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MSU Skystream Turbine
In the Fall of 2008 a Skystream 3.7 Wind Turbine was installed
on MSU's campus in a joint effort between the Montana Wind Applications Center
and Western Community Energy (the Montana State Wind for Schools Facilitator.)
Students from two MSU senior-level courses also helped out: MET480 Alternative
Energy Applications, and ME404/MET456 Capstone Design. Both classes are offered
through the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department.
The turbine is located on campus's southeast corner, two blocks from the main
Engineering Campus, at the south end of South 5th Street. The Wind
Applications Center office is located in the building just south west of the
turbine, at #22
Faculty Court. (Below. Turbine installation, October 2008)
The SkyStream 3.7, manufactured by Southwest Windpower,
has an internal communications package capable of
measuring and tracking many parameters of its operation. These include
power produced per day, reduced CO2 emissions, rotor speed, and power produced.The
SKYVIEW software package is used to interface with the
turbine via a LAN system. (screen shot below.)
Screen Shot from Skyview 6/12/09
A weather station was installed on the tower
to supplement turbine data with live weather
condition information. Data from both systems - plus a
web-cam image of the turbine - are available on the
MSU LIVE TURBINE MONITOR
page.
If you are experiencing problems with your Skystream 3.7 or the
communications system please check out
South West Wind Powers
Troubleshooting or contact the WAC.
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