The Secrets Of Home Wind Turbine Design
Back in the day if you thought about a home wind turbine, what would have come to mind is a large tower with enormous white blades spinning rather slowly. But, with the development in technology and the need for more and more people to become energy efficient, small residential wind turbines can now be erected at home. Even better news for green enthusiasts is the ability to make their home wind turbine, without spending thousands of dollars on contractors.
So, how does a home wind turbine make power?
In a nutshell, a home wind turbine generates electricity by turning a motor. The motor is placed in the hub, on which three or five rotors are mounted, and then placed on top of a long tower. For the blades to spin effectively, they need to be facing the wind at all times, so either a tail (similar to a weather vain) or an electronic guidance system is used.
As the blades turn the motor, copper coils rapidly past near magnets, creating an electromagnetic charge. This charge is then stored in batteries for later use. If you want the the wind generator to power your home, the power first needs to be passed through an inverter, where direct current is converted into alternating current. With the design and science behind the motor becoming more advanced, it has made home wind power more appealing.
Depending on your area's wind conditions, the tower can vary in length. If you live near the sea where it is windy, the tower can be shorter, but in low-wind areas the tower needs to be taller to catch as much wind possible.
The advancement of the blades has also come a long way. They are now, stronger, lighter, and more aerodynamic, helping them to turn in even the softest of winds. Before the improvements, most small turbines had five blades, but now they mainly have only three. And like the tower, the blades come in a variety of sizes, depending on the wind conditions and power needs.
While so far we have been explaining the typical horizontal axis wind turbine, there is another design that is starting to gain popularity for small-scale projects. It is the vertical axis wind turbine or VAWT. Very different to the standard horizontal axis turbine, the VAWT spins on a vertical axis, and almost looks like a waterwheel put on its side. Since the VAWT tends to operate low to ground, it needs far more wind to make it turn efficiently, so it is not the ideal option for homeowners or small businesses. The VAWT has also been accused by ecologists of interrupting and harming various migratory birds, making it less attractive for green enthusiasts.
Things to consider before getting a home wind turbine:
How big is the property?
Home wind turbines tend to work better in open areas expanding over an acre, where few nearby buildings can deflect the wind.
How windy is it where you live?
The recommended wind speed should be at least eleven miles per hour, but if that isn't the case then you may have to use a taller tower and larger blades to catch higher altitude winds.
Other uses for the wind turbine:
Can you think of other ways to use the wind turbine? For example many farmers still use them as a vital part of their irrigation systems.
Do you rely on an uninterrupted power supply?
If you are tired of the unreliable electricity company cutting off your power without warning, then a home wind turbine can really help. Though a small wind turbine is not capable of power your entire property for a long time, the energy can be stored and used during a blackout or whenever it is needed.
Taking the above points into consideration will help you determine how much power you require, the length of tower needed, the diameter of the blades, and the benefits and costs of using a home wind turbine.
The great thing about technology is that it is always improving. So much so that motors have become smaller, efficient and cheap enough for us to attach a few small turbines right on the roof, and produce the same power as a larger turbine on a tall tower.
Though expert installations can be anything up to $100,000, it is possible to learn how to make your own home wind turbine for a small fraction of the cost. What's more is America and other countries offer tax rebates to energy efficient homeowners, so not only will you save on utility bills, but also pay less tax.
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