Fortis Wind Turbines

Fortis wind turbine design is based on the same principal as the .81 versions: an upwind rotor with a fail safe vane security system. This principle guarantees a high yield because the turbine will never stop functioning, but at the same time it protects the turbine by gale force winds. The use of high tech materials in combination with a simple design results in state of the art wind turbines at a low price. Quality products have made Fortis a European market leader.

We are able to offer a complete service from design to installation. We pride ourselves on being able to offer superb, high quality hardware and service a service that is second to none.

Wind turbines are available in various sizes from 800W to 10KW. 

We offer a wider range up to 80kW - please call for more details.

Wind Turbines - Product Specifications

Model	Espada	Passaat	Montana	Alize
Maximum power [kW]	0.8	1.4	5	10
Rated wind speed [m/s]	17	16	17	13
Cut in wind speed [m/s]	3	3	2.5	3
Output at 10 m/s [kW]	0.48	0.95	2.7	6.6
Rotor diameter [m]	2.2	3.12	5	7
Number of blades	2	3	3	3
Swept area [m2]	3.8	7.65	19.63	38.5
Rated RPM	240-1000	180-775	120-450	25-300
Blade material	Fibreglass reinforced epoxy
Speed regulation	Safety system by hinged vane which will gradually turn the rotor out of the wind and a short circuit system for the generator
Generator type	Permanent NE-Fe-Br magnets producing 3 phase AC
Battery protection	Controller with dump load PWM switching
Battery regulator	Available for 12v, 24v, 48v or 120v installations
Grid feed inverter	1x230	1x230	1x230V	1x230V or 3x400V
Tower height [m]	6-18	12-18	12-24
Standard tower	12m guyed wire	12m guyed wire	18m guyed wire
Optional tower	Lattice tower 15-18m	Lattice tower 15-18m	Free staqnding pole 15-18m	Free staqnding pole 24m
Weight [kg]	52	75	200	540
Main features	5 years guarantee
	Average lifetime for wind turbine is over 20 years
	Maintenance free
	Wind turbines from 800 Watt up to 10 kW (bigger models on request)
	Low cut-in wind speed
	High performance/price ratio
	Direct drive
	Automatic furling safety system
	Free standing, lattice tower or guyed pole
	Electric brake switch

Fortis wind turbines are sold as complete kits and consist of:

• the turbine itself;
• a pole, this can be a lattice tower, a guyed wire pole or a free standing one;
• the foundation;
• electric cables to the voltage regulator;
• voltage regulator;
• electricity converter; this can be an inverter to
• feed the electricity into the grid, or a battery
• charging device with a 240V output.

The Fortis Technology- An Overview

Battery charge regulator

The essential functions of a charge regulator are:
Preventing overcharging of the battery: If a wind turbine system or wind/photovoltaic hybrid system supplies more current than can be absorbed by the battery at that moment, the charging current is reduced by the charging regulator. This excess current is transferred to a dump load, which can be utilised for heating air or by means of a special heater, for water heating. A reduced charging current remains to compensate the self-discharge of the battery. The full charging current is automatically switched on again when the battery voltage drops.

Preventing over-discharging of the battery: If the consumer discharges the battery to a grate extend and the so-cal1ed over-discharge limit is reached, the load on the battery has to be disconnected. A low-voltage alarm or automatic load rejection mechanism can be installed in the charge regulator. As soon as the battery resumes the reset threshold, the load is switched on again.

The battery charge regulator is a key component and should always be incorporated as an essential element in a wind turbine system or wind/photovoltaic hybrid systems. All charge regulators can be used for 12, 24, 48 or 120 V installations. Other voltages are available as option. Overcharging and over-discharging both damage the battery and reduce its service life considerably. Incorporating a matching charge regulator reduces the need for constant checks of the battery charge level by the user of a wind turbine or hybrid system.

Rotor blades
All wind turbines are equipped with standard rotor blades made of fibre-glass reinforced epoxy. Production of the rotor blades is based on a patented production method known as press winding. The blades are produced in one piece, as opposed to two pieces glued together. The leading edge is treated with a specia1 coating to protect it against erosion.

Permanent magnet generator:
Construction: The PMG-generator is constructed from standard motor parts in a fully enclosed housing, without fan or fan cover. The bearings are standard bal1 bearings with metal sea1ing and lifelong lubrication. The PMG generator pole wheel is made up from Neodinium (NE-Fe-Br) magnets glued on the surface of the pole wheel. Neodinium magnets have the highest energy rates of permanent magnets. Small magnets give a high-energy output of the generator. In this way the construction of the rotor wheel is strong and reliable. Only the stator has copper windings. For efficiency, the winding is three-phase, and class F insulation with special protection is used.

Description of PM generator

- Brushless multi-pole synchronous generator

- Permanent magnetised pole wheel.

Protection IP54 for Espada and Passaat - Aluminium housing for Espada and Passaat.

Steel housing forMontana and Alize - Stainless steel shaft

Using a special stator and winding design, the magnetic bonding of the pole wheel is virtually eliminated and the torque is practically dependent on bearing friction only. The magnetic materials used for the pole wheel will keep the field strength permanently present. This means that the electrical characteristics are similar to those of tachometer generator. The electrical current generated by the PMG-generator is therefore very suitable for battery charging, electrical heating, water pumping and other such applications.

Hinged vane safety system
The function of the safety system with an inclined hinged vane is to limit the rotational speed of the rotor and to limit the axia1 forces acting upon the rotor. This is accomplished by the rotor gradually being turned out of the wind with increasing wind speed. As the vane remains more or less parallel to the wind, this turning of the head implies that the vane is turned around its inclined hinge, thereby moving upwards. The vane a1ways inc1ines towards its lowest position, however providing the moments that balance the moment of the rotor. In the static ana1ysis presented here the position of rotor, tail and vane are stable at every wind speed, i.e. the moments around the hinge axis and around the vertical axis of the rotor head are in balance.

Hinge axis: the aerodynamic forces on the tail vane plus the weight of the tail together yield an oblique downward force. The tail vane will move under the inf1uence of this downward force until the force points in the vane, due to the aerodynamic forces, is kept in balance by the moment caused by the weight of the vane and tail. Vertical axis: the aerodynamic forces on the tail vane exert a moment around the vertical which is ba1anced by the moment of the aerodynamic forces on the rotor. With increasing wind speed the aerodynamic forces on the rotor. Increase, turning the rotor further out of the wind and forcing the tail vane further from its lowest position.