SMALL WIND GENERATOR PERFORMANCE AND TESTING

The extract below is from the Rainbow Power Company's very helpful and
comprehensive website at

http://www.rpc.com.au/products/windturbines/wind_speed.html


"Generally speaking most small wind generators (1-1.5 m rotor
diameter) are either designed for yachts or windy countries such as
the United Kingdom.

"Typically they require a wind speed of about 5m/sec to produce even
10-20W and somewhere around 10-12m/sec to produce their rated power.
Wind of 10m/sec is often described as a gale; 12m/sec is a strong gale
that can start causing structural damage, tiles lifting off roofs, etc.

"For most areas of Australia we don't feel these small wind generators
are a cost-effective form of rural power generation. Please contact
our office for more advice specific to your area.

"We would also caution you that the performance curves may not be
continuously rated – eg you may get less power than what you are led
to believe. The following reports have been written about one wind
generator that is on the market:

* http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy03osti/34756.pdf
* http://www.wind-works.org/articles/sm_AirXtest.html "