Document Actions

Model 1500

With shorter arms, no torque limiting device, and an operating range to 65+MPH, the Model 1500 Linear Array Vortex Turbine Systems (LAVTS) are ideal for sites with turbulent and highly energetic winds because more they allow a wind farm owner with an excellent resource to produce more energy per linear meter of ridge line than the Model 3000 LAVTS, which has the same 75kW generator but twice the diameter rotor.

Front view of four Model 1500 turbines arranged in a LAVTS. Click here for dimensions and a top and side view of the a single Model 1500 turbine.

Wind Harvest International is nearly ready to install the first Model 1500 LAVTS and begin the process towards international certification and commercial sales.

Each turbine has a swept area of 1480 square feet, with four 38.25 foot polyurethane fiberglass pultruded blades per rotor.

The rotors in a Model 1500 LAVTS pass each other at 30 inches apart as they counter rotate in opposite directions. The LAVTS are placed perpendicular to the main wind direction. The more uni- or bi-directional the wind resource, the more rotors/turbines can be installed in an array. New computer modeling by Dr. Ion Paraschivoiu shows that all the rotors in an array will produce the same amount of energy, not just the center rotor as our earlier studies had indicated. Each additional turbine in an array only needs two columns with their two foundations versus four when a turbine is installed alone. This can save 10-15% on fabrication and installation fabrication costs.

With shorter arms and no torque limiting device, the Model 1500 is designed for highly turbulent and energetic wind conditions such as ridge lines, mesas and mountains which experience near-ground, wind speed up effects. The shorter arms of the model 1500 make them more durable and allows more turbines to be installed in the best wind locations (1 MW per 532 linear feet). The 1500 LAVTS continue to generate electricity in 65+ mph winds while most modern HAWTs will cut out in 45 and 55 mph winds.

Each turbine in a Model 1500 LAVTS has a 75 kW induction generator that is engaged when the rotor's RPM reaches the needed speed to produce the induction effect. Then the control panel allows the energy to reach the wind farm's substation. A single turbine in a seven turbine LAVTS (525 kW) is expected to produce 132,000 kWh per year in a typical 16 mph (7.2 m/s) average wind speed location (Note: This annual output uses Rayleigh Distribituion hourly bin data which usually underestimates the hours of higher energy wind that a site will received.)

Model 1500 Technical Specifications

Type	Vertical Axis, Straight Blade	Generation Rotor Speed	30 and 45 RPM
Power	75 kW	Cut-in Windspeed	13 MPH
Voltage	480v / 3 Phase / 60 Hertz	Max generation Windspeed	65 mph
Type of Generator	Induction	Type of Brake	Mechanical and Aerodynamic
Rotor Diameter	38.7 ft (11.8 m)	Brake Articulation	Mechanical and Pneumatic
Blade Length and Cord	38.25 ft x 38.4 in (11.66 m x 0.44 m)	Output per year at 16 MPH	132,000 kWh*
Number of Blades	4	Output per year at 18 mph	175,000 kWh*
Number of Modules	1	Installed Cost	$1250-$1750 / kW
Swept Area	1480 ft² (137.6 m²)	Superstructure Height	49 feet (14.9 m)
Superstructure Width	42.5 feet (12.95 m)

Click here for larger image