Feasibility of a Unique Wind Powered Home Heating System

The feasibility of a unique wind turbine concept as a means to supplement home heating requirements is presented. A preliminary economic analysis has shown that it could be costeffective for a homeowner to heat their home using a wind powered heating system if the cost of equipment, fuel, and the social cost of pollution are accounted for. A wind powered heating system could reduce the estimated $2,246/year that the average household in the Northeastern portion of the U.S. spends to heat their home. A novel vertical axis wind turbine using contra-rotating rotors, a CR-VAWT, has been developed at Clarkson University. It features two rotors that spin in opposite directions about a concentric vertical axis. Unlike traditional turbines, the CR-VAWT features lower rotational velocities of each rotor, the ability to accept wind from any direction, and the option to locate the generator near the ground for easy maintenance. Testing has shown that the turbine concept works as hypothesized and produces more power output then a similar turbine without contra rotating rotors.