Wind Powered Fan

[JDCookMS]

So, I'm a burgin and I'm not exactly certain what the conditions are like there. (I know that there's usually a good breeze and all that, according to the survival guide.) Anyways, please tell me whether this idea is feasible or not: I'm planning on building a decent sized geodome, but was thinking that I could put something to catch the wind at the top, use a brake to keep it from spinning too fast, and then run a line down and use a fan to circulate the air within the dome.

I'm sure someone else has come up with this idea before, but does it work or not too well or what?

[Ugly Dougly]

Yes.

Go for it.

[JDCookMS]

Alright. ...I wasn't certain if it would kick up too much dust or anything, what with the whole being in a desert deal. I'm trying to go as green as possible for this...solar power, wind power, no generators or anything.

[theCryptofishist]

I think those don't quite work the way you said. I think they spin and suck air up and out, and that moves the air lower down.

[JDCookMS]

I think those don't quite work the way you said. I think they spin and suck air up and out, and that moves the air lower down.

Yeah, actually after I looked into it, that's not exactly what I was going for. ...I was thinking more of just a larger ceiling fan, that happens to be driven by the wind. So, the wind would catch the windmill on top, it would rotate a rod and that in turn would make the fan below work, and it would have a braking system on it so that it wouldn't create hurricane force winds inside of the dome.

[ygmir]

so, just a thought:

if, you had a window, or two, or more.........and if it's windy enough, to turn a fan,
would not opening said windows, and allowing the wind to pass through, work?

or, am I missing something?

[JDCookMS]

so, just a thought:

if, you had a window, or two, or more.........and if it's windy enough, to turn a fan,
would not opening said windows, and allowing the wind to pass through, work?

or, am I missing something?

You know what? You....shush. Maybe I want more wind in there....you don't know me!

Now then, leave me alone so that I can create my next thread wondering how to create a gigantic LED round object that I can put above my tent, that will run off a solar panel, while the sun is up...because I want more sun. haha

[illy dilly]

so, just a thought:

if, you had a window, or two, or more.........and if it's windy enough, to turn a fan,
would not opening said windows, and allowing the wind to pass through, work?

or, am I missing something?

You know what? You....shush. Maybe I want more wind in there....you don't know me!

Now then, leave me alone so that I can create my next thread wondering how to create a gigantic LED round object that I can put above my tent, that will run off a solar panel, while the sun is up...because I want more sun. haha

Damn it!!!
In my head I was thinking "Ya know this fan thing sounds like a great idea. Wouldn't be that hard either..."

[JDCookMS]

so, just a thought:

if, you had a window, or two, or more.........and if it's windy enough, to turn a fan,
would not opening said windows, and allowing the wind to pass through, work?

or, am I missing something?

You know what? You....shush. Maybe I want more wind in there....you don't know me!

Now then, leave me alone so that I can create my next thread wondering how to create a gigantic LED round object that I can put above my tent, that will run off a solar panel, while the sun is up...because I want more sun. haha

Damn it!!!
In my head I was thinking "Ya know this fan thing sounds like a great idea. Wouldn't be that hard either..."

Well....could always run one off a solar panel/gen if you had extra power, for when it's not windy. (I hear it happens sometimes......)

[Ugly Dougly]

Just do some sort of mechanical linkage:
http://www.whynot.net/ideas/4848
More efficient.

[Token]

This why we cover only 1/3 of the dome. The middle third.

[EspressoDude]

this sounds like a whole bunch of gadgetry when all you need is a roof flap like a teepee. simple, no moving parts and weighs practically nothing.

[Bob]

I think the flapping problem is between the ears.

What you need is a punkah & a punkawallah.

[MikieCGY]

solar panels are way too expensive for how little power output they have- its sad not to see these things more developed

[Ugly Dougly]

If it's not practical, it can still be an art project?

[mr. fix-it]

you have the right idea. i did this on my building and it works fantastic. i used an old squrril cage fan out of a furnace, but i believe a roof turbine will work. if you choose a roof turbine for the drive make shure its a heavy duty one. i used an antenna stand for the frame to hold everything together.mount a bearing to the top of the antenna stand. send a shaft through the stand all the way through the roof. make sure the shaft is long enough. you will need enough space to mount a fly wheel for control and power. you can get one at any junk yard you will also need enough room for the fan blade. mount a bearing (pillow block) inside on the cieling. the mounting is pretty easy. just make sure you use the right style bearing. any farm supply store should have what you need.( make sure the bearings are greasable) . for my drive shaft i have 1"rolled steel because it fits . the size doesnt matter though. use whatever size that fits your parts. i like the squirell cage fan best because it has weight and is very durable. the bigger the better as it will give you more power.you can also stack them on top of each other, but mak sure they are between the bearings or you will lose your balance.the fly wheel is very important. it will keep you from spinning out of control and give the fan more power. as of yet i have no brake on mine so i cant turn it off. hope this gives you the info you need. this may sound complicated but its really not. if i can find someone to put pictures of mine on i will. its just to cool. good luck. heres an after thought. to make it water tight use a rubber boot for a roof pipe that will seal were the shaft goes through the roof. take another one and secure it on the shaft with a zip tie or hose clamp. (another after thought). put the boots on before you send the shaft through the roof.

[Zhust]

Now then, leave me alone so that I can create my next thread wondering how to create a gigantic LED round object that I can put above my tent, that will run off a solar panel, while the sun is up...because I want more sun. haha

See also, Candle-Powered Electric Candle.

[Ra1nBr0]

What you need is a kind of gearbox. something to convert whatever force the exterior wind exerts on the exterior fan, into a constant, moderate speed on the interior fan.

Think of it kind of like a miniaturized wind turbine, only rather than generating electricity, you are simply running a series of gears that turn an interior fan at a constant speed, regardless of how hard or soft the wind actually blows. 10 speed bike, only likely with less complicated, moving parts.

[Captain Goddammit]

This "going green" stuff at Burning Man is pure bullshit.
Unless you use it the rest of the year, buying and using solar panels for a week in the desert is false savings and false "greenery".
The whole event involves trucking a ridiculous amount of stuff out to the middle of nowhere for a decadent high powered party. There's NOTHING "green" about it.
Simply buying a ticket is financing a whole lot of huge generators, vehicles, and wasted materials, not to mention huge fires.

Am I against any of this? Hell no, it's fun. But this "green" bullshit... yeah right. Get real.

[GreyCoyote]

Of course, BM also serves as a very nice test bed for resilient infrastructure ideas. Basically, if an idea survives Burning Man, then its likely a good one. Conversely, BM tends to separate the Eddie Bauer crap from the Leatherman Supertools.

[Zhust]

This "going green" stuff at Burning Man is pure bullshit.

You have your toys and your party, and I'll have mine. Burning Man is when I get to play with the green tech—can I do it? How much power do I really need? All that stuff ... I call it fun.

Getting my hands covered in grease trying to get the Otto cycle to otto ... yuck. I'll leave _that_ home instead.

[Captain Goddammit]

Absolutely! There's nothing wrong with setting up solar arrays, seeing how minimal you can live, experimenting with wind turbines, whatever you think is cool.
I'm just pointing out that none of us are really being "green" by going out there for this big party. It'd be a hell of a lot "greener" to stay home.
But by all means, have at it with sciencing-out evap systems, alternate power, or cooking with a magnifying glass. We're out there to play like adults, with no adult supervision!