With a rotor diameter of 2.5 meters
(8.2 ft) and a peak output of approximately 1,600 watts the XL.1 is intended for
the off-grid home market in the U.S. and for rural electrification programs in
developing countries. It is also a perfect upgrade system for current owners of
micro-turbines, such as the Air 303 or 403.
The XL.1 combines a number
of advanced technical features, including a completely new airfoil (patent pending),
to provide the highest efficiency yet achieved in a small wind turbine at a cost
of energy ~ 10% lower than the current price leader. And, the XL.1 carries the
exclusive, industry-leading, Bergey 5-year warranty. "We are very excited
about the XL.1. We think customers are really going to like this machine"
notes Mike Bergey, BWC's president and CEO.
The XL.1 is an up-wind, horizontal-axis,
three- bladed turbine. The blades are pultruded fiberglass, a material that is
over ten times stronger than the injection- molded plastic used on most small
wind turbines. In fact, pultrusions have a breaking strength exceeding 100,000
psi, which is twice as strong as normal steel. "Just about any blade material
will hold up in light to moderate winds. But, when the storms come, weak blades
can put the whole system at risk." And the new BWC SH3045 airfoil makes the
XL.1's blade probably the most efficient ever on a small wind turbine.
The
photo to the right shows the prototype Bergey XL.1 at the BWC factory undergoing
tests on a 9 
meter
(30 ft) Tilt-up Tower.
The blades attach directly to a specially designed
very-low-speed permanent magnet alternator which uses state-of-the-art neodymium
super- magnets. "We have designed an oversized alternator that slows the
rotor down and makes the turbine very quiet." Overspeed protection is provided
by the proven BWC AutoFurl passive sideways furling system. "In spite of
the claims otherwise, no other overspeed protection system has proven to be more
reliable or effective than AutoFurl."
The XL.1 includes the BWC PowerCenter
controller which controls battery charging, provides a common interconnection
point for all the DC (direct current) components, and even includes a 30 A controller
for the solar modules that are often a part of a complete hybrid system. The PowerCenter
allows an auxiliary or "dump" load to be connected to utilize excess
wind (and/or solar) power after the batteries are fully charged.
Low wind
speed performance is greatly enhanced by a low-end-boost circuit that optimally
loads the wind turbine down to wind speeds as low as 5.6 mph (2.5 m/s). Combined
with the new blade system, this circuitry allows the XL.1 to produce useful power
more than 6,000 hours a year at a typical site. For reference, a typical solar
system produces power 3,500 hours a year at a typical site.
The XL.1 can
be placed on our tubular Tilt-up tower, in heights from 9 m (30 ft) to 32 m (104
ft). These kits are easy to install and will offer customers a complete "ready
to install" kit.
The Owners Manual and the Installation
Manual for the XL.1 are available on-line as PDF files.
XL.1 Specifications
Type:
3 Blade Upwind
Rotor Diameter: 2.5 m (8.2 ft.)
Start-up Wind
Speed: 3 m/s (6.7 mph)
Cut-in Wind Speed: 2.5 m/s (5.6 mph)
Rated Wind Speed: 11 m/s (24.6 mph)
Rated Power: 1000 Watts
Maximum Power: ~ 1,600 Watts
Cut-Out Wind Speed: None
Furling Wind Speed: 13 m/s (29 mph)
Max. Design Wind Speed:
54 m/s (120 mph)
Blade Pitch Control: None, Fixed Pitch
Overspeed
Protection: AutoFurl
Gearbox: None, Direct Drive
Temperature
Range: -40 to +60 Deg. C (-40 to +140 Deg. F)
Generator: Permanent
Magnet Alternator
Output Form: 24 VDC Nominal
BWC
XL.1 24 VDC Specification
Sheet (575 KB)
XL.1 24 VDC Owners
Manual (410 KB)
XL.1 / Tilt.Tower Installation
Manual (450 KB)
Bergey
Windpower's newest product is the 1,000 Watt BWC XL.1. The BWC XL.1 is currently
available only as a 24 VDC battery-charging system. The Bergey 10 kW Grid Tek
will connect direct to the Grid.