BWC XL.1 Wind Turbine |
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Bergey Windpower's newest product is the 1,000 Watt BWC XL.1. The BWC XL.1 is currently available only as a 24 VDC battery-charging system. However, we expect to introduce a batteryless grid-intertie version (like our 10 kW GridTek system) in the late Spring or early Summer. With a rotor diameter of 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) and a
peak output of approximately 1,600 watts the XL.1 is intended for
the off-grid home market in the U.S. and for rural electrification
programs in developing countries. It is also a perfect upgrade
system for current owners of micro-turbines, such as the Air 303 or
403. The XL.1 combines a number of advanced technical features, including a completely new airfoil (patent pending), to provide the highest efficiency yet achieved in a small wind turbine at a cost of energy ~ 40% lower than the current price leader. And, the XL.1 carries the exclusive, industry-leading, Bergey 5-year warranty. "We are very excited about the XL.1. We think customers are really going to like this machine" notes Mike Bergey, BWC's president and CEO. The XL.1 is an up-wind, horizontal-axis, three-
bladed turbine. The blades are pultruded fiberglass, a
material that is over ten times stronger than the injection- molded
plastic used on most small wind turbines. In fact, pultrusions
have a breaking strength exceeding 100,000 psi, which is twice as
strong as normal steel. "Just about any blade material will
hold up in light to moderate winds. But, when the storms come,
weak blades can put the whole system at risk." And the new BWC
SH3045 airfoil makes the XL.1's blade probably the most efficient
ever on a small wind turbine. The photo to the right shows the prototype Bergey XL.1 at the BWC factory undergoing tests on a 9 meter (30 ft) Tilt-up Tower. The blades attach directly to a specially designed very-low-speed permanent magnet alternator which uses state-of-the-art neodymium super- magnets. "We have designed an oversized alternator that slows the rotor down and makes the turbine very quiet." Overspeed protection is provided by the proven BWC AutoFurl passive sideways furling system. "In spite of the claims otherwise, no other overspeed protection system has proven to be more reliable or effective than AutoFurl." The XL.1 includes the BWC PowerCenter controller which controls battery charging, provides a common interconnection point for all the DC (direct current) components, and even includes a 30 A controller for the solar modules that are often a part of a complete hybrid system. The batteries are charged with the exclusive BWC OptiCharge system, which maintains the charged batteries at a constant voltage. Sandia National Laboratory tests have shown that this charging methods extends the life of batteries. The PowerCenter allows an auxiliary or "dump" load to be connected to utilize excess wind (and/or solar) power after the batteries are fully charged. Low wind speed performance is greatly enhanced by a low-end-boost circuit that optimally loads the wind turbine down to wind speeds as low as 5.6 mph (2.5 m/s). Combined with the new blade system, this circuitry allows the XL.1 to produce useful power more than 6,000 hours a year at a typical site. For reference, a typical solar system produces power 3,500 hours a year at a typical site. The XL.1 is offered with a tubular Tilt-up tower in heights from 9 m (30 ft) to 32 m (104 ft). These kits will be be easy to install and will offer customers a complete "ready to install" kit. "There's been a need for more complete integration between turbine and tower packages for small wind turbines and we think our new line will fill that gap." The Owners Manual and the Installation Manual for
the XL.1 are available on-line as PDF files. See the links
below. |
XL.1 Specifications |
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Type: 3 Blade Upwind Start-up Wind Speed: 3 m/s (6.7 mph) Maximum Power: ~ 1,600 Watts Blade Pitch Control: None, Fixed Pitch |
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further information, please contact:
Steve
Wilke
T: 1-866-237-4397
(toll-free) F:
405-364-2078 | ||
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