > directly (no electricity)?
>>
>> > Without the additional heat fom the motor, that would be over twice
>> > the rating of the wind turbine. IOW a 500 watt turbine should output
>> > 1kw of heat (or cold). Up to you wether it's used for heating water or
>> > air.
>>
>> > The mast could double as the "radiator"/heat exchanger absorbing
>> > ambient heat and you could have a fridge at the bottom of the turbine
>> > as a bonus (with electrical backup for low wind days, obviously).
>>
>> > The question is:
>> > How do heat pumps perform at variable speeds? Any refrigeration/ air
>> > conditioning techs out there?
>> > If the variable speed is a problem, any thoughts about solutions?
>>
>> Try a water wheel. All early settlers located near streams and rivers to
>> capture power from water wheels. Grain mills, power plants, factories,
>> saw mills, you name it. The age before steam was the most efficient.
>> Maybe we can go back there again when the oil runs out.
> Well yes, it should be possible to run heat pumps off waterwheels too,
> if you happen to be next to a stream. In my particular case (and most
> people's?) that's not really feasible though.
> My point was that if all that's needed is some heat/cold when the
> sun's not out and at night, powering a heatpump with a wind turbine
> directly (like a simple 3-blade vertical axis one) might be very
> feasible.
Isn't it kind of self limiting though - and prone to huge friction losses ?
I would have though using an electronic approach would be more efficient on
a production volume basis (plus better for ongoing maintenance). The thing
with electronic "gubbins" is that it's far more more efficient and suitable
for lower cost, high volume production.
Given that most wind turbines are designed to generate electricity, would it
not be easier and more effective to go for an electronic approach - whether
VAWT or HAWT is then immaterial...
Posted by markzoom on February 24, 2007, 12:34 am
> >> markz...@digiverse.net wrote:
> >> > Just a thought...
> >> > The average air conditioning heat pump will output over 3 times the
> >> > input power in heat (in the heater configuration).
> >> > So how about having the wind turbine run a heat pump compressor
> >> > directly (no electricity)?
> >> > Without the additional heat fom the motor, that would be over twice
> >> > the rating of the wind turbine. IOW a 500 watt turbine should output
> >> > 1kw of heat (or cold). Up to you wether it's used for heating water or
> >> > air.
> >> > The mast could double as the "radiator"/heat exchanger absorbing
> >> > ambient heat and you could have a fridge at the bottom of the turbine
> >> > as a bonus (with electrical backup for low wind days, obviously).
> >> > The question is:
> >> > How do heat pumps perform at variable speeds? Any refrigeration/ air
> >> > conditioning techs out there?
> >> > If the variable speed is a problem, any thoughts about solutions?
> >> Try a water wheel. All early settlers located near streams and rivers to
> >> capture power from water wheels. Grain mills, power plants, factories,
> >> saw mills, you name it. The age before steam was the most efficient.
> >> Maybe we can go back there again when the oil runs out.
> > Well yes, it should be possible to run heat pumps off waterwheels too,
> > if you happen to be next to a stream. In my particular case (and most
> > people's?) that's not really feasible though.
> > My point was that if all that's needed is some heat/cold when the
> > sun's not out and at night, powering a heatpump with a wind turbine
> > directly (like a simple 3-blade vertical axis one) might be very
> > feasible.
> Isn't it kind of self limiting though - and prone to huge friction losses ?
What friction? What do you mean? If you mean the pump seal then there
are ways around that. My friend invented a very low loss 100% seal
presently used on subaqua equipment prop drives, amongst other
things. It can easily cope with refrigerant pressures.
> I would have though using an electronic approach would be more efficient on
> a production volume basis (plus better for ongoing maintenance).
??? The electric approach is more complex and expensive.
The point of a heat pump is that it should provide at least double the
wattage output in heat than it would do electrically. The point is
also that if all you want is heat (and/or cold) when the wind is
blowing, it's pointless buying all the electrical clobber that goes in
between. It's also far cheaper, easier and reliable to store heat than
electricity.
> The thing
> with electronic "gubbins" is that it's far more more efficient and suitable
> for lower cost, high volume production.
Nonsense.
All you need for the heatpump setup is a simple V. axis turbine
(cheaper and simpler to manufacture than a horizontal axis one) a
variable speed heatpump (or rather a pressure regulating constrictor
for it) and some pipe.
That's about the price of just the electric air conditioner alone,
never mind an electricity generating turbine, inverter and control
electronics to power it all.
You don't even need expensive fangled refrigerant if you use butane/
propane instead And since lpg is cheap, you don't need fancy radiators
either, just lots of copper pipe.
> Given that most wind turbines are designed to generate electricity,
So what? I'm here to find the cheapest solutions for my own use, not
follow trends. I can make my own turbine. Hell, a schoolkid can make a
v.axis turbine.
> would it
> not be easier and more effective to go for an electronic approach - whether
> VAWT or HAWT is then immaterial...
If you only want heat, you don't need the "electronic" approach. You
could go the simpler electric way and use a bigger generating turbine
and a resistive heating element without inverters or semiconductor
electronics, but a heat pump should theoretically give more heat
output.
BTW.: I also suspect any standard heatpump compressor can be used at
variable speeds if the restrictor orifice is pressure regulated. A
sprung needle valve might do that job.
Posted by Neon John on February 24, 2007, 5:06 am
On 23 Feb 2007 16:34:24 -0800, markzoom@digiverse.net wrote:
>BTW.: I also suspect any standard heatpump compressor can be used at
>variable speeds if the restrictor orifice is pressure regulated. A
>sprung needle valve might do that job.
This is really kinda funny. You lack the refrigeration knowledge to
realize that the device you describe is the common thermostatic
expansion valve (TXV) and yet you argue against the sound advice given
by many of us who DO know HVAC. Either a troll or dumber'n a rock or
both. Either way you're headed to my lid file.
John
---
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.neon-john.com
Cleveland, Occupied TN
Don't let your schooling interfere with your education-Mark Twain
> > Try a water wheel. All early settlers located near streams and rivers to
> > capture power from water wheels. Grain mills, power plants, factories,
> > saw mills, you name it. The age before steam was the most efficient.
> > Maybe we can go back there again when the oil runs out.
> Hydro power is the same thing on a larger scale. But unlike wind you can
> store it up and then release it at controlled rate.