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Old 10-23-2012, 09:28 PM   #21 (permalink)
rmay635703
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryland View Post
The problem is that at 30mph head wind it's going to take 1,400 watts to keep the car from moving backwards with the wind! so 1,400 watts just to keep it standing still and more energy to move it forward, so at that point it needs a prop that is larger then the frontal area of the car to generate enough power to move it forward and that would work if the wind generator was stationary next to the car with a long cord but as soon as you put that turbine on the car it increases the frontal area by the swept area of the turbine.
This is why you need a very aerodynamic shape so the frontal area is mainly prop so most of the power can be geared into moving the car.

obviously the speed you would move in a non-aero large car would be very slow but it still has a break even point.

cheers

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