BWC XL.1 Wind Turbine
More power than any other small turbine,
twice that of the Whisper H40 and 4 times that of the AIR 403
With a rotor diameter of 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) and a peak output of 1,200 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. 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 will carry 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 fibreglass, a material that is over ten times stronger than the injection- moulded 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 below 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 utilise 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 PowerCenter will also be available with an optional on-board 500 W sine wave inverter
system. In this configuration the XL.1 system will provide a complete "plug and
play" AC power system for remote sites. This option should be available in September. The
XL.1 will be offered with a tubular Tilt-up tower in heights from 9 m (30 ft) to 32 m (104
ft). These kits will 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."
XL.1
Specifications
Type:
3 Blade Upwind
Rotor Diameter: 2.5 m (8.2 ft.)
Start-up
Wind Speed:
3 m/s (6.7 mph)
Cut-in Wind Speed: 2.5
m/s (5.6 mph)
Rated Wind Speed: 11
m/s (24.6 mph)
Rated Power: 1000 Watts
Cut-Out Wind Speed: None
Furling Wind Speed: 13 m/s (29 mph)
Max. Design Wind Speed: 54 m/s (120 mph)
Blade
Pitch Control:
None, Fixed Pitch
Overspeed Protection: AutoFurl
Gearbox: None, Direct Drive
Temperature Range: -40 to +60 Deg.
C
(-40 to +140 Deg. F)
Generator: Permanent Magnet Alternator
Output Form: 24
VDC Nominal
Price
UK £1991.63
Includes the Opticharge power
centre that can take additional solar input for all year round power.
9m
(30ft) £695.00
13m
(42ft) £925.00
With this turbine Tower kits include galvanised 2 m (6 ft), 89 mm (3.5 in) diameter tubular tower sections and associated hardware, guy anchors, guy wires and associated hardware, and gin-pole. UPS shippable. Tower electrical wiring is not included.
*19m
(64ft) £1280.00
*25m
(84ft) £1,515.00
*32m
(105ft) £1,865.00
*114
mm (4.5 in) diameter tubular tower sections
Bergey XL1.5 Bergey 10 kW Whisper H80 Rutland Aerocraft Fortis Bornay Enercon AIR 403 Ampair
