How a Windmill Works

"The great want of Texas is sufficient water...There is a million dollars lying waiting for the first man who will bring us... a windmill, strong, durable and controllable." These were the sentiments of a writer to the Scientific American in 1860 from what then was remote Texas. ("Inventions Wanted in Texas" Scientific American, N.S.111, No.9, 25 Aug 1860:132)

(Data and Animation provided by Aermotor Co. )

Size of Cylinder Inches	*Capacity per Hour, Gallons		Elevation in Feet to Which Water Can Be Raised
			Size of Aermotor Windmill
	6 ft.	8-16 ft.	6 ft.	8 ft.	10 ft.	12 ft.	14ft.	16ft.
1-7/8	125	180	120	175	260	390	560	920
2	130	190	95	140	215	320	460	750
2-1/4	180	260	77	112	170	250	360	590
2-1/2	225	325	65	94	140	210	300	490
2-3/4	265	385	56	80	120	180	260	425
3	320	470	47	68	100	155	220	360
3-1/2	440	640	35	50	76	115	160	265
3-3/4		730			65	98	143	230
	570	830	27	37	58	86	125	200
	900	1300	17	25	37	55	80	130
6		1875		17	25	38	55	85

1. Estimate your daily water requirements.
2. Estimate pumping capacity based on 4 to 5 hours pumping time per day. This will vary depending on locality.
3. Choose cylinder size that will provide the necessary volume of water.
4. Determine total elevation from low in the well to the discharge level.
5. Select Aermotor size to accommodate total elevation and cylinder size.
6. Select tower with sufficient height to position windmill at least 15 feet above any surrounding wind obstructions within 400 feet.