The Various Categories of Wind Generators Readily Available
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by: JaredSanders | Total views: 20 | Word Count: 479
Harnessing the power of the wind is one of the best ways to produce clean energy. The two main types of wind turbines used to produce this energy are called horizontal and vertical axis turbines. The turbine produces electricity by converting the friction caused by its rotating blades into electricity. This is done with the use of a generator built into the turbine.
Turbines can be used to generate electricity for a whole city or for one household. There are many small ones available for the home. The most common are the horizontal axis types, which are either free standing or mounted onto a roof. These are popular with people who wish to reduce their carbon footprint and save money. In some countries it is even possible to sell electricity from the turbine to an electricity grid.
The horizontal axis types are the most common and probably the most familiar to people. They have a propeller that rotates on a horizontal axis. As a winds speed is higher at altitude, the propeller is placed on a very high tower along with the generator. The propeller is movable so it is always facing the winds direction, and is mostly used in an area where the winds direction is fairly consistent.
The advantages of the horizontal axis types are that they can produce more energy. The disadvantage is that they are more difficult to maintain due to their height. Also a lot of pressure is placed on the propeller particularly during very high winds, so they are more prone to failure.
Vertical axis models are less common. They have vertical blades with a generator at the bottom. As the winds hit the turbine's blades, the whole unit spins. These models are much shorter than the horizontal type and are often placed on top of buildings, or in an area where a wind tunnel is present.
There are two subtypes of Vertical axis turbines. Darrieus and Savonius. The Darrieus ones look rather like an eggbeater with helix shaped blades and are usually more efficient than the Savonius ones, although they require energy to start turning. They are generally used when there are less reliable winds. The Savonius ones have two scoops that look like an S shape when looked at in cross section. These are less efficient but they do not require any energy to turn and are usually used at locations that have a lot of turbulence.
The main advantage of the vertical axis turbines is that they are easier and cheaper to maintain, as the important parts are lower to the ground. They also do not need to be facing the wind, which eliminates the need for a turning mechanism. However, they are less efficient and produce less energy than the horizontal axis ones. These types of wind turbines also cannot take advantage of the high winds that are at altitude like the horizontal ones can.
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