Tag → wind turbines

Different Wind Turbines Designs

07 August, 17:33, by homemadejoe Tags: , ,

Over the past years, wind energy has gained popularity as a renewable source of energy. Wind energy is a resultant of solar intervention to Earth’s atmosphere. As sunlight strikes the Earth, it causes heat to spread in the atmosphere. But the extent of heating at the poles and at the equators is not the same. The uneven heating on the Earth’s surface then causes a motion starts in air. This movement is known as the wind.

Wind energy can produce electricity that is pollution-free, environmental friendly and are highly sustainable.  The best way to collect wind’s kinetic energy is the use of wind turbine systems. They come in different sizes and designs. Large wind turbines can produce large amount of energy and are commonly use in clusters. These can generate electricity in hundreds of megawatts that can power hundreds of households.

Small wind turbines on the other hand, are designed for home and small business purposes. These homemade wind turbines can only produce electricity about 100 kilowatts or less. Smaller wind turbines generating only 20 to 500 watts of electricity can be used in charging batteries like those employed in sailboats.

There are two main types of wind turbine designs – horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) and vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT). To understand these two types, it is better to know something about the components of a wind energy system.

A wind energy system usually consists of five basic parts: the blades, the tail, the wind generator tower, the batteries and charge controllers. The blades convert wind to rotational energy used by alternators to produce electricity. The tail helps the turbine blades align with the wind direction. The wind tower aids in harnessing enough amount of wind energy. Lastly, the batteries and the controllers are important in storing all the power that has been generated.

Between the two, horizontal axis wind turbines are the most widely used. These types of turbines have at least three blades rotating in horizontal axis. They need to be aimed directly at the wind direction. This type of turbine is considered to be more efficient in converting wind to electricity. The design of its blades facing into the wind, create the least possible resistance to wind forces.

These turbines come in different sizes from very small to commercial scale generators. They are usually installed on top of the towers to get the strongest and consistent airflow. Most of the homemade wind turbines are of these types.

The design of vertical axis wind turbines on the other hand can generate wind energy from any direction. Though they are known to be less efficient than HAWTs, they do offer some benefits especially in low wind conditions. And because they can operate using multiple wind directions, they are still considered to be suitable designs for homemade wind turbines.

Whatever design will be adapted, proper and planned installation will still be the main factors that will dictate its efficiency. The proper selection of the location where to install, the size, the type of blades, and the materials used will all matter and should be considered.

Residential Wind Turbines

22 July, 17:26, by homemadejoe Tags: , ,

Residential Wind Turbines:

With the constantly increasing energy prices, more and more households are looking for alternative sources that can generate free electricity. Renewable energy technologies are becoming popular options.

In general, there are five common renewable energy sources: biomass, hydropower, geothermal, heat, wind and solar power. In residential areas, however, solar and wind sources are considered the most suitable.

If living in an area in sunny condition, the solar power system will be beneficial while the wind energy system will work for those in an area with windy conditions.

Though wind energy is a by-product of solar resources, wind energy devices have some advantages over that of solar systems.

Compared with solar cells that can only generate electricity during daytime, wind turbines can operate day and night. In addition, because wind tends to be stronger during winter, wind turbines can produce electricity more than solar panels.

There are two general types of residential wind turbines for home purposes. These are the horizontal axis and the vertical axis wind turbines.

The most common between the two are the horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs). They have three blades rotating in horizontal circle like a clock’s hand. They can produce about 300 to 10,000 watts of electricity.

Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) have vertical rotators and make use of rectangular panels instead of blades. Unlike the HAWTs, these types of wind turbines can collect wind from multiple directions even with interferences. Thus, are more suitable in areas surrounded with tall buildings.

Utilizing wind turbines to generate electricity offers many benefits both for the user and to the environment.

Homemade wind turbines can definitely reduce households’ consumption of energy from traditional sources and therefore cut off the cost of their electric bills. But there are also some things to consider about wind turbines.

First, they seem to be impractical for areas that are heavily populated. Large buildings and other products of urban expansion may affect wind patterns making the energy source inconsistent and unpredictable.

In this case, it is best recommended to use rooftop wind turbines. These smaller wind turbines can reduce energy bill by about 10 percent or more still depending on the owner’s consumption.

Rooftop wind turbines are also suitable for those living in isolated flat areas. Other options include the elevated homemade wind turbines but these are basically more expensive. It comes with a tower that is about 80 to 120 feet. The tower helps the turbine get more access to stronger winds.
A small rooftop turbine is not enough to power an entire household. They can only produce small amount of energy. If planning to use wind energy for all electricity need, then more than one homemade wind turbines on top of towers will be necessary.

Purchasing or making home wind turbines are not that expensive. There are just some important factors like location, proper installation and precautionary measures to be considered to maximize their efficiency.

Periodic maintenance and regular safety inspections are also essential to make these turbines life usage last and to ensure the neighborhood safety.