I got this from Kostas today:
OpenAFPM: An open source software tool for modelling and designing axial flux permanent magnet generators in wind electric systems
Update THERE WILL BE A WEBINAR ON 19th April where you can learn how to use the tool. More information here.
The OpenAFPM modelling tools can be used for designing Axial Flux Permanent Magnet (AFPM) generators for wind electric systems with the use of the open source finite element analysis software ‘Finite Element Method Magnetics’ (FEMM). This series of design tools have been developed by the Rural Electrification Research Group (RurERG), which is part of the Smart RUE (Smart grids Research Unit of the Electrical and Computer Engineering School) of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), in order to assist designers and practitioners involved with small scale wind electric systems.
The OpenAFPM tools series consists of three design tools named MagnAFPM, UserAFPM and OptiAFPM. The tool MagnAFPM can be used for designing a generator for a specific set of rotor blades and a specific set of permanent magnet dimensions. The tool UserAFPM can be used to validate the performance of a specific generator geometry by performing a finite element analysis using FEMM. The tool OptiAFPM uses the particle swarm optimization (PSO) to optimize the dimensions of the permanent magnets used in the generator design for a specific set of rotor blades, while minimizing the generator’s efficiency, cost and/or mass.
The creation of the online user interface of the OpenAFPM modeling tools has been supported by WISIONS as part of the project ‘Online Design Tools for Locally Manufactured Small Wind Turbines’.
Follow the link to visit the home page of the OpenAFPM tools and try them out!
I have used this tool and it is very much useful. You can do many things using this tools. The post is also very helpful becasue I have learned a lot of things from here. Contact Firefox Technical Support for more help.
LS;
Our foundation Foundation For A Better World (ffabw.org) works in open sourche.
we develop an autarkic house.
some of the energy required comes from a bio gasifier.
a part comes from solar roof tiles.
a part comes from vertical wind units on the roof.
Interested? let us exchange data.
From 2012 or earlier I am already interested in self-construction from windmill, horizontal or vertical, which you organisation. Mabey there wash also a Workshop in the Nederlands.
The chairman of FFABW.org. Gabriël Bassant
+31 6 156 40 462
hi
I am sorry but I am not travelling around to teach courses now. But you can ask Jonathan Schreiber to do it. http://pureselfmade.com/
I do not recommend using vertical axis design.
cheers
Hugh
Update THERE WILL BE A WEBINAR ON 19th April where you can learn how to use the tool. More information here. https://mailchi.mp/6e24cea728fe/windempowerment-webinar-apr-12-an-improved-modular-wooden-tower-design-1990957?e=a7f032e077