Solar Powered Air Compressor

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Actually, on second thought... maybe the Port would be willing to bring power out to the sandbar parking lot?

They probably want power for their ticket booth...I'd imagine the schools would support this idea.

Maybe if we raised money to help pay to bring power out to the bar they'd let us hook up the air compressor and pay the power bills from the daily/annual passes.

Nak · Wed Apr 04, 07 10:11 am

How about a large tank, and I mean as big as we can find, to store compressed air. Top the thing off from a gas powered compressor daily. Too big to steal. Simple and reliable. If we put the thing in, maybe the port would agree to have their parking lot attendant service it every morning. It wouldn't cost them any money since they're already paying the salary.

Nak

boredbrain · Since 16 Feb 2006 352 Posts Hood River Obsessed

How about a gas powered compressor?

http://www2.northerntool.com/cat-1/87+90142.htm

boredbrain · Since 16 Feb 2006 352 Posts Hood River Obsessed

their parking lot attendant service it every morning

Are you kidding, they barely do their job as it is.

Nak · Wed Apr 04, 07 10:16 am

Sorry Phil, I was typing as you were posting... I like your idea; Does anyone have any idea how much that would cost? It would be great if the port would fund that... Maybe the compressor could be stored in the attendant shack at night?

Nak

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Sol, still, a single air compressor is going to draw a lot more than what you're running right now. Figure your 2500w invertor will supply ~20A, most little air compressors are probably going to be pulling around 15. Yea, maybe you can get away with it, but have fun charging the batteries on the panel alone, especially with how much that thing will be running.

I like the gas and direct AC options! Thumb's Up

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Ok:

http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-4215.html

Very Happy

Sol-flyer · Wed Apr 04, 07 8:25 pm

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

yeah that's kind of why I think the gas powered solution might be a little uncool. I mean I'd much rather hear somebody's car radio blasting and the wind roaring than some gas generator buzzing away.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

I've got it! NUCLEAR power!!!! Rolling Eyes

And we can heat the river at the same time! Thumb's Up

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

come on Adam... how would you do it, cost no object... solar powered air compressor. Make sure to send links to all the product. Wink

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

Take an old exercise bike
and run another chain from
the flywheel to a compressor.

Take ride, charge the tank.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

The windmill geared low to be a compressor would work like that I guess.... but not sure how to set that up.

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/61/p/1/pt/29/product.asp

Problem with these small portable compressors is they have
a low Flow Rate. There is a model 600HD that is bigger.
But they don't give a flow vs pressure curve so it's hard
to say how fast it will pump up kite.

But if you bring a blender, this thing will whip up some Margaritas.

You could probably hook up two 60-100 watt solar panels and
keep it charged but it will probably run down if used heavily.

Nak · Thu Apr 05, 07 7:33 am

The windmill concept is pretty easy, but implementing it.... The easiest way would be to rig it up with a chain drive. I think a gear drive would be more reliable and lower maintenance. (But more difficult to set up.)
Past that, you'd have two options:

1. The compressor would have to be rated for continuous use. Use a pressure relief valve so as to not overpressure the tank. You would also need a safety relief valve in case the pressure relief valve failed. This method would result in a constant release of air once max pressure was obtained.

2. Hook a clutch system up. The clutch would normally be engaged, but once tank pressure reached max it would disengage. (You'd still need the two valves mentioned above, they just wouldn't activate normally.) This method would be preferable, as the compressor wouldn't be running 24/7. I'm not sure how feasible this idea is, as I don't know if the parts would be available off the shelf.

I've not built a compressor OR a windmill, these are just my thoughts.

Nak

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

You need a right angle gear box with the proper ratio
to direct drive the compressor. Hopefully the gearbox
bearings would be sufficiently rated to handle the high
dynamic loads associated with wind powered blades. Got
a killer idea for those as well. But not going to post that.

Most spots would need a rotating head to accommodate
wind direction. That adds some complexity to the drive
but the 90 degree gearbox helps solve that with out an
additional pivot. Main thing is properly sizing the components.
Need to get out the calculator and start plugging numbers
into some formulas.

I'll design it if someone will pay for the components and
fabrication. I'm sure it could be commercialized. Any
venture capitalists out there?

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB