Generators for green power
B&Q has sold more than 4,000 Windsave 1kW wind turbines since launching the product last October.
The product, developed by Lafert Electric Motors (formerly AEG Electric Motors) took three years of collaboration and design.
The Italian-made generators are redesigns of a family of products optimised for ‘green’ power and ‘green’ vehicles that combine the company’s permanent magnet rotors – developed for servo motors – and stators developed for induction motors.
Sales director Brian Bannister said of the development: “It has not been easy.”
Rare earth magnets are placed in a particular orientation in order to maximise power and reduce cogging effects.
“That’s where a lot of the development effort has gone,” says Bannister.
Other ‘green’ products that Lafert is involved with include asynchronous 125kW generators for Ocean Power Delivery ‘Pelamis’ wave power generators and motors for ScootElectric scooters and electric cars.
