Wind power
- Wind power is the conversion of Wind energy into more useful forms, usually electricity using Wind turbines.
- A Wind Turbine or a Wind Mill as commonly known is made up of 3 steel blades mounted at the top of a tower (horizontally) or a flat form (vertically). Often they are placed together in a Wind farm
- In 2005, worldwide capacity of wind-powered generators was 58,982 megawatts; although it currently produces less than 1% of world-wide electricity use, it accounts for 23% of electricity use in Denmark, 6% in Germany and approximately 8% in Spain. Globally, 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 to rural residences or grid-isolated locations.
- Wind energy is ample, renewable, widely distributed, clean, and mitigates the greenhouse effect if used to replace fossil-fuel-derived electricity.
[edit] Know the FACTS about Home Wind Power!
- Wind energy is another excellent source for producing electricity. Homemade energy is attracting a lot of interest around the world due to the low cost of home wind power. Wind energy is a great alternative to Solar energy. Did you know that wind power generators and wind power can give you a great deal of satisfactions by reducing your electricity bill 75%. A windmill would be your best option if you are located where the wind is blowing constantly.
[edit] You can Generate your OWN wind power !
- Wind power is the way to go when the intensity of the sun is less during the winter season. You can most certainly generate more than enough energy for your home by capturing the winter winds which are more common at that time. For their home today people are already building their own wind power generators. By any Do It Yourself (DIY) enthusiast, a windmill can be assembled easily. If you did decide to create your own home wind power generator, you would need some required materials and some hand tools, all you need are dedication and the motivation to do it.
- If you are building a small wind generator or a large one, the wattage required will be based on your choice of generator. A smaller generator will be needed if its from 700 to 2000 watts. A larger generator will require 2000 watts or more. For larger wind generators, strong construction is required and it is recommended that you build a small home wind power generator first, the small one should produce enough energy for your home.
- Many office buildings run off wind power, so that means wind energy can produce a sufficient amount of electricity for your home. Some of the best benefits about this energy is its clean, eco friendly, quite and best of all its free. You can’t beat green energy, and free clean energy. You will be surprised that you can be credited for it, the surplus energy that you produce using a wind turbine, you can sell depending on which country you are located in. Basically there are some great facts and benefits about using home wind power.
[edit] How Does Wind Power Work?
Windmills are very efficient power generators. They are very safe and very eco-friendly.
- Windmills are very affordable and easy to make.
Wind power is very popular nowadays. People have come to realize that utilizing this type of power is no different than using the conventional ones. Windmills as they are commonly known, are as efficient as Solar power when it comes to power generation. They are very affordable and eco-friendly. You can even build one yourself. Wind Power is slowly changing the power trend today. Most homes are already switching to this kind of power generators and even some businesses are contemplating with the idea of running their business using windmills as the source of power. How convenient it is to consume electricity which is generated for free.
- But how exactly does wind power work?
Well, common sense will tell us that wind power comes from the wind. Power or electricity generated from the wind is based on the principle of magnetism. The 2 opposite poles of a magnet attract each other. If there are objects continuously intervening with the poles of a magnet then friction or electricity is produced. To further explain, the bigger the magnet the quicker the forces can be reduced across the magnets poles and the higher electricity produced. The power generated by the windmill is dependent on the size of its turbine. Big turbines produces high electricity output but with a reduced speed while as smaller turbines generates electricity at a much lower output but a constant or much faster speed.
- Let me further simplify how wind power works.
The windmill blade will then gradually rotate as the wind blows. While the windmill blades continuously rotate, it also rotates a turbine which is located in the interior part of the windmill. A shaft located at the base will slowly turn as the turbine rotates. When the shaft starts to operate, it will trigger the generator to produce power. This power is what we call wind power which is free electricity.
The concept of windmills producing wind power is very simple. The idea of generating your own electricity for free is very enticing. All you need is a guide or The Right instructional material and you can start building your own windmill. Just imagine the possibilities that a windmill can provide your household.
Windmills are very affordable. You can build a windmill with a budget of $200 or less. The materials can be bought at your local hardware store or perhaps you can purchase it online. Purchasing online gives you a lot of options and saves you a lot of time. Basically you gain numerous benefits when utilizing wind power. It’s free and at the same time eco-friendly.
[edit] Types of Wind Turbines
There are two basic types of wind turbines: horizontal axis wind turbines and vertical axis wind turbines. Horizontal axis turbines (more common) need to be aimed directly at the wind. Because of this, they come with a tailvane that will continuously point them in the direction of the wind. Vertical axis turbines work whatever direction the wind is blowing, but require a lot more ground space to support their guy wires than horizontal axis wind turbines.
[edit] ADVANTAGES OF WIND POWER
1. The wind is free and with modern technology it can be captured efficiently.
2. Once the wind turbine is built the energy it produces does not cause green house gases or other pollutants.
3. Although wind turbines can be very tall each takes up only a small plot of land. This means that the land below can still be used. This is especially the case in agricultural areas as farming can still continue.
4. Many people find wind farms an interesting feature of the landscape.
5. Remote areas that are not connected to the electricity power grid can use wind turbines to produce their own supply.And so, if you want to save money, you can also try the wind power
6. Wind turbines have a role to play in both the developed and third world.
7. Wind turbines are available in a range of sizes which means a vast range of people and businesses can use them. Single households to small towns and villages can make good use of range of wind turbines available today.
[edit] DISADVANTAGES OF WIND POWER
1. The strength of the wind is not constant and it varies from zero to storm force. This means that wind turbines do not produce the same amount of electricity all the time. There will be times when they produce no electricity at all.
2. Many people feel that the countryside should be left untouched, without these large structures being built. The landscape should left in its natural form for everyone to enjoy. 3. Wind turbines are noisy. Each one can generate the same level of noise as a family car travelling at 70 mph.
4. Many people see large wind turbines as unsightly structures and not pleasant or interesting to look at. They disfigure the countryside and are generally ugly.
5. When wind turbines are being manufactured some pollution is produced. Therefore wind power does produce some pollution.
6. Large wind farms are needed to provide entire communities with enough electricity. For example, the largest single turbine available today can only provide enough electricity for 475 homes, when running at full capacity. How many would be needed for a town of 100 000 people?
[edit] 5 Simple Facts You Should Know Before You Start to Build Your Own Wind Power
If you already have studied and gained enough knowledge on how to build a wind turbine and ready to move your gear to build your own wind turbine, then you should read this article before you start anything yet. It is for your own good and you should treat it as a pre-caution, so that you won’t make any grave mistakes or waste your time and money during your project on the mid-way.
It would appear that a lot of us every day are actively searching for cheaper ways to produce electricity for our homes which can only be a good thing. The thing that is driving our search for cleaner, cheaper, renewable energy sources could be down to any number of factors. High utility prices are no doubt one thing and the need for a greener environment may be another.
One thing is quite clear however – home wind turbines can provide for both of these needs and they are super cheap, fast and easy to build.
5 Simple Tips that you should know before you start to build your own wind turbine, and to avoid if possible:
1 ) Before you installing your home wind turbine, make sure that you check the average wind speeds that blow in your areas. If the wind blows is too low, then it is wise for not installing any wind generator system, as your wind turbine probably won’t able to collect enough kinetic energy to produce any sufficient electricity.
2 ) Try to place your wind generator in the best possible site for maximum results, flat areas are generally is a best place to collect the kinetic energy as there won’t be any huge obstacle or debris to stop your wind turbine to collect the energy. Try to avoid hilly areas.
3 ) Checking on the local permit requirements first as you doesn’t want to be charged over thousands of dollars without any particular reasons and from nowhere. Some of the regions does not approve of the usage of wind generator or windmill.
4 ) If you are live in a small towns or city, make sure that you discuss your wind turbine plans with your neighbors before you installing a wind generator to avoid any unnecessary opposition. It is better to avoid such conflicts when you can. After all, it is understandable that your neighbors or anyone would make an opposition on something that they don’t understand the purpose of your plan.
5) Believe the system. Focus and concentrate your mind during the project. There is a high chance that you won’t be finish your wind generator and will give up if you continue being doubters or naysayer.
Residential Vertical Wind Turbines are a great way to produce free electricity for your home. Some units can be expensive on startup costs however you must think of a wind turbine as a long term investment – you will be ahead in the long run. If you are not able to finance a wind turbine I strongly suggest that you have a good look at getting your hands on the Earth4Energy do it yourself wind turbine kit – it is the most effective design that we have come across as well as being a simple process to build and install, not to mention at $150 the payback period may only take a few weeks!
[edit] Wind power tips
- Best Areas that suited for wind power
As wind energy has become increasingly popular, wind projects have development around the globe. Wind in each area of the world has taken on unique characteristics, with offshore and large onshore development in Europe and primarily onshore development in the United States. Wind projects are also being constructed by farmers to yield a “double cropping” benefit from their land.
Siting Authority and Regulations
The Growth of Wind Power in the United States
Wind Resources in the United States
Wind turbines come in many sizes and configurations and are built from wide range of materials. In simple terms, a wind turbine consists of a rotor that has wing shaped blades attached to a hub; a nacelle that houses a drivetrain consisting of a gearbox, connecting shafts, support bearings, the generator, plus other machinery; a tower; and groundmounted electrical equipment.
The wing shaped blades on the rotor actually harvest the energy in the wind stream. The rotor converts the kinetic energy in the wind to rotational energy transmitted through the drivetrain to the generator. Generated electricity can be connected directly to the load or feed to the utility grid.
The weight and cost of the turbine is the key to making wind energy competitive with other power sources, because research programs have significantly improved the efficiency of the rotor and maximized the energy capture of the machine. The real opportunity today is through better, low cost materials and though high volume production, while ensuring the reliability is maintained. The typical weight and cost of the primary turbine components today are shown in Table 1. In addition there are foundations and conventional ground-mounted systems, including transformers, switching and other power equipment.
There appear to be several areas where technological progress and cost reduction are needed. Turbine subsystem costs are generally evenly split between rotor, nacelle, drivetrain power systems, and the tower. There is no single component that dominates turbine cost. The rotor is the highest cost item on most machines and must be the most reliable. Towers are normally the heaviest component and could benefit from weight reduction, but lightening the rotor or tower-top weight has a multiplier effect throughout the system including the foundation.
Large-scale wind farms can be installed for about $1,000/kW. The cost of electricity produced from wind farms depends on the annual capacity factor, location/wind quality, maintenance costs, and installation costs, but typically range from 3 to 6 cents/kWh. These costs include the wind production federal tax credits of 1.7 cents/kWh for the first ten years of operation. The cost for small-scale wind turbines is higher.
A typical 10 kilowatt home wind turbine system will cost $25,000 - $35,000 to install. If placed in windy areas, it will produce between 10,000 to 18,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year. Such a turbine has a blade diameter of about 20-25 feet and needs to sit on a tower about 100 feet tall. Homes sitting on a one-acre parcel could probably accommodate such a turbine, depending on local zoning restrictions.
It costs $2,000-$8,000/per kilowatt to purchase a small wind turbine. However, the wind turbine costs represent only 12%-48% of the total cost of a small wind electric system. You also need to pay for other components of your wind energy system, such as inverters and batteries, as well as sales tax, installation charges and labour.
Keep in mind that the costs of wind power, unlike other sources of electrical power, are almost entirely due to the cost of purchasing and installing the system. Once the turbine has been installed, there is no fuel costs associated with its operation; you will only need to pay for maintenance of your wind turbine.
The cost of the energy produced by small (<10 kW) wind turbines over their lifetimes has been estimated to vary from $0.07/kWh, for a low cost turbine constructed in a windy area, to $0.96/kWh, for a high cost turbine constructed in a low wind area (Figure 9).
Figure 9. Estimated cost for electricity produced by small wind turbines (10 kW). (Source: Data by Carl Brothers, Atlantic Wind Test Site)
The performance of a wind turbine is normally described by manufacturers using a performance curve of power output versus wind speed, called a power curve (Figure 10).
Figure 10. Examples of a power curve for a small wind turbine rated at 10 kW. (Source: Atlantic Orient Corporation)
One problem with wind turbine ratings is that there is no industry standard for a consistent wind speed at which to measure the output from wind turbines.
Instead, manufacturers choose which wind speed to use for their wind turbine output ratings. Take, for example, the "Wind-o-matic" and the "Mighty-wind", both rated at 1,000 watts. The Wind-o-matic was rated at 5 m/s winds, while the Mighty-wind was rated at 10 m/s. Because the power in the wind is proportional to the cube of its speed (see Figure 6), a 1,000-watt turbine rated at 10 m/s will only produce 1/8 of that power at 5 m/s. So, at a wind speed of 5 m/s, the Wind-o-matic will produce 1,000 watts, while the Mighty-wind will only produce 125 watts!
Rather than comparing the rated outputs advertised for different turbines, compare the swept area of the turbines (see Figure 11). Since the electrical output of a wind generator is largely a function of its swept area, the larger the swept area of a rotor, the more electricity the wind generator produces. Doubling the area on the solar panels that is exposed to the sun can double the electrical energy generated by solar panels. With wind turbines, swept area works much the same way.
If you do not know the swept areas, you can still make reasonable comparisons between wind turbines by comparing the rotor diameters of the turbines. A modest increase in the rotor diameter will lead to significant increases in both the swept area of a turbine and the amount of electricity that the turbine can generate (Figure 11). Please note that the values for power production shown on Figure 11 are theoretical values, and only intended for illustrative purposes. The actual power production from a wind turbine will be influenced by many other factors, such as: the efficiency that the wind turbine is able to extract energy from the wind; the elevation at which the turbine is located; and other design characteristics of the wind turbine.
noise pollution from wind turbines
Where can you search for Wind Turbines for sale?
Having your own Wind Turbines at home is a very good way to conserve on your electrical expenses.
- Just imagine the amount of money you can save when you have your own power generator providing you with free electricity! A windmill is a very good alternative especially with the economic situation nowadays. It is affordable to your budget and best of all its’ free. You can purchase or build your own wind generator at any hardware store or online site.
- There a numerous sites selling Wind Turbines at a relatively low cost. Of course, the bigger the turbine is the expensive it gets. But you don’t have to purchase the biggest turbine; just compute the total electrical consumption of your household then you can find the suitable wind mill generator for it.
- Some sites are selling at $1000 a unit. Statistics has it that windmill generators helps lower your electrical consumption to almost 90%. Looking at that statistical figure alone will entice you to build one yourself.
- There are also some other factors beside the size of the Wind Turbines that you have to consider before purchasing. The total area of your house, the number of appliances and fluorescent lights that consumes power needs to be considered. The wind is also a big factor. The stronger the wind the more efficient is your wind generator, simple as that.
- If you happen to live in an area where the wind is continuously blowing then you can put up a wind generator in your home. But if you are living in the city, I’m sorry to say that you have to pay for your electrical bills.
- When you purchase or build Wind Turbines in your home, you are not only providing yourself financial comfort but at the same time you are giving back to the environment. Since you are no longer utilizing electricity then you help lessen the pollution cause by the electrical company.
- Windmill generators are absolutely 100% safe and eco-friendly.
Enjoying the green benefits does not only provide you with the total satisfaction, but is also a budget saver.
- Purchasing Wind Turbines also has its own problems. If you think that you can just buy it and immediately install it, then you are wrong. There are processes and requirements that need to be accomplished before you can set up your turbine. Each state in America has its own laws and ordinances, so before you purchase a wind generator you must do the necessary research if the state that you live in allows it. But what state in America does not want to lessen the pollution in its area, so in my own humble opinion, if you want to purchase a wind turbine then go ahead as long as you’ve done all the needed preparations.
- Top up your energy from solar panels on cloudy days with the Windwandler - designed specifically to be used in conjunction with your solar panels when they aren’t able to work at optimum output.
[edit] Windpower links
- wikipedia.org, Wind power
- wikipedia.org, Windpower in the UK
- Vertical axis wind power turbines
- http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_wind.html
- Statue of Liberty's torch now lit up by wind power
- Low Impact Factsheet Wind Power
- Wind Energy Directory
- Solar Dyne
- Omafra
- IEEE
- http://www.mdpub.com/Wind_Turbine/
