MagWind Magnetically Levitated Vertical Wind Turbine
If you can't tell by the picture, this is, of course, a "Magnetically-Levitated Axial Flux Alternator with Programmable Variable Coil Resistance, Vertical Axis Wind Turbine". It's called the Mag-Wind MW1100 and, thanks to some interesting technical maneuvering, promises 1100 kWh/month in a 13 mph average wind. The unit will cost around 3.5 cents/kW or, put another way, ROI will be reached in 3 years for someone with an average monthly electric bill of $300 - which sounds very high; a 6+ year ROI might be more realistic for home use. Nevertheless, the inventors claim the unit is cheaper than solar or horizontal wind turbines while requiring much less space to operate. The site's page on roof effect describes how the device can produce as much electricity as it does with such a small footprint:
So, how is it possible to make as much electricity as we do with only a 4-foot sweep? We use the roof of a house or other building to extend our reach and increase the volume of air reaching the sails of our VAWT. This gives us the effect of a larger surface area without actually having a larger vane. The great thing is that every house or other building also has a roof. The roof moves the wind, and that wind has a lot of energy.
The two major factors that determine how much energy is available are the vertical rise of the roof and the pitch, or angle, of the roof. The more rise there is, the more wind will hit it and be moved upward towards the VAWT. This is good. However, the steeper the roof is, the more wind energy will be lost in pressure against the roof and wind moving around the roof and the building as a whole. This is not so good.
A roof with a 10-foot vertical rise and a 30% angle will provide nearly a 200% increase in the amount of wind energy that is available to be turned into electricity. Compared to the same turbine just sitting on a pole, the roof effect increases the power yielded by operation of the wind turbine dramatically.
So, although it might be cost prohibitive for some (most), it might be worth looking into if you live in a fairly windy area, as the faster the average windspeed, the quicker it will be to see significant returns on your investment.
Via Greengeek.ca
1 Posted 2006-08-25 12:45:24 by odiyya (odiyya@fastmail.fm)
Very interesting, but not much information on technology behind it. Given that it is called 'magnetic levitation' does it employ a mag-lev generator on a small scale?
http://consciousearth.blogspot.com/2006/07/chinese-claim-20-boost-to-wind.html
2 Posted 2006-09-21 15:40:16 by Not Born Yesterday
This product is a scam! Their claims are WAY off and anyone with a basic understanding of wind energy can tell you that this turbine is little more than a toy, a decoration.
3 Posted 2006-09-21 17:26:06 by Sean
Care to elaborate NBY? I'd be interested to hear more as I really don't have the knowledge to judge one wind turbine invention's merits from another.
4 Posted 2007-01-24 20:35:57 by Krystal Planet Scam
I would be careful; Cary Drake listed above does not seem to represent a company that understands law. Troy Helming the CEO of Krystal Planet seems to have had a lot of legal problems.
5 Posted 2007-01-24 21:12:32 by Sean
Regarding comment #4 - I've deleted the comment in question. Thanks.
6 Posted 2007-01-24 21:20:58 by Sean
Here's a thread on the questionable numbers put up by the mag-wind people, as well as some other interesting info.
7 Posted 2007-01-24 21:25:30 by Sean
Here's a thread on the questionable numbers put up by the mag-wind people, as well as some other interesting info.
8 Posted 2007-02-04 09:57:52 by Hard to be Green (individual39@gmail.com)
Long time alternative energy enthusiest form the Mid West here. We have been looking for something like the MagWind to come along for some time. Sound in theory, but not yet proven. I like to be inovative, think outside the box, try new things. I was very excited to give MagWind a chance even though it is not yet proven. There always has to be a start somewhere, somebody has to be first, risk reaps rewards...
We jumped at the chance to buy a couple of them...as did many others from our area (MT, ND, SD). I believe about 10 were sold in our immediate area, some to local business, some to local government (school and such) with downpayments made (we were in for 1/2 of 2 MagWind MW1100s). A number of mainstreet businesses (mine included) were to have MW1100s installed in full view of the public, along with solar arrays. Great PR for us...and especially for Magwind and alternative energy.
The time for delivery came and went....excusses...finally we had enough and contacted some authorities.
Well, long story short, I think a lot of people got took. The dealer we had was taking downpayments when he should not have been. He apparantly WAS NOT following MagWind policy and was acting on his own. My understanding is that no downpayments are to take place, only payment upon instillation of the Magwind turbines. He did not tell us that the turbines were not ready yet, etc... Long story short, the FBI now has him under investigation and he has spent a few months in jail and is looking to spend more time there. Oh, and the money is no where to be found ofcourse...
For us it ment no turbines and ligthtened our pocket book by $15,000. A great project destroyed by green and criminal intent.
This type of stuff makes it hard to be green. We are hoping that MagWind will stand behind this unfortuante event and produce turbines for those who were burned by Larry Suchy since he was an authorized dealer for them...but only time will tell what type of business they are...the pie in the sky company that many think they are or the soild rock foundation company that I hope they are or become. It would speak well for Magwind to correct this situation and repair the damage caused.
If you had any dealings with Larry Suchy (SunBreeze, SolarBreeze, Albaze Technologies) for alternative energy systems you might want to contact the FBI folks investigating this:
FBI Special Agent Sandra Klein phone 406 248 8487 Bill.SLC@ic.fbi.gov
I do want to make clear that I dont believe it was Magwind that did this intentionally. It was a dealer of theirs gone rouge who was out collecting downpayments with no apparant intention of making sure the turbines were delivered and installed. I still want to give MagWind a shot...but now I dont think I can afford to.
I still hope Magwind can make things work and that these types of technologies have a chance to grow, this country needs them, energy independence and save the planet and all...but if it makes sence economically then people will do it. The MW1100 did make sence, even it if only performs at 50% of its claimed capacity...we have very good wind here.
Disspointed, but not giving up. I am very interested in trying to build my own now since the alternative energy budget is now decimated....maybe solar is next. Anybody have any plans available to build a maglev turbine in the garage for a tiny budget...thats all I can afford now...if it wasnt so painfull I could almost laugh.
Even though I like to give new things a chance, from here on out I am not buying any wind power equipment that NREL has not tested to failure.
Think Green, but watch your green as well!
9 Posted 2007-02-20 22:01:59 by Inspector Gismo
Looks cool but it seems they are still in trouble getting them to work properly. non delivered last promised in last week of Jan 2007.
10 Posted 2007-04-30 11:02:20 by Jumpin Jiminy
I actually met with Mag-Wind a few years back when they were trying to raise additional capital to get them over the hump so they could get their product out there and mass market it. I got to spend an afternoon with the CEO and lead technicians and then saw their prototype in action. rnrnFrom what I saw the Mag-Wind DOES work; however it was not tested on top of a roof but rather in a garage with a fan blowing on it. rnrnThe science is there - the technology works; the challenge they face now is execution. Its not as easy as some people think it is to build a prototype and spend hundreds of hours testing it in different conditions and then improving it over and over again before you go to market.rnrnI believe that this technology has merit and it will only be a matter of time before Mag-Wind can fully deliver the product OR they begin working with a larger company to help them get it off the ground and to the "Tipping Point."
11 Posted 2007-07-10 13:57:58 by Homebrook
1. The performance claims for the Mag-Wind 1100 violate the known laws of physics.
2. Their web site has not been updated substantively for two years.
3. No company representatives respond to any inquiries.
4. The company has failed to conduct itself professionally in its dealings with Hillwood Development who offered the use of their building in downtown Dallas. Hillwood has terminated any relationship (informal as it may have been) with Mag-Wind and rues the day that they associated their good name with Mag-Wind.
5. The company promised independent test results 2 years ago and have never delivered the results.
6. Thomas Priest-Brown, one of the company inventors has been known to lurk around Wind Power forums putting in his two-cents and referring visitors to information without disclosing his relationship with Mag-Wind.
7. They have failed to meet any of their projected production or delivery dates and have not provided any public explanation for these failures.
8. They bristle at any questioning of their claims, yet provide no evidence to support them.
You be the judge.
12 Posted 2007-10-17 16:52:51 by Daniel Bricker (d53095@yahoo.com)
How much is the MagWind?
13 Posted 2007-10-17 16:54:07 by Jeff Davis (jdavis@hireright.com)
how much is the MagWind1100
14 Posted 2008-01-09 16:29:03 by magicmanwon
I have 60 to 80 foot trees all around my house. I could never and would never use a building that i live in for a platform for this type of wind turbine. vibration and wind noise are not something that you get used to very often. I know I dont like it.
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