- Output: 1200 Watts, 2000 kwh/per year (assuming average wind speed is 12 MPH)
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The Windspire is a low cost, attractive, plug-n-produce wind power appliance that provides a safe and attractive method for harnessing power from the wind. At only 30 feet tall and 2 feet in radius, Windspire is distinguished by its sleek propeller-free design, ultra quiet operation, rugged construction, and affordable pricing. Designed for operation where we live and work, it comes complete with a high efficiency generator, integrated inverter, hinged monopole, and wireless performance monitor.
Attractive - Manufactured with corrosion-resistant soft silver paint that can be re-painted in any color, Windspire provides a truly aesthetically-inspiring renewable wind power option. It is appropriate for rural, suburban, and some urban residential environments alike, and at 30 feet, it is below typical residential and urban zoning restrictions. Several Windspires placed artistically in arrays can form an interesting display of kinetic art in front of small businesses, commercial buildings, resorts, etc.
Extremely Quiet - Our uniquely slender vertical axis design allows Windspire to operate with a low tip speed ratio (the edges of the rotor spin just 2 to 3 times the speed of the wind), which makes it virtually silent. Durable, Simple Installation, Low Maintenance - Rugged yet simple construction means durability - Windspire is rated for winds up to 100 mph - and low maintenance for customers. Installation is simple, and can be completed by a professional installer in a matter of hours. The Windspire kit comes complete with everything you will typically need, except the concrete, so installers do not need to source numerous other components. Once installed, you can "plug 'n produce" - plug it into your outlet to begin drawing power from the wind. Alternatively you can have it hard-wired into your building.
Power from Advanced Technology - Mariah Power’s patented technology includes a rotor, generator, and inverter designed as a complete system to optimize the conversion of wind energy into electricity. The 1.2 kW (1.2 kilowatt, or 1200 watts) Windspire will produce approximately 2000* kilowatt hours per year in 12 mile per hour average winds. The Windspire also includes an internal wireless modem that can continuously transmit power production information directly to your computer so you can check your power production at any time.
With so many advantages, and priced well below other renewable energy products, Windspire is the natural choice!
*annual energy production is estimated based on initial test data.
------------------------------------ Advantages Why Choose Windspire? Windspire offers clean, renewable energy that can reduce your electricity bills, with key advantages over other renewable energy systems:
Aesthetically Inspiring Windspire was designed to be uniquely aesthetic and compatible for the areas where we live and work. The low-profile, unobtrusive design blends in easily with the surrounding environment. Mesmerizing and relaxing to watch, the Windspire is truly visually inspiring.
Virtually Silent Windspire is nearly silent. According to an independent acoustic study by Summit Engineering, the Windspire is "imperceptible" in a 10 mph wind, and 8.8 dB above ambient in a 50 mph wind. Compare this to the 65 to 100 dB noise levels of many turbines on the market! Low Cost Windspire is priced well below other renewable alternatives. The average payback, without rebates or incentives, is under 10 years. After deducting a 30% federal tax credit (available in the USA), and local rebates that are available in some areas, your net cost would be even lower. The price includes the poles, inverter, wireless performance monitor, and the hinged monopole, so there are no expensive extras to buy.
Easy to Install No cranes, no guy wires - the Windspire really is simple to install. Your installer will simply pour a concrete foundation, assemble the unit on the ground, and raise the hinged unit with a winch (or motor or vehicle). Once the foundation has set, the installation can be completed in just a few hours. Our Plug 'n Produce system allows you to simply plug the Windspire into your home or building like an appliance, or alternatively you can have it hard-wired, to begin providing power.
No Maintenance Zip. Zero. No regular maintenance. What could be more simple?
High Quality Windspire uses a durable corrosion-protected steel and aircraft grade aluminum construction, designed to operate for 20 years or more. With quality oversized bearings combined with a very simple mechanical structure, it is sure to provide reliable operation for years, even in high winds (up to 100 mph), snow and ice.
Clean, Abundant Renewable Energy Wind power is from a clean, natural source that does not emit pollution of any kind. No emissions to lower our air quality or exacerbate global warming; no nuclear waste to bury away - just pure, clean wind. Wind will be a source of power as long as the earth orbits the sun and we have night and day. Wind is infinitely renewable, and it's there for the taking. Why waste wind?
Offset Global Warming Wind is a source of power which doesn't require burning fossil fuels like coal, gas, oil, or other hydrocarbon fuels. By drawing power from a clean source, you are offsetting the need for power from dirty sources which emit greenhouse gases and contribute to the ill effects of global warming, not to mention poor air quality at ground level.
Personal Independence from Grid Power and Grid Prices Electricity rates have been steadily rising for the last few years. For many people, the electricity bill is like paying a high rent on top of the mortgage. When temperatures hit record highs and lows, energy bills and rates can skyrocket. Worse, blackouts have shown the grid to be less reliable than most assumed. By adding your own source of renewable wind energy, you hedge against the risk of rising electricity rates (the higher the rates, the greater your benefit).
Savings on your Electricity Bill When you supply your own power, you no longer need to buy as much electricity from your utility. This means ongoing savings every month for 20 plus years.
Improved Local and National Security In the big picture, many matters of national security revolve around our energy security, namely fossil fuels that are frequently imported from foreign nations. By reducing your need for fossil fuel power, you are reducing the nation's need, and thus taking one small step towards easing tensions around many matters of national security.
----------------------------------- Current Applications Residential Use one or more Windspires to power your home. Place them in the back yard, or display them in front of your home. Line a path, driveway, or your entry, using Windspires as power-generating pillars. Great for homes in the country, but also appropriate for many suburban and urban settings.
Business Set up an array of Windspires in front of your building to provide you with electricity. Use this attractive form of renewable energy to visibly display your corporation's values and environmental responsibility, while lowering your energy bills.
Kinetic Sculptures for Resorts, Hotels, Office Towers, etc. A group of Windspires arranged artistically in an array, painted with custom colors, can form a novel display of renewable energy that provides usable electricity, visual appeal, and a strong message to passers-by. Take your outdoor display to a new level by incorporating Windspires.
Coming Soon...
Low Wind Version With an oversized rotor, the Low Wind Version is designed to perform well in areas with lower average wind speeds, ideally in the 10 to 12 mph range. This version is not suitable for areas with very high winds (reaching above 80 mph).
3 kW Version A larger rotor and higher-rated electronic components will allow customers to get more power out of a single unit. Ideal for both residential and commercial applications, this unit is expected to produce about 5400 kWh of energy per year.
Off-Grid/Remote Power Remote homes, cabins, telecommunications equipment, water pumps, monitoring sites, and other off-grid power needs can be fulfilled with renewable wind energy. As a bonus, Windspire’s noiseless operation will still allow you to enjoy the sounds of nature.
240 V AC Version Live in a country with 240V AC requirements? In the works is an electronic panel that incorporates a built-in transformer to condition the electricity for international electricity needs.
------------------------------------- Technology Wind Power Technology Wind generators capture the power in the wind and turn it into electricity. Wind generators have four basic components: 1. RotorThe rotor catches the wind (is pushed by the wind), and converts the energy of moving air into rotational mechanical energy. 2. GeneratorThe generator converts the mechanical energy into electricity by rotating a magnetic field over electric coils, producing an electric current. 3. InverterThe inverter takes the DC electricity produced by the generator and converts it into a usable AC form. 4. Structure The structure provides strength, height, and supports the rotor.
Types of Wind Turbines
There are two main classes of wind turbines:
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs) have blades which rotate vertically around a horizontal axis, similar to a propeller on an airplane. These propeller turbines are the kind typically seen on large wind farms. Propeller turbines need to be oriented perpendicular to the direction of the wind to be efficient, and they are generally placed on the top of very tall poles to take advantage of higher wind speeds. The blades are designed to use "lift" (differential air flow in front and behind the blade) to propel themselves around faster than the speed of the wind. Their tip speed ratios (the ratio of the speed of the tip of the blade to the speed of the wind) are typically in the range of 7-10. This is advantageous for electricity production, but the main drawback is that high rotational speeds can create high levels of noise. Also, to keep these turbines safe while running at such high speeds, propeller turbines require the use of special controls ("furling" or alternate braking systems).
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines(VAWTs) include an eggbeater style (Darrieus), a straight-bladed style (Giromill), and a Savoniusdesign. Windspire is a tall slender form of the Giromill style.
Darrieus Turbines come in a few varieties. Some have rotors with curved blades that look like an eggbeater and rotate about a vertical axis. Another variation uses straight-sided blades (airfoils) and is called a Giromill.Darrieus turbines, as with all vertical axis turbines, do not need to orient themselves with the changing wind directions and they readily capture wind energy from any direction. Like propeller turbines, Darrieus turbines utilize lift to capture wind energy. Darrieus turbines operate with tip speed ratios in the middle range: their tips spin slower than propellers but faster than Savonius designs.
Mariah Power has used extensive engineering to find the optimal airfoil configuration, one which circumvents self-starting problems that are associated with Giromill turbines. Thus unlike most Giromill turbines, the Windspire does not need to be started with a motor or drag device in order to start capturing energy. Windspire is also unique in its tall slender style, which is more aesthetic and provides a smaller footprint than other Giromills, making it appropriate for a variety of settings.
Savonius Turbines have rotors with solid semicircular-profiled vanes which rotate about a vertical axis. Savonius turbines provide very high starting torque and they typically start rotating in the slightest wind. Like Darrieus turbines, they do not need to orient themselves with changing wind directions and they readily capture wind from any direction. The principle drawback of Savonius turbines is that they utilize drag, instead of lift, to capture wind energy, and have traditionally had lower energy capture efficiency than the other types of wind turbines.
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