Guy-less tilt-up towers for Air turbines [RE-wrenches]

[Tom Simko]

on 5/2/02 5:11 PM, John Raynes at john at raynes.com wrote:

John,
 I have used stepped large diameter schedule 40 pipe, bought cheap at steel
salvage yards for turbine installs in the 1 KW range. The last one I did
started out with 18" for the first 20', then 12" for the final 35'. The
bottom 8' of the 18" pipe goes into a 7 yd concrete filled excavation. The
next time you drive down the freeway, check out the advertising signs for
the gas stations, resturants etc. Look at the surface area of the signs, its
huge. Perhaps a sign company has the engineering for this on file, it is
simple and using salvage pipe, cheap. A ladder is part of the deal, if my
customers can't climb a 50' or so tower I tell them wind is not for them, or
I charge them to do it. You're in Sandy? I'm south of Poky, give a call next
time you're in the area.
Tom Simko
Skyline Solar

> Hello Wrenches,
> 
> I have a question for the group that's been bugging me.  I come across a
> lot of potential small wind customers who will not buy if it involves guyed
> towers.  Usually they're in communities without lots of land, plus there
> are the questions about how they look, people tripping over wires, etc.  I
> know of the guy-less lattice towers for the larger machines, but those are
> overkill (height, weight, and cost-wise) when considering an Air403 or
> Air-X.  We've searched high and low for some design that's in the 25-50'
> range, readily adaptable to the Air turbines, but we're stumped.  SW
> doesn't feel that this is an issue they need to address.
> 
> It seems as if the only solutions are
> 1) the roof mount kit (enough's already been said about that),
> 2) "just sink a pole, man", or
> 3) "deal with guy wires and stop whining"
> 
> I reluctantly steer toward #2, but there are still two major
> problems.  First, there's the question of access, and I always tell folks
> to plan on servicing with some regularity.  Without tilt-up, that's often
> not practical once you get above 20-25' or so.  Second, it's not an
> engineered solution, and I'm concerned about liability.  I'm not a
> mechanical designer, so I'm hesitant to bank on my judgement when it comes
> to tall tower structures, without going for overkill, probably way more
> expensive than is needed.
> 
> Anybody aware of cost-effective solutions for guy-less Air tilt-up
> towers?   I don't mind if there's 5-10' of spread at the bottom for
> bracing, nor do I mind if there's pipe welding needed to reduce down from
> fatter poles at the base.  I'm just looking for a design that's been tested
> by someone who's given it the proper thought.  I'll buy plans, kits, whatever.
> 
> Thanks,
> John Raynes
> RE Solar
> Sandy, UT
> 
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