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Subject: Viewer Idea – Off-grid Wind-Powered Thermal Heating System
Hi
I'm a fan of your channel and your hands-on approach to solving real-world energy challenges. I’d like to share a project idea you might find interesting to prototype or test on your channel.
The concept is an **off-grid, low-cost home heating system** that uses wind power to generate heat **without electricity from the grid**. Here's a quick overview:
- A **small vertical wind turbine** drives a rotating shaft.
- The shaft powers a **friction disc system**: a rotating fiber brake disc presses against a fixed steel disc.
- This contact generates heat (around 80–120°C on the steel surface).
- **Copper pipes** are placed on the steel disc to transfer the heat into **water**.
- The hot water is then used to **heat a small, well-insulated room**.
- A **small fan** (solar-powered or DC) distributes the heat more effectively throughout the space.
- Optionally, the water stores heat for **nighttime use**, enabling consistent warmth even when the wind dies down.
With 20–30 liters of water heated to ~70°C, a single room (~30 m³) can be heated through the night (10 hours) with a temperature rise of ~10–12°C.
The goal is to create a simple and scalable system using mostly scrap or affordable components—perfect for off-grid living or emergency use.
If you're interested, I’d love to see how you bring this concept to life, test its performance, or even improve it further.
Thanks for considering the idea!
Best regards,
Murat
Posted : 15/06/2025 8:35 am
It's an interesting idea but my concern is the problem of losses through the system. A traditional generator (still possible with "spare" parts such as the alternator from an old car) is more efficient since the friction losses are minimised and not just lost to heat (much of which is lost anyway).
There's also the problem of wear components in a system such as this. A friction system needs to be continuously adjustable to allow for loading (less wind, means you have less drive power to convert). A direct electrical connection just slows down and will stop but restart when the wind picks up.
You also need a governor to ensure the thing doesn't get so much wind that the blades separate from the rotor.
Take everything I say with a pinch of salt, I might be wrong and it's a very *expensive* way to learn!
Posted : 15/06/2025 6:34 pm