PVC blades

The blades of the turbine, and the hub they are attached to

PVC blades

Postby windgat on Tue Nov 18, 2008 8:51 am

I have read about blades made from cutting up 110mm diameter PVC pipe. If anyone has done or is planning to do this lets share our experiences plans here!
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Re: PVC blades

Postby Nic Swanepoel on Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:14 pm

Hi I'm Nic and want to build a home made wind generator and want to get more info on the PVC blade and hub
If any one can assist
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Re: PVC blades

Postby windgat on Thu Jan 15, 2009 1:11 pm

Hi Nic. This is something I have been wanting to do as a test for a while. Now that latest blades are made (glass and carbon fibre in a one sided mould) I will try and get to this.

The basic idea is to take say 800mm of 110mm diameter pvc pipe, and cut into quarters lengthways. Then shape one by hand/eye into a tapering shape with less twist at the tip than at the root. Drill mounting holes in the root. Use that one as a template for the other three. That gives three blades to use and one spare. Round the leading edges and sharpen the trailing edge with sandpaper.

Leave the root as strong as possible, and maybe reinforce it somehow - that's the week spot.

I'll keep you posted if I make any progress - please do the same for me!
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Re: PVC blades

Postby ironman87 on Sun Sep 13, 2009 9:22 am

Hi, I'm currently working on a wind turbine using ABS pipe for blade material. I'm actually building 4 of them. I chose ABS over PVC for 2 reasons.

Reason one, take a piece of ABS pipe and a piece of PVC and secure them in a vice. Hit them both with a large hammer. What happens? Well the PVC will cause blindness if you don't have any safety glasses, and the ABS will knock you out if your not wearing a helmet. (same reason I never use PVC in potato cannons)

Reason two, Sunlight causes PVC to become even more brittle. ABS fairs much better in all weather conditions.

Anyway I am also building a 4 pole 12 coil radial flux air core 3 phase alternator out of the same pipe. The main goal is to generate 100w in 10mph-ish wind using ABS as the main material for the Stator and blades. The diameter is 3m (10ft). 10" hub. 20ft tower.

I'm still building them, but I will put up a build log when I finish sometime next week....if the magnets and wire come that fast.
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Re: PVC blades

Postby windgat on Sun Sep 13, 2009 1:44 pm

Sounds interesting! What is that ABS pipe usually used for?

Keep us posted...
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Re: PVC blades

Postby ironman87 on Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:29 am

ABS (the black pipe) is usually used for sewer pipe. Schedule 40, rated at 2,000 psi.
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Re: PVC blades

Postby JurgenKahle on Wed Sep 16, 2009 7:56 am

Hi ironman,

what are the dimensions of the ABS pipe you are using? ie. pipe diameter / OD and wall thickness?
How flexible is it? Just in terms of putting up resistance to the wind, would it bend backwards more easily than the PVC?
I haven't tried either, but am about to... :)

Jurgen
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Re: PVC blades

Postby ironman87 on Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:04 am

My apologies for being absent for so long.

My blades (6) are 5 ft long, about 1/4"thick, and roughly 3-ish inches wide at the base. They are very rigid, but also flex with enough force. 1- 4" pipe cut into quarters lengthwise.

Also my first Stator was a flop. It will still work, but it can't fit the magnets in. I have a better one I'm building out of 2x4s. Still a 4 pole, but added in Iron cores and 8 coils for 2 phase instead of 12 for 3. I can get double the windings in.
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Re: PVC blades

Postby windgat on Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:28 am

What is 1 - 4" - was that meant to be 1/4"?

If you find a source of than pipe Jurgen I would willingly take a metre of it.
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Re: PVC blades

Postby ironman87 on Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:57 am

1 - 4"

I'm sorry my brain functions rather differently. I see "one, 4" pipe". I have to remember other minds are looking. Basically the pipe is cut into quarters, lengthwise.
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Re: PVC blades

Postby windgat on Sun Oct 18, 2009 8:40 am

Ok, so its a 4" outside diameter pipe with 1/4" wall thickness?

For us metricians, thats 100mm OD ABD pipe, 6.35mm wall thickness.
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Re: PVC blades

Postby Chibuku on Fri Mar 26, 2010 12:25 pm

The website Power4Home.com suggests a 6" (160mm dia. PVC pipe for the blades
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Re: PVC blades

Postby janjenny83 on Thu Sep 16, 2010 6:07 pm

Yes the six inches diameter of a PVC pipe is best for that. You just need to properly cut the pipe. You have to do some research for the better diameter of the blades.
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Re: PVC blades

Postby windgat on Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:10 pm

Have you made some blades from PVC? Sharing your plans/photos would be great!
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