New Airlift Windmill

New Airlift Windmill ENERGY Wind Power 5-1-7 This simplified air-lift type windmill, invented by Aaron Beisel, Fargo, Okl., pumps water by using air pressure. The pressure is created by a compressor which is driven by a wind-powered fan. Beisel used a simple pipe tower for his prototype installation. "Here in Oklahoma, we need to go only high enough for a rider on a horse to clear the fan. Higher towers could be constructed and the principle would still work, however," according to Beisel. The fan blades, three in this installation, are 5 ft. in dia. and a rear fan keeps them directed into the wind as they swivel on the tower. The fan powers an ITT compressor, and a line carries the compressed air down into the well to below the water line. The air mixes with water and, because the mixture is lighter than the water below it, rises up and out. The fan blades are fixed pitch, constructed of aircraft metals. The compressor is durable, oil-less and maintenance-free, says Beisel. The unit weighs only about 25 lbs. Its main use so far has been to pump water for livestock. The windmill doesn't have to be placed directly over the well. It can be erected on a hill, and a line used to carry the compressed air to a well in a nearby valley, explains Beisel. "I'd estimate that a' -in. tube would be adequate for a 100-ft. distance; a %-in. tube for 200 ft. If you wanted to pipe the air a iiile, you might need a 1-in. tube." Various size units can be built, but the 5-ft. unit works best with shallow wells, according to Beisel. "I recommend not to pump water from over 60 ft. deep." An average well application will pump about 200 gal. of water per hour. The unit produces approximately .5 cu. ft. of air per minute in 10 mph wind. Beisel says it can be installed in 30 min. and that it is durable, even in high winds. Also, it can pump water in wind as low as 5 to 7 mph. Beisel plans to have his idea patented and will build units himself at a retail price of about $500 each. "If I get hooked up with a manufacturer and the windmills can be produced in volume, the cost will be considerably less," he says. For more details, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Aaron Beisel, Rt. 1, Fargo, Okl., 73840 (ph 405 698-2613).

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