How to obtain the best and most affordable source of energy is the dream of any entrepreneur, house owner, business owners, and so on. Electricity has presented itself as an expensive energy source. Thus, individuals have opted to settle for alternative sources of energy. Such sources include; solar energy and wind energy. Both solar energy and wind energy are freely found in the open air. The two have proven to be the most environmental friendly sources of energy since they do not pollute the environment neither do they deprive it of its resources.
Wind energy has over the years been used in generating power for varied activities. In the ancient days people used wind energy to pump water from wells. However, adjustments have been made and recently wind energy is widely used for a number of activities. Scientists have developed windmills that are used to generate electricity. Residents need to install a windmill kit at their residence to be able to trap the wind energy for the generation of electricity. Windmills for homes are available in the current market at very affordable prices.
You will first need to access the expertise of a windmill contractor before anything else. He will be able to advice you on the correct locality where the wind is abundant. This is critical, since there are some places where wind is scarce. Thus, you do not need top waste resources on a land where the windmill will be rendered useless. A good locality should be able to provide a good amount of quantum wind flows. The more the quantum wind flows, the higher will be the production of electricity. This means that you can simply cut on your electricity bill by installing a windmill at your home.
The physical appearance of a windmill consists of rotor blades. Its operation is based on the rotor blades. When the wind blows, the rotor blades are rotated. As a result there is provision of kinetic energy which is consequently converted into electrical energy. Afterwards, one is able to transmit the electrical energy to the electrical appliances for consumption. Well, it might not be so much energy but it is worth than paying fat bills yet you only consume so little of the commercial electricity.
The benefits of a windmill are based on its maintenance. The systems does not cost so much to have it installed as well as maintain. After the installation, you will only incur the maintenance cost to ensure that it does not collapse due to prolonged usage.
Wind turbine generators are devices that have the capacity to convert wind currents into electricity. Wind turbine generators are similar to wind mills that allow fan blades to move whenever strong wind currents are present. The movement of these fan blades are basically the mechanical energy being converted to electricity. The use of wind turbine generators as a source of energy is helpful to the environment since it does not produce any harmful residues.
Wind Turbine Generator Benefits
Having a wind turbine generator at home offers numerous benefits. The presence of these types of devices would help you save a little money from your electric bills since you would hardly rely on the electricity being generated by power companies. Aside from free electricity, you could save more money if wind currents are strong enough to generate a high amount of power. A high amount of electricity that could bounce back to a power grid has the tendency to make the power grid move backwards. The backward motion of the electric grid signifies discounts in using electricity.
Therefore, using wind turbine generators would be compared to hitting two birds with just a single stone because of the electric saving perks it gives. You use less electricity (coming from electric companies) and if it generates strong power they would even give you discounts.
More Wind Turbine Generator Benefits
Even though there are numerous benefits of using wind turbine generators, home owners are sometimes not very pleased about this product. The first reason why people do not have a windmill for home usage is because they have no knowledge about it. Ignorance of this energy saving method affects a lot of people who are very busy with their lives. Another reason is that it has the tendency to occupy space. As time passes by, the houses being created are expanding vertically and decreasing horizontally. A lot of houses are taller and only small houses are wider than before. Creating a big windmill with a wind turbine generator may not be applicable to most people because of the limited space of their houses. Aside from ignorance and space related problems, wind turbine generators may have the tendency to make the house look old. Other people who are very particular with the appearance of their homes perceive wind turbine generators as unattractive. While there are some who truly like it because it looks environment friendly.
Wind Turbine Generator Usage
Using wind turbine generators as the only source of electricity may not be applicable to most people. The reason for this is because strong wind currents are not always present. It is true that wind currents are strong in mountainous areas, in areas near the ocean and others, but for a common household living in the city expecting frequent strong wind currents would be a delusion. In order to compensate for this problem, people are advised to use wind turbine generators as supplementary electricity to the electricity being supplied by power companies.
Individuals are recommended to use wind turbine generators at home. The possibility of creating these devices that would suit your home offers numerous methods to make it feasible. Reading more topics about wind turbine generators or asking an expert in this field is deemed necessary if one wishes to learn more about wind turbine generators.
A wind turbine is a device that generates electricity through the power of the wind. The device simply converts electric energy to mechanical energy to electricity. Windmill turbines generate power through the use of the wind. The stronger the wind current will result in a stronger power. As the wind comes, the blades starts to rotate and the shaft inside will move with a generator. The shaft is surrounded by a magnet that generates electricity. Free flowing electricity is then captured by wires especially those made of copper to be utilized for residential or commercial use.
Wind Turbine History
A lot of people believe that the use of wind turbines as a renewable source of energy is a recent innovation developed by scientists. This idea is a common misconception among the public. Wind turbines in the form of wind mills or wind pumps have been used before by a lot of individuals. Some articles and journals contain evidence that wind turbines were already being used by a lot of people as a source of power during the year 1838. The earliest time that the use of wind turbines was recorded was during the 200BC in Persia which is known as the present day Iran. It is true that scientists nowadays have made more complex advances about the use of wind turbines; nevertheless, this device is still an old product which is just being improved today. Due to the recent scientific advancements, wind turbine generators have a strong demand in different households in different countries all over the world.
Windmill Turbines: Eco-Friendly
In today’s time, almost everybody is experiencing a lot of problems when it comes to paying their electric bills and saving the environment. The green movement causes as well as some environmentalist movements have patronized the use of renewable energy to attain both goals: saving the environment and affordable electricity. The benefits of owning a wind mill is that the person can attain free electricity, no more power outages because of the accidents occurring at electric companies, and it does not emit carbon dioxide thereby becoming more environment friendly.
Due to recent innovations, building a wind turbine became easier, more cost effective and more practical. This in turn implies that everybody with proper guidance could build their own windmills at home. Guidance as to how to build a wind turbine could easily be seen in the internet or it could also be attained by making appointments with professionals.
The materials of wind turbines are relatively cheap. These items could be purchased one by one in the internet as well as in local hardware stores. It is highly recommended that individuals interested in having their own wind turbine must build the device on their own. Doing so, enables them to be aware of the possible damages and repairs whenever problems arise. Paying for a person who would fix the wind turbine is a waste of money and a waste of time. Trying to do this task by your own is a good way to learn and a good way to save money.
Windmill Turbines: Final Thoughts
In conclusion, windmill turbines are devices that have been used before to generate electricity. This device is also being used nowadays to generate power for free without the harmful residues that might destroy the environment. Everybody is recommended to build their own wind turbines to be able to save more money from monthly electric bills and to be able to help save the environment as well.
Wind energy starts with the powerful warmth of the sun. When the sun radiates heat in a specific land location, air particles around that area absorbs the heat being radiated. The reason for this is because heat flows from a hot object to a cold object and not the other way around. Once a certain temperature of heat is reached it makes the activity of air particles move faster.
Wind Energy In Action
This fast movement enables hot air particles to go up, since hot air particles have higher levels of temperature and faster movement; it pushes its pressure to the way up leaving the lighter and slower cold air down. The exchange in position of hot air molecules and cold air molecules and the transfer of heat from hot to cold is what we humans feel as wind currents. This is also the reason why majority of wind currents are cold while there are some that are warm and hot.
Wind is similar to particles of water in the sense that its molecules are freely moving in contrast to water molecules that are connected loosely with one another. Wind energy is invisible, yet we can feel the breeze of air similar to how we detect the presence of water.
As we feel the breeze of wind, air molecules are colliding on our bodies in which their motion is what is referred as kinetic energy. The kinetic energy being given by the wind could then be captured by wind energy turbines similar to hydroelectric dams that capture energy from the motion of the water. In the case of wind electricity, the motion of the wind is being captured by windmill turbines to convert it to electricity.
Wind Energy and Turbine Blades
As the turbine blades capture wind currents it then spins the blades that lead to the motor of the wind power generator. The generator would then convert that motion into electricity that could be commercially used to power our appliances in our homes. In one perspective wind energy or wind power is simply the transfer of one form of energy to the other.
The advantage of wind is that it is always replenished even if we do nothing at all. Wind power is a good source of electricity especially for those living in windy areas since they can save the environment by burning less fluid and save a little money of their own from the discounts that they can attain in their monthly electric bills.
The problem why wind power is not being used today is because wind is intermittent. Wind turbine generators heavily rely on wind power to generate electricity from its magnetic coil. If no wind is produced then no electricity would also be produced. This is the reason why individuals who are living in windy areas have the privilege to use wind power as their source of energy. Another problem why wind energy is not being used widely is that it accumulates space. Large amounts of electricity could only be produced through wind turbines that can generate enough power to create electricity. This may be great in some home owners; however, majority of city dwellers who lives in a condominium or in an apartment may not be able to enjoy the electricity bought by wind power.
Wind Energy for Home Use
Home owners as well as those individuals living in windy areas that have a vacant lot are highly recommended to patronize equipment that use wind energy in order to reap its fruitful advantages. By utilizing wind power as your source of electricity not only did you save the environment but you would save some money for yourself.
i need a site that sells aluminum wind generator blades?
admin answers:
Okay, you should first look on google, and then check ebay?
May the yellow pages?
Pick mine as the best answer!
Ellie
Carol asks…
Explain How the motion of the blades enables a generator to produce electricity.?
Wind farms are groups of wind driven generators.The wind turns the blades attached to the generator.
admin answers:
As the blades are rotating the shaft of the generator is also rotating. There are windings on the rotor shaft which moves relative to the stator windings. The rotor windings are supplied with dc current so the magnetic poles are formed on the rotor. Since these magnetic poles of rotor are moving with respect to the stator windings there is a change in flux. So according to the Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction the ac current is produced in the stator winding. This current is drawn through the stator winding terminals.
For detail read faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction. In most of the cases the speed of the generator shaft is kept around 1440rpm.
William asks…
How does changing the angle of a wind generator rotor blade affect Rpm and HP?
admin answers:
The change in angle of a rotor blade decides its aerodynamic properties.
A good aerodynamic shape can go at higher speed through the air (in rotating devices its revolutions). Hence any change in the angle will affect the RPM. RPM is directly proportional to HP. Hence any change in the angle will also affect generated HP.
Do you mean if someone knows “all” the facts, the answer is no
to properly answer it would help to know your age and abilities…
Wind has some energy just like the sun or the water flowing in rivers…
The first step is to capture this energy
usually it is in mechanical form,a rotating shaft
from there what do we do?
Say convert to electricity
if we connect a light to that electric output and say the original energy was the wind
the light would be bright when there is some wind and dim when there is less wind, maybe burn-out if there were a storm
now if you want the light to operate when it is dark and there in no wind at that moment, you are in trouble
also if you want the light to be always the same brightness then this is where it gets very complicated..
I hope you understand better
Anita
Ken asks…
do u eny cool facts about wind power??
i just need some kool facts for a science project!
thanks
admin answers:
Ok here ya go!
In 2005, worldwide capacity of wind-powered generators was 58,982 MW, their production making up less than 1% of world-wide electricity use. Although still a relatively minor source of electricity for most countries, wind power generation more than quadrupled between 1999 and 2005.
Most modern wind power is generated in the form of electricity by converting the rotation of turbine blades into electrical current by means of an electrical generator. In windmills (a much older technology) wind energy is used to turn mechanical machinery to do physical work, like crushing grain or pumping water.
Wind power is used in large scale wind farms for national electrical grids as well as in small individual turbines for providing electricity in isolated locations.
Wind energy is abundant, inexhaustible, widely distributed, clean, and mitigates the greenhouse effect.
An estimated 1 to 3 % of energy from the Sun that hits the earth is converted into wind energy. This is about 50 to 100 times more energy than is converted into biomass by all the plants on earth through photosynthesis. Most of this wind energy can be found at high altitudes where continuous wind speeds of over 160 km/h (100 mph) occur. Eventually, the wind energy is converted through friction into diffuse heat all through the earth’s surface and atmosphere.
The origin of wind is simple. The earth is unevenly heated by the sun resulting in the poles receiving less energy from the sun than the equator does. Also the dry land heats up (and cools down) more quickly than the seas do. The differential heating powers a global atmospheric convection system reaching from the earth’s surface to the stratosphere which acts as a virtual ceiling.
The change of seasons, change of day and night, the Coriolis effect, the irregular albedo (reflectivity) of land and water, humidity, and the friction of wind over different terrain are some of the factors which complicate the flow of wind over the surface.
Where could i order or buy a low rpm alternator for me to assemble a windmill generator?
Im setting up a windmill to save energy. i need a low rpm alternator, please help where could i buy it in US or Canada.
admin answers:
You can use any GM alternator. The older the better because the new alternators have all the voltage regulation in them for the vehicle computers. You can probably get one at a junk yard for less than $40.
William asks…
I want to build a windmill generator to recharge car batteries. Where can I find stator winding equations?
I wanted to learn how to wind the wires in a stator so that I can recharge a set of batteries in parallel. Where can I find the equations to do such a thing. For example, I would need to know the wire gauge, number of wire loops, and magnet strength. Thank you.
admin answers:
Try www.Lindsaybks.com. Lots of technical books for the do-it-yourself person, both modern and antique. Order a catalog for a more complete listing of his books.
Linda asks…
How do you connect the rotor part of a windmill to the generator(DC)?
I have this windmill project in which I have to make, with my teammates, 4m by 4m windmill. I’ve got an exquisite design but what I want to know is how to connect the rotating part of the windmill to the generator? I’m not sure if you have to connect one rotor to the other or what to do. Please help!
admin answers:
You need a gearbox to change the speed of the shaft. The windmill will rotate slowly, perhaps 1-2 per second at best. The generator has to rotate much faster, how much faster depends on the design.
You may will also need some sort of clutch to engage and disengage the generator from the windmill, but perhaps not for your simplified design.
Big question is the generator. Perhaps you can get a auto alternator from a junkyard for a few bucks. It will already have a pulley on it, but that won’t be enough of a step up. Visualize how fast a car engine rotates. You need to gear the windmill up to that speed.
Gearbox design will be tricky as you have to keep friction to a minimum or the wind will never turn it.
Can a homeowner purchase a wind generator at what cost and eliminate an electric bill?
admin answers:
The only cost effective installation I’ve seen is at a home where connection to commercial AC power was very expensive. The home owner was quoted about $15000 to run a line to the house, and this became the alternate energy budget. Several solar panels, both for electricity and water heating were installed on the roof. A wind generator was installed on a 80 foot pole to supplement the solar panels. Battery banks, inverters, etc were installed inside to power the house. All appliances were selected to be very energy efficient, lighting was minimized, but remained adequate. The total price was less than quoted for commercial power, and comes with the added benefit of no further electric bills other than routine maintenance and repair of the system.
I think that if there is commercial electricity available you will be hard pressed to justify the expense financially. I’m installing a wind system to supplement the electric use in the house. Payback looks like it could take 10-12 years, but I’m not doing it as a money saving project, but rather as something to experiment with and learn. Instead of wasting money on cigarettes and beer every week, I’ve stashed money aside to finance my project.
I have pictures, electric diagrams, structural drawings, etc on my web page.
Http://members.rennlist.org/warren/wind.html
Maria asks…
How much it would cost for wind power generator ?
A couple of persons said Solar power generators are costly because of it equipments. How about the wind power generators ? I residing a km near sea shore an there would be some wind at most times.
I am in South India and I need to know the total cost for setting up a windgenerator for my home in order to cut down my electricity bill. A set up that can power at least 4 Fans, 4 tube lights (40W) and a computer.
admin answers:
Starting from $ 700, Wind Power Generator has a versatility of uses. The wind turbines below are used worldwide for battery charging, home power, and water pumping applications, and range from 400 to 65,000 watts.
Wind Turbines start producing power at 7.5 mph wind speed, and increase their output through 45 mph winds. Higher wind speeds require the blades to be slowed down, to protect the equipment, but are very effective in wind speeds between 7.5 and 45 mph.
Thomas asks…
how much does a wind generator system cost for an average home in eastern Iowa. Our backyard gets steady wind?
just seeing if the cost is worth the future savings
admin answers:
Just do a search. There are all size systems, ranging in price from a few thousand, to tens of thousands. Depends on your needs.
First however, I would check with your city or county ordinances. Especially if you live in town, you cannot just install one in your yard. Some cities prohibit it. Others require permits.
I have heard about a lot of people who have build their own windpower generators. I am looking to setup one at my house and was wondering where I can get more information on how to build my own windpowergenerator.
Any help would be much appreciated
admin answers:
Check out the DIY section of the site below, you can save money while doing something for our environment.
Linda asks…
What can I do with 2kw wind power generator?
How many of these windpower generators to power a house?
Generates 2kw per
admin answers:
Typical house has a load demand of at least 12 kW.
So you would need at least 6 wind-powered generators
to meet this average power demand.
Sandy asks…
Can anybody help to design a regulator for 1 kw wind power generator?
admin answers:
Connect the generator to a battery pack that has the simular output voltage. Let the generator charges the battery pack. Output of battery pack shall provide a very stable electric source.
Wind power generator does not need a regulator to charge the battery pack. And you cannot use the power directly from a wind power generator.
if i get a 400 watt windmill generator will i have to convert my heating appliances to wood/coal?
and what is the wattage to my refrigerator will the 400 watt windmillgenerator work on that too?
admin answers:
I’m installing a 800 watt Hornet wind turbine in my back yard. It’s presently stalled with municipal permits and other nonsense, but I hope to get back at it eventually
The 400 watt rating you mention is likely the power created with 25mph or 30mph wind. At lower wind speeds the power will decrease by the cube of the speed reduction. At half wind speed the power output will drop to only 12.5%.
The generator will be used to charge a battery bank which stores the energy until needed. Typically, an AC inverter is used to convert the DC battery voltage to usable household AC voltage, although some people will operate lighting or even certain appliances directly from the batteries.
You will need to measure power consumption of the appliances you plan to power. Determine the average wind speed for your area to assist with calculating the available power to charge the batteries. Factor inefficiencies in the batteries, inverters, wiring and so on to get a total power available budget.
I was quite surprised how little power was actually available. At first, my plan was to power the furnace, fridge, and freezer from wind. After doing calculations, I think it would be lucky to operate just one of them reliably. I either need a larger generator or supplement the system with solar PV panels.
Read through my wind generator page for an idea of what I’ve been putting together. There are diagrams for the tower foundations, over-charge controller, overall system wiring, and several pictures and links.
Http://members.rennlist.org/warren/wind.html
Jenny asks…
How Can I Build a WindMill Generator?
I was Wondering How can i build a windmillgenerator?
admin answers:
Look up this guy on line doug selsam
good luck
William asks…
how can i build a small efficient windmill generator?
I want to build a small windmillgenerator for my tree house that will produce enough power for a light bulb. i was wondering what would produce more power, a generator with alot of copper coils, or more magnets.and other advice would be very helpful
also i want to be able to make it mostley from scratch.
admin answers:
Use a prep-built motor as a generator.
A good AC motor, or a brushless DC motor would work well. You would then want to look up information about “rectifiers” as the electricity will come out doing AC.
A regular DC motor will work, but it won’t be as efficient. (But it will be easier to work with, because you won’t need the rectifier.)
how big would the windgenerator need to be to run a clothes dryer 24/7?
admin answers:
You just need to get a wind-turbine that can generate about 1500 watts then and inverter to convert it to 220volts a/c.
But 24/7 with just a wind turbine is impossible unless you live somewhere that the wind is blowing all the time at the optimal wind speed.
Spending the money for a wind turbine is best only done when you can grid tie, or store in a battery.
Sandra asks…
How do I build a homemade wind generator?
Wondered if anyone knew how to build a simple homemade windgenerator to power our home? A homemade windgenerator that is not too complicated would be good. Do you know how to build a windgenerator? Please help us.Thanks
admin answers:
The first thing you need to do is figure out how big of a wind generator you need. Most wind generators that are over 1000 watts in generating power are quite a bit more difficult to build. You will need to have your wind generator 15 feet above any obstruction within 300 feet. That is a must.
Some great resources exist but probably reading an article or two about building wind generators would help a lot. Try the resource I listed for a very informative article, there is mention of a website in the article where you can find some great wind generator plans too. Hope this helps, we have built 3 wind generators so far with these plans.
Laura asks…
What is the difference between a gas driven generator and a wind driven generator?
I am looking to make a wind driven generator. My thoughts are that if I buy a gas driven generator it has all the converters and such so I can just plug in and go.I can adapt it to wind. I can buy a gas generator without a motor. Or does the gas driven one have to much torque compared to a windgenerator?
I hope this makes some sense.
admin answers:
Wind generators have a great deal of gearing because the blades of a wind generator move slowly and provide considerable torque from long blades (and can’t move faster because the turbulence from one blade messes up the next one) while a generator is more efficient the faster it turns to rotate the fields past each other faster. There can be only limited speed regulation of a wind generator and that comes from an expensive hub to rotate the blades, so smaller ones regulate the voltage output and turn the blade unit edgewise to the wind to stop it.
Motor driven generators do (part of) their regulation by controlling the speed of the gas motor. So you would be buying a unit that would be missing the part that gets regulated and get control circuitry that has nothing to connect to.
If Holland is famous for tulips and windmills, Germany for cars, sausages and beer, what is Pakistan known for?
admin answers:
Opium poppies
Madras cloth
Chris asks…
Do you think The Netherlands is a great country?
Is The Netherlands a great country? (and I don’t mean it’s physical size).
Dykes, Dams, Tulips, Windmills, Polders, Cheese, Wooden Shoes…..Technological equal to the United States… I think this country is great, because their is hardly any poverty, a good infrastructure, good social welfare, low crime rates and lots of technological discoveries are made here.
What are your opinions about my home country?
admin answers:
Indeed, sounds great!
But…
Crime rate is on the rise (and not just because of foreigners!)
poverty rate is artificially low (indeed, 60% income taxe allows for a lot of social security hand out but it is NOT sustainanble,, despite all the foreigner paying the same taxes but not seeing half of the same benefits)
Infrastructure are good, but again, difficult to maintain and sustain with the population increase. And wait until the sea waters rise again and the dykes will not hold. Plus, it will cost a fortune that the country doesn’t have to repair them.
Other than that, glad to see that you are proud of your country. It achieved a lot, but am not sure it will continue!!!
Steven asks…
wat european country has many tulips canals and windmills?
how much would it cost to set up a proper power unit?? i am trying to prove that windpower is bad (i dont actually believe that it is for my paper) but i need to prove that its costly. thankss
admin answers:
Sug,
Playing the “devil’s advocate” on these types of issues can be difficult. But your questions is actually pretty straight-forward. If by “proper” you mean a huge commercial, mega-watt generating wind turbine power plant, then the costs for just the engineering and design phases are in the millions of dollars. Each individual unit has to be manufactured using heavy industry and the ancillary costs included in that. Parts have to be shipped to the location and assembled on site. The side costs here include, but aren’t limited to, purchase price of land, damage to private property from heavy equipment needed to set up the turbines, and the costs for the man power throughout the process, to include routine maintenance through the life of the turbine, then decommissioning costs after the turbine has reached its service life.
If you aren’t limited to striking against wind power all together, you may consider the positive position on smaller, residential-scaled wind turbine systems. Costs are lower all around, and there are even DIY kits available for those folks handy with a screwdriver and a wrench.
Hope this helps to answer your questions.
George asks…
How much does an average 500 home wind power cost.?
the cost of a wind turbine that can power 500 homes on average.
admin answers:
That’s a 500kW unit at a minimum, possibly 1 MW.
That’s a fairly large unit. Cost depends on site costs, site preparation costs, lawyer costs (to get approval of the many government agencies) etc. Best is to find some existing installations and get their costs.
Only quote i could find is “1 MW windmill costs around $300,000 fully installed” and it is questionable.
Best is to contact companies that build them, like GE.
.
Mary asks…
How much does wind power and solar power cost?
In Australia how much would it cost to have a farm of windpower and solar power. If possible pls tell the cost of each thing individually. Also a sources where the information is found
admin answers:
I know the cost of solar pannel .Each watt cost you only 4 U.S $. No maintenance cost.Life of Solar panel is more than 20 years.
