BERLIN—If all goes well, the initial prototype of Berlin’s long-awaited innovative wind turbine design will be installed at the Rayne’s Sand and Gravel Co. property on Old Ocean City Blvd by the end of January, the exhausted inventor, Doug Richards of DDU Magnetics, Inc., predicted during a Jan. 10 interview.
It could prove to be a landmark invention that has the potential to drastically cut electric energy costs, according to Richards. He said its operating costs would be low, since the device would be virtually maintenance free once installed. It has an estimated lifespan of up to 15 years.
The direct drive turbine has two salient characteristics, Richards said. First, it is quiet and does not develop rotor cog, which produces vibration that eventually limits the life of a motor. Second, with its smaller size, Richards is hoping to bring the price points for the initial equipment and installation costs down considerably in relation to the turbines that are currently on the market.
The town agreed to contribute the up-front cost ($4,500) to install the turbine, an amount officials expect to recoup once the device begins to produce energy and cost savings in the form of reduced electric power rates.
Once the initial contribution has been fully reimbursed the town will split its costs with the turbine creator on a ratio of 70 percent for the town and 30 percent for the turbine manufacturer.
Richards and his sponsors and investors are bearing the estimated $120,000 to $130,000 cost for the project out of pocket.
Berlin Electric Director Timothy Lawrence and Richards originally received the town’s approval for the installation of the innovative project at the Savage Substation on Schoolfield Street, in February 2013, but a new location had to be found when residents in that neighborhood complained.
The 11th-hour setback was only one of several, Richards endured as he labored to take the patented design from paper to prototype. The project was waylaid by several challenges; at one point by Richard becoming ill, then there was the struggle to find investors with the patience to accept a long product development trajectory rather than expect a rapid return on investment.
Another was a trial-and-error correction that actually led to a second patented design, when the brushed motor designed to produce the direct current proved to be unreliable and subject to failure during testing.
In resolving the problem, Richards created a brushless diode component that converts friction from the generator’s own propeller to produce electricity much cheaper and exponentially more reliable.
Richards, 49, is an electrical engineer from Illinois.. He said his family has been very supportive throughout the development process. He spoke about a personal goal: that of installing one of his turbines for his dad’s farm in Mississippi, where the wintertime electric bills can skyrocket to $600 per month. With the turbine, Richards envisions bringing those costs down to zero.
Asked how he would like to be compensated if the experiment proves to be a commercial success, Richards said he would like to sell kits of the assembly. He would also count as a form of compensation the satisfaction of knowing that something he invented could ultimately benefit society. g the chance that is allowing him to make him dream.
It could prove to be a landmark invention that has the potential to drastically cut electric energy costs, according to Richards. He said its operating costs would be low, since the device would be virtually maintenance free once installed. It has an estimated lifespan of up to 15 years.
The direct drive turbine has two salient characteristics, Richards said. First, it is quiet and does not develop rotor cog, which produces vibration that eventually limits the life of a motor. Second, with its smaller size, Richards is hoping to bring the price points for the initial equipment and installation costs down considerably in relation to the turbines that are currently on the market.
The town agreed to contribute the up-front cost ($4,500) to install the turbine, an amount officials expect to recoup once the device begins to produce energy and cost savings in the form of reduced electric power rates.
Once the initial contribution has been fully reimbursed the town will split its costs with the turbine creator on a ratio of 70 percent for the town and 30 percent for the turbine manufacturer.
Richards and his sponsors and investors are bearing the estimated $120,000 to $130,000 cost for the project out of pocket.
Berlin Electric Director Timothy Lawrence and Richards originally received the town’s approval for the installation of the innovative project at the Savage Substation on Schoolfield Street, in February 2013, but a new location had to be found when residents in that neighborhood complained.
The 11th-hour setback was only one of several, Richards endured as he labored to take the patented design from paper to prototype. The project was waylaid by several challenges; at one point by Richard becoming ill, then there was the struggle to find investors with the patience to accept a long product development trajectory rather than expect a rapid return on investment.
Another was a trial-and-error correction that actually led to a second patented design, when the brushed motor designed to produce the direct current proved to be unreliable and subject to failure during testing.
In resolving the problem, Richards created a brushless diode component that converts friction from the generator’s own propeller to produce electricity much cheaper and exponentially more reliable.
Richards, 49, is an electrical engineer from Illinois.. He said his family has been very supportive throughout the development process. He spoke about a personal goal: that of installing one of his turbines for his dad’s farm in Mississippi, where the wintertime electric bills can skyrocket to $600 per month. With the turbine, Richards envisions bringing those costs down to zero.
Asked how he would like to be compensated if the experiment proves to be a commercial success, Richards said he would like to sell kits of the assembly. He would also count as a form of compensation the satisfaction of knowing that something he invented could ultimately benefit society. g the chance that is allowing him to make him dream.