Reconstruction of a Masonry Windmill Tower with a Multi-Blade Wind Turbine, Steel Reservoir and Water Supply System

Abstract

In the early 20th century, rapid industrial growth around the world enabled the development of many advanced mechanical structures. Some of these structures were successfully used to improve agricultural efficiency or increase people’s comfort. Such a situation was observed in 1910 in the western part of Poland, which at the time was partitioned by Habsburg Austria, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Russian Empire. In the city of Poznan, a Polish landlord built an advanced structure to automate his farming, using freely available wind energy. At first glance, it was a classic windmill, with a multi-blade wind turbine fixed to the top of a cylindrical masonry tower. However, some additional elements demonstrate the uniqueness of such a structure at the time. One hundred years later, the structure is located at the centre of a rapidly growing area of the city. For that reason, restoration of the tower is complex and requires the reconstruction of damaged or missing elements while observing new safety regulations. In this work, the author presents the basic assumptions necessary for the future renovation process.

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References

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