I want to let you all know, this is what I have been talking about; you can go to windmillpower.com and see for yourself. Then call them up and be enlightened!

Is this a new windmill design? How reliable is it?
WINDTech has brought the mechanical windmill into the 21st century. The Oasis 3 looks like a traditional windmill because its 3.05 m (10') diameter rotor has been manufactured by Dempster Industries for over 50 years. The 24 individual blades are made from heavy gauge steel and are securely fastened to circles to keep proper curvature so they cannot spring out of shape. The thoroughly galvanized wheel prevents rust and corrosion.

The Oasis 3 elevated tail, rotary counterbalanced crank shaft, and industrially designed gear box are innovative contributions to windmill design and account for the Oasis 3's superior performance, as compared to other windmills. The elevated tail permits the Oasis 3 to face into the wind, maximizing its water pumping power. The rotary counter balance jack pump improves pumping power by lightening the weight of the load of water being lifted from the well, resulting in the Oasis 3's ability to pump much higher volumes of water from deeper depths in lower winds than traditional windmills. The high strength sealed gear box, with industrial quality anti-friction bearings and heavy duty gears, provides reliable performance.

The Oasis 3 model has been in design development since 1992, and is based on more than twenty years and millions of dollars of basic research. The equipment has been tested for performance and reliability since September 1996 by Dr. David Eggleston, a renowned engineering expert in wind power. The Oasis 3 is built by Dempster Industries, which has manufactured windmills, pumps, and farm equipment in Beatrice, Nebraska since 1885. Based on the Oasis 3 heavy duty design specifications, the Oasis windmill should function for at least twenty years with only minimal yearly maintenance.

What kind of wind conditions does an Oasis windmill need in order to operate?
Unlike all other windmills, the Oasis 3 will operate effectively in winds below 2.2 m/s (5 miles per hour). Most windmill performance charts estimate water volumes for minimum wind speeds of 5.4 m/s (12 miles per hour), reaching maximum productivity above 8 m/s (18 miles per hour). In most places on the earth's surface average daily wind speeds are well below this level. Even on the gusty plains of the Western United States the Oasis 3 is the preferred solution for 24 hour a day, year around water pumping.

What are the possible uses of an Oasis windmill?
An Oasis windmill is typically used to pump water in locations that are distant from the electrical grid. These locations can be rural villages in the developing world or grazing areas in the Western United States. In situations where constant pumping is required and electricity costs are high, the Oasis 3 is an ideal and economical choice over the expected 20 year life of the Oasis 3. The Oasis 3 is appropriate for watering livestock, irrigation, land reclaimation, aerating fishing ponds, and supplying irrigation systems. Soon WINDTech will provide a bracket to attach the small wind turbines of Southwest Windpower, Inc. to an existing OASIS tower, enabling the production of up to 350 watts of electricity in addition to water pumping.

Why buy an Oasis windmill instead of a wind turbine?
Unlike windmills which convert wind to mechanical energy, wind turbines convert wind energy to electricity to power an electric pump. Wind turbines are appropriate in high wind locations with ready access to technical service support. An Oasis 3 is the preferred solution in many situations because:

• Oasis 3 can operate in much lower winds than a wind turbine - typically a wind turbine needs constant winds in excess of 8 m/s (18 miles per hour) to operate, while an Oasis 3 will pump in winds less than 2.2 m/s (5 miles per hour)
• Oasis 3 is easier and less expensive to service and maintain because it does not have the complex controllers and batteries utilized by wind turbines

What are the economics of buying an Oasis windmill?
Deciding whether an Oasis windmill is a wise economic choice depends on the cost of power alternatives, and the amount of water that needs pumping. If you are located on a power grid an electrical pump would propably be a more economic choice than an Oasis 3; however, if you are more than a mile away from a power source the cost of bringing electricity to the site is often far more than the initial cost of the Oasis 3, and then you must pay monthly power charges. In some parts of the world, the high cost of electricity makes the Oasis the cheaper long term alternative even if the location is near electrical lines. Amortized over its estimated 20 year life, the cost of purchasing and operating an Oasis 3 windmill is less than $100 U.S. per month which includes annual maintenance, replacement parts, etc. Please contact WINDTech at www.windmillpower.com with information on your installation and we'll be glad to assist you in analysing the alternatives.

How big is an Oasis windmill? How much space do I need?
The design of the Oasis 3 windmill makes it possible for the compact, 3.05 m (10') Oasis 3 to pump more water than traditional machines that are twice the size. Typically the Oasis 3 is installed on a 12 m (39 foot) tower sitting on a ten foot square pad. The rotor, engine and tail weigh about 545 kg (1,200 pounds).

Proper site selection is critical. The Oasis 3, like all windmills, requires a large unobstructed area to operate at maximum efficiency.

Who do I call if I have a problem with my windmill?
If you have a question WINDTech will respond within 24 hours, either by electronic mail or telephone. WINDTech stands behind all of its equipment, and provides customers with installation, safety, and maintenance manuals.

Is it diffcult to install an Oasis windmill? What kind of equipment do I need?
WINDTech will provide a trained engineer or a qualified local distributor to supervise the installation of the Oasis 3. After the tower is erected, and the engine, tail and rotor are assembled, the entire windmill will be set on the tower using a crane or gin pole. The entire operation can easily be done in half a day.

What kind of noise does an Oasis 3 make?
Unlike the creaky traditional farm windmill or the whine produced by the long propellers of a wind turbine, the Oasis 3 operates silently even as it turns in gusty winds. Its quiet operation is the result of the precision engineering, industrial gears and bearings, and a proprietary pump rod alignment system.

How much water will an Oasis 3 pump at my site?
The amount of water which can be pumped from any well is dependent on site conditions, and equipment configuration. WINDTech can produce a computer generated pumping chart based on actual field tested Oasis 3 performance that will allow you to predict water volumes at various wind speeds assuming appropriate pump configuration. Please e-mail us your particular conditions including the depth, or anticipated depth, of the well, elevation above sea level, and estimated average wind speeds. The Oasis 3 is capable of pumping as much as 15.140 L (4,000 gallons) per hour at shallow depths.

Where can I learn more about wind energy?
WINDTech is a member of The American Wind Energy Association which will provide literature and recommend relevant reading material to those interested in wind power.

Contact them at:
American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)
122C Street, NW, Suite 380
Washington, DC 20001
Telephone (202)383-2500
www.awea.org

What questions do you have?
Please e-mail us at info@windmillpower.com and we'll be happy to respond.
Please include name and phone number.