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Forum Index : Other Stuff : F&P
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MacGyver Guru  Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 1329 |
Will someone kindly tell me what F&P means? Nothing difficult is ever easy! Perhaps better stated in the words of Morgan Freeman, "Where there is no struggle, there is no progress!" Copeville, Texas |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Fisher and Paykel, white good manufacturer founded in New Zealand. We use the motor from their Smartdrive range of washing machines. http://www.thebackshed.com/Windmill/WhatFP.asp http://www.thebackshed.com/Windmill/FPdiss.asp The motors are as common as beer cans down under, which is why they have taken off as a windmill alternator. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| MacGyver Guru Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 1329 |
Oh! Thanks. I would have never figured that one out on my own. I don't modify others' stuff; I make everything from scratch. :O) Nothing difficult is ever easy! Perhaps better stated in the words of Morgan Freeman, "Where there is no struggle, there is no progress!" Copeville, Texas |
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Tinker Guru Joined: 07/11/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1904 |
MacGyver, a while ago you posted that you prefer to convert your windmill output to air pressure. Interesting, I understand you have no pictures but could you tell me just what air pressures you can achieve before that thing stalls? Klaus |
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| MacGyver Guru Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 1329 |
Pictures are on their way. I'm rebuilding all my stuff and putting together a Web page that'll have a photo gallery, plans and everything else. As far as pressure goes, the sky's the limit. It depends on how well you seal your pump and how much leverage your prop gets. I use both piston pumps and rotary pumps. I like the rotary ones the best, because they require only a minimum of machining. I make all my own stuff, including check valves. Power is a trade-off. I deal with "shaft" horsepower and therefore don't rely on the engine's "speed" to build power. My air engines develop maximum torque at zero rpm. That's handy! If I want more power, I can up the pressure or increase the length of the power stroke; either method gives me more power. Think of storing air pressure in terms of how hydraulic brakes work and you'll find it easier to understand. The original "steam" locomotives had two "engines" that were double- acting cylinders set 90-degrees apart; one mounted on each side of the boiler. Each engine had a cylinder about 14 inches in diameter with a stroke of about 21 inches. The working pressure of the steam was usually nearly 2,000 psig. With just two "engines" (not to be confused with the "boiler" which is what everyone thinks is the engine) a steam locomotive could pull a train full of cows a mile long up nearly any grade! Slowly, mind you, but with "power" like there's no tomorrow. Expanding air works in a similar manner. Typically, I run my air engines on less than 40 psig. I'm working on a two-cylinder air engine that can be built with a drill press. I use a lathe, but not everyone has one of those, so I'm gearing it to the abilities of all the shade-tree mechanics out there. This particular model uses "external pistons". I'll let you think about that one before letting the cat out of the bag. It'll be on the Web site soon enough. To further answer your question, when the tower valve is shut down and the mill is pumping against a dead-head of trapped air, the piston pumps stop almost immediately. The rotary pumps slow down and depending on the "memory" (hint) of the cylinders, it can either finally stop or just run a lot slower. In any event, I've never lost a blade to over-speeding. I typically set the piston pump windmills with a blade pitch of 45 degrees. I use a Jacobs style, up-wind turbine arrangement (3 blades). The rotary pump windmills are powered with blades set at approximately 15 degrees each. These pump more "volume" than pressure. If the system pressure is up, they just lope along and are fun to watch, but don't do much in the way of any "work". Nothing difficult is ever easy! Perhaps better stated in the words of Morgan Freeman, "Where there is no struggle, there is no progress!" Copeville, Texas |
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| Xmaswiz Regular Member  Joined: 14/04/2011 Location: United StatesPosts: 69 |
have you started this project yet? Santa Maria, CA. Noel |
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| MacGyver Guru Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 1329 |
Xmaswiz Have I startet this project yet . . . hmmm . . . . yes and no. You see, I have a couple of drawers in my shop I call "damfino" drawers. That's because "dam-'f-I-know" what's in them. There are air engines, air pumps, pistons, cylinders, check valves . . . you name it. I've been at this a long, long time and so to answer your question, basically "yes". I have a problem shared by most "inventor" types. I don't finish stuff before starting something new. To that end, there are several (read that oodles of) projects that are built and work, but I've lost interest or canibalized parts to build some other new, brainy idea. That's just the way it is; it's not a bad thing nor is it a good thing, it just is what it is. I will eventually get around to posting ALL my silly projects on this 4m, but if you will kindly slip over to the Solar section, you'll see that this week I was in need of some free hot water, so I spent a few days building a solar application for my house. That means the time it took me to build the solar thingie, was NOT spent building any of the hundreds of others I've started and not finished. Hope that sheds some light on your question. It's not easy bein' me! . . . . . Mac Nothing difficult is ever easy! Perhaps better stated in the words of Morgan Freeman, "Where there is no struggle, there is no progress!" Copeville, Texas |
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