Home Wind Turbine Design Explained
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by: TimMcDonald | Total views: 77 | Word Count: 747
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.
The tower is usually quite tall to help the blades catch as much wind as possible. But in open, windy areas, such as near the ocean, the tower can be a little lower.
Over time the blades have improved drastically as researchers developed lighter, stronger, more efficient blades, with the capability of turning even in the lightest breeze. Back in the day, wind turbines had five blades, and looked similar to windmill water pumps, but recently they have moved to three blades, taking the form of over-sized airplane rotors. Like the tower, the blades vary in size, according to your wind conditions and energy requirements.
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.
What you need to know before you buy a home wind turbine:
Size of your 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?
Ideal wind conditions should be at least 11 mph, but otherwise a taller tower with larger blades will help to catch the high-altitude winds.
What else can I use the wind turbine for?
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.
Does my house need a constant power supply?
This is why so many people want to get a small wind turbine in the first place - to keep the house powered during blackouts, and prevent economic losses. Although the wind turbine may not power the house all the time, it's stored power can be used in emergencies, when the utilities are just not enough.
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 nice thing about technological developments is that the motor are becoming small and lighter. This make it possible to install to a few smaller wind turbine right on the roof, and make a similar amount of power to one larger home wind turbine.
While commercially available wind power kits can cost up to $100,000, you can learn to make your power for a fraction of the cost, with part and materials sourced at home and the nearby hardware outlet. Even better news is that the United States and other countries offer tax relief for green energy homeowners, so not only can you cut your electricity costs, but your tax expenses too.
About the Author
If you are serious about saving money and building your own 1000 Watt home wind turbine for under $150, then see what's inside The Earth4Energy Guide for FREE, before going out and spending your money on the wrong instructions.
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