Sailwing windmill characteristics and related topics.

The method of experimentally determining the performance of large scale windmill models mounted on a moving vehicle is discussed in detail. As a result of the wind tunnel experiments, analysis, and the large scale vehicle work, an optimisation of a particular rotor is described, as are the results of blade twist experiments as a method of RPM control. Because the wind tunnel models were necessarily small scale, rigid rotor blades were used; however, the large scale rotors tested and reported upon were of the Princeton Sailwing type. By means of dimensional analysis and by experiments, the significant tension cmefficient for the trailing edge cable of the Sailwing rotor has been determined and evaluated. This tension coefficient enables the demign of such a rotor to be such that the luffing threshold can be avoided for any given set of conditions. (A)(Microfiche)