3 phase motor as generator

[tomstephens]

I'm not an electrician , but I've got 3 large industrial fans , 3 phase , that I'd like to use to generate some power . They spin heck of a fast in the wind here ( Isle of Skye ) , and I don't know if I can get power directly from the motor , or if I should attach a pulley and drive an alternator . I am getting a reading on a multi meter , but I don't know what I'm measuring ! Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated , even if it's just to say ' don't waste your time '. Tom

 

[Gavin A]

in theory you should be able to, but you'll need to either connect them to a G83 / G59 certified inverter, or if no inverter is needed, then install a g59 protection relay to comply with the regs allowing you to connect to the grid.

I have my doubts about this being worthwhile though.

 

[Guest123]

Depends on the motor, some will, quite easily, some will with a bit of effort, some wont at all.

 

[SolarCity]

I'd be utterly amazed if it was worthwhile. The amount of power that they would likely produce would be negligible and I doubt you'd ever get the money back on the inverter investment - I also doubt that you'd ever get permission to grid connect them. You'd probably do better sending the fans away for scrap.

 

[tomstephens]

I'd be utterly amazed if it was worthwhile. The amount of power that they would likely produce would be negligible and I doubt you'd ever get the money back on the inverter investment - I also doubt that you'd ever get permission to grid connect them. You'd probably do better sending the fans away for scrap.

Thanks everyone . Maybe I'll just stick a pulley on then , belt drive a vehicle alternator and see what comes out the other end . I'm just using scrap , basically , and don't want to buy expensive kit . Thanks again , Tom

 

[tomstephens]

Thanks everyone . Maybe I'll just stick a pulley on then , belt drive a vehicle alternator and see what comes out the other end . I'm just using scrap , basically , and don't want to buy expensive kit . Thanks again , Tom

By the way can anyone put me right on which wires I should be testing with my multimeter , please ?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

How many wires have you got?

 

[tomstephens]

How many wires have you got?

There is a block consisting of 9 sections : E - earth in , earth out
W1 - 2 black in , 1 black out
V2 - black and white in , nothing out
V1 - black and blue in , black out
U2 - black and red in , nothing out
U1 - brown and red in , black out
WZ-red and orange in , nothing out
TK - white in , black out
TK - white in , black out
Only other info is , its german.

 

[pvman]

Why not get a real wind turbine, either owned or lease the site?

 

[ayjay]

vehicle alternators are a waste of time

 

[jason121]

TK are thermistors I think the WZ should be W2, it seems like a star delta configuration, what was the fan use for, drying grain or other crops? If it was I don’t think it will work

 

[tomstephens]

Lack of dosh

- - - Updated - - -

I think it was from a chiller

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Sounds like it might be two speed?

 

[tomstephens]

Sorry , Haven't got the hang of this yet . Reply to pvman was ' lack of dosh '. Reply to jason121 was ' chiller , I think '.
Thanks for your time , anyway . Guess it looks like it would be a waste of time going any further .

 

[tomstephens]

Ah , right , that would explain why so much wiring , cheers .

 

[grantr37]

wouldn't bother, if it does generate anything it will probably be just enough to cause you a bit of a shock, you would need inverter equipment to correct the frequency, and the voltages would be of no use, not to mention that the blades etc are not designed for that....
you might be able to charge a few car batteries via a charger circuit using a vehicle alternator but it would take a while and only be usable through a sinewave inverter or just for running some small lights or a radio directly from a battery after charging...