Want developer for custom carbon fiber rotor

[KiteGuy]

This is premature at this point. I am only collecting information now. But I want to develop a high altitude wind power generator that would have a custom carbon fiber rotor that would both: 1) provide lift in an oncoming wind and 2) to provide a turbine to spin a generator. The blades would be tapered, hopefullly one piece, and probably in a configuration somewhat different than for gyrocopters. Let me know if you know somewhat who has the computer savy to design and simulate such a rotor on a computer prior to prototype development. Thanks!!! :)

Know of any Russian, Chinese, Israeli, etc. people or organizations that would do this for a lot less money?

-- Wizbang

[Mike Jackson]

You might try Jay Carter of CarterCopters. They had been in the business for a long time. His rotor/prop expertise came from his wind power business and his work at Bell Helicopter.

[Allantat]

Here's another source. Martin Hollman of Aircraft Designs in Monterey,Ca.He has built many composite rotors and is an Aeronautical engineer.

http://www.aircraftdesigns.com/books.html

[splashdown]

About 14 year ago I saw a flying generator on display in Sydney. It had two single-blade counter rotating intermeshing blades, each with a counterbalance weight. I think the blades were carbon. The following link has pics that look similar and may help.

http://www.skywindpower.com/ww/


This link may also prove useful...
http://library.uws.edu.au/adt-NUWS/public/adt-NUWS20030624.145505

[Ga6riel]

I believe the Gougen Bros of W.E.S.T. (wood epoxy saturation technique also had a lot to do with the design and construction of wind turbine blades.

What makes you think carbon fibre is a good choice of material for this application ?

[KiteGuy]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. As to why I think carbon fiber might be the best bet is that I think that it could be more readily mass produced to exacting tolerances with such things as tapered rotor blades. Am I wrong?

-- Wayne German
WayneLGerman@Yahoo.Com

[Ga6riel]

carbon fibre is expensive, requires special tools to work it, and isnt ALWAYS the answer when looking for ultimate strength
A carbon fibre structure of any significant size would be enormously expensive.

[Rotor Rooter]

Wizbang,

I am currently building a CNC filament winder that is intended to produce rotor blades from carbon tow. If interested information on it can be viewed here (http://www.unicopter.com/A114.html)

Dave

[PTKay]

carbon fibre is expensive, requires special tools to work it, and isnt ALWAYS the answer when looking for ultimate strength
A carbon fibre structure of any significant size would be enormously expensive.

Gabriel,
have you seen this before.... ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visby_class_corvette

650 tons of carbon fiber. :)

[Ga6riel]

no PT I havnt
ofcourse thats not theyre money they are spending, its the people of the UK eventually. I dont doubt that CF has its uses, but I see a trend toward exotic materials, for little more than esoteric reasons. Im not saying that is the case here for I know little about this project but having had dealings with Kockums before Im reasonably comfortable with their philosophys.

This so called 'frigate' is clearly intended for high threat/high contact environments, its weaponry and size suggest its more of a high speed patrol/attack vessel. Typicaly vessels of this size cannot sustain more than one decent hit from missile or projectile; but of course you would have to 'see' it first and then be able to target it.

For the rest of it, and back on subject, the wind generator market is getting loaded with youthful companys looking for wind farm projects. My take on this is that it is a cost controlled business, that being one of the few edges a business can make, and about the only one of interest to governments and power producers alike.

[Cobra Doc]

Wayne, start with the design and structure first. The materials can be worked out once the dynamic forces are figured. Carbon fiber is very stong under tension. It's also very weak in compression or shear. Get the feeling that I don't think much of carbon fiber hoods on "tuners" or any other car for that matter?