Chapter 11
I The Present Energy Economy
II Australian Energy Consumption
III Research And Development
IV Coal
V Oil And Natural Gas
VI Solar Energy
i Research and Development
ii The state of the art
iii Collectors
iv The solar water heating industry
v Industrial applications
vi Swimming pool heating
vii Building heating and cooling
viii Photovoltaics
ix Wind power
x Cooling
xi The International Solar Energy Society
VII Nuclear Energy
VIII Bagasse Firewood And Other Biomass
IX Electric Power Generation And Distribution electric Power Generation And Distribution
X Manufactured Gas
XI Industrial Process Heat
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Wind power
The earliest use of wind power in Australia was for water pumping. The early farmers and graziers and even town dwellers where there was no reticulated water supply relied on windmills to lift water from bores, wells, creeks and dams to elevated tanks to supply bathrooms, garden sprinklers and stock watering points so that rain water could be conserved for drinking and cooking. Wind power was important for the 19th century rural economy.John Danks and Son Pty. Ltd. of Melbourne was one of the first manufacturers of windmills but though the firm was founded in 1858 there is no record of the first windmill. Certainly by 1880 there appear to have been several manufacturers. Griffiths Bros. and Co. of Toowoomba (now Southern Cross Corporation Ltd.) built their first windmill in 1876. Up to 1893 Griffiths mills were normally made to order and the design frequently was modified to suit a customer's particular requirements. The mills and towers were predominantly of wood, with the wheel operating behind the tower. After this date they introduced geared windmills, with the wheel on the windward side of the tower. In Melbourne Danks had been making their Canvas Sail windmill and around 1893 introduced 'Alston's Patent Iron Windmill' which had galvanized iron sails, a main body casting and angle iron frame.
For the generation of electric power the Dunlite unit which is built in Adelaide is the most widely used. Recently in Western Australia Westwind Turbines began development of 30 kW and 60 kW wind turbines for electricity production which are currently being evaluated by the State Energy Commission of Western Australia.
Organisations in Australian Science at Work - Griffiths Bros. and Co.; John Danks and Son Pty Ltd; Southern Cross Corporation Ltd; State Energy Commission of W.A.; Westwind Turbines
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Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering |  |
© 1988 Print Edition page 813, Online Edition 2000
Published by Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, using the Web Academic Resource Publisher
http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/788.html