Testing To Continue Through Summer

Structural, electrical and pneumatic testing will continue through the summer on the completed 60 kW vertical axis grid-tied wind turbine in Clines Corners, New Mexico.

April 12, 2006 proved to be the big day in the final assembly of the Vawtpower Management's new VT100 prototype wind turbine. The final assembly of the turbine began early in the morning with the installation of the top torque tube and strut assembly. Then the three 46 foot long blades were attached to their struts with hinge pins designed to allow movement between the blades and struts without transferring stress to the aluminum blades. The three blades mounted on the top torque tube form a turbine that is 50 feet across.

Previously the blades had been fabricated on site by Vawtpower Management. Each blade was cut to length from a straight blade blank. Then each blade was bent a total of 26 times to the desired curve. Finally, each blade was fitted with two hinge ends that were epoxied in place.