Wind turbines work off the power of the wind, the wind blows causing the blades to spin, which in turn drives a generator. This effect creates electricity.
Advantages
Many people are considering the switchover to green energy solutions solar panels and wind turbines are the most popular choice. Wind power offers many advantages to your home and in the long run – your finances. You will cut your electricity costs right down after the initial installment investment. Wind is a natural free source that can be harnessed and turned into energy. Wind turbines can be made at home for an affordable cost with no prior experience, just basic handyman skills.
You will also dramatically reduce your carbon footprint; a 6kw turbine can generate 10,000 kWh per year, saving 5.2 tons of carbon dioxide. Even if you live in an area that has mild weather, you can store excess electricity in batteries for those calm days without a breeze. You can also export your extra energy to the local grid and get paid for providing the power.
Disadvantages
The disadvantages of wind power, like solar power are more to do consistence of energy. Wind power relies on the strength of wind, which is often a variable source. That means the amount of electricity the wind turbine will produce depends on the amount of wind.
Wind turbines are considered by some people to be unsightly and noisy.
Wind Turbine Types
There are two main types of wind turbines, Pole mounted and building mounted. Pole mounted turbines are free standing, erected in a suitably exposed position and producing an estimate of 5-6kw. Building mounted turbines are positioned on rooftops and produce a smaller amount of electricity around 1-2kw.
Location, location, location
Before building your wind turbine you need to take location factors into mound. Ideally you need clean air, and an unobstructed point without trees or buildings to hinder your turbine. You should also take into account the natural contours of the land. The general rule applies with wind turbines is the higher the better, you may have noticed when walking up a mountain that the higher you get the stronger the gale. If you do decide to mount on your roof remember that wind turbines create vibration and this could have an effect on the noise volume of your home. Consider safety when choosing your placement, things can go wrong, blades can fall off and tower constructions can fail. You don’t want to endanger anyone or upset the neighbors.
Tips and Tools
The first thing to consider after placement is the height of your turbine. A turbine less than 2 meters in diameter won’t take in enough power to make a noticeable impact on your electricity bill. On an average day you will get 50-100 watts, and on a good day – with wind over 15kmh you could get 500. But 500watts in barely enough to power a modern television set. You will need a turbine at least 3-4 meters to start generating enough power for your household.
You can find many designs for homemade wind turbines on the web, they vary greatly in complexity, and generally you will always require the following materials;
- A generator
- Blades
- A mounting that keeps it turned to the wind
- A tower to gain access to unobstructed wind
- Batteries and an electric control system
Parts can be found for cheap from places like ebay, or your local hardware store. You can also modify some of the parts yourself.
The blades can be made from a number of materials whether it is steel, fiber glass, old PVC pipes or carved from wood yourself. The important thing to remember is that the longer the blades the more swept area you will have. It will also be easier for your turbine to spin on low wind days, however the longer the blades the slower your rotation. The blades when shaped should resemble an airline wing in profile, with a slight lift on the trailing edge.
The power generator is another important component, most people use a common vehicle alternator but you need to find a good motor with high voltage. The best bet is to find a DC magnet motor. Check your local scrap yards or recycle forums for an old treadmill as they have the perfect components you need for this project. If you do decided to go with a DC motor then you will need a blocking diode so your windmill wont drain the power from your battery by acting as a fan.
Do your research
There are some great websites out there hosting all the information, links and resources you need on building your own wind turbine. However please be wary and avoid the scams, there are lots of websites offering to install full wind power system for very low prices, if it looks too good to be true, chances are it is.
