Archive for the 'Wind Power' Category

Wind Electricity

Published
by
admin
on August 12, 2008
in Energy Saving, Renewable Energy, Wind Electricity and Wind Power
. 0 Comments

Wind ElectricityOne of the useful sources of renewable energy is the wind power. The energy of the wind can be harnessed to obtain useful electricity which can serve as alternative to the conventional forms.

The tiny wind-electric systems can provide electricity on remote, off-grid sites, or right in town connected to the utility grid. The wind generator’s rotating blades convert the wind’s kinetic energy into rotational momentum in a shaft. The rotating shaft turns an alternator, which makes electricity. This electricity is transmitted through wiring down the tower to its end use.

So investing up front in good equipment, design, and installation, wind-electric systems, makes economic and environmental sense, despite the fact that these wind systems would require more maintenance and need more attention than solar-electric or micro hydro-electric systems,.

In a wind generator, the blades use engineered airfoils, matched to the alternator, that capture the wind’s energy. Most of the modern wind generators use three blades, the best compromise between the highest efficiency possible (one blade) and the balance that comes with multiple blades. These blades and the hub they are attached together and termed as the rotor collectively, which is the collector of the system, intercepting winds that pass by.

Most turbines on the market today are upwind machines meaning that their blades are on the windward side of the tower. A few downwind machines are also available, but neither of the configurations has a clear performance advantage over the other.

Predominantly in most of the small-scale designs, the rotor is connected directly to the shaft of a permanent magnet alternator, which creates wild, three-phase AC. Wild, three-phase electricity means that the voltage and frequency vary continuously with the wind speed.

The blades must turn to face the wind, so a yaw bearing is needed, allowing the wind turbine to track the winds as they shift direction. The tail directs the rotor into the wind. Some sort of governing system limits the rotor rpm as well as generator output to protect the turbine from high winds. A shutdown mechanism is also useful to stop the machine when necessary, such as during an extreme storm, when you do not need the energy, or when you want to service the system.

These fascinating wind machines bring a great deal of satisfaction as there’s nothing better than watching your wind generator convert a summer breeze or a winter storm into electrical energy.

Although trying to keep an inexpensive wind generator running can be a never ending battle that you are ultimately most likely to loose. But don’t loose heart and expect to pay more for a better machine as it’s a tough job to design and manufacture a long-lasting, small-scale wind generator. Moreover you should always consider buying a turbine that has a very good track record and a good warranty in the small wind industry.

The incredibly powerful wind energy has great potential for future and is surely capable of replacing the conventional form of electricity providing a cost effective solution to the global crisis of shortage of the non-renewable resources worldwide

Wind turbine

Published
by
admin
on August 5, 2008
in Energy Saving, Go Green, Green Living, Save Electricity, Saving Tips, Wind Electricity and Wind Power
. 1 Comment

What is a wind turbine?

A wind turbine is also referred to as a windmill or wind generator. Though the terms are used interchangeably, there is a minor difference. The wind turbine is the device that makes use of the wind energy to produce mechanical energy. This mechanical energy is then used as is or converted into electrical energy. A windmill uses the mechanical energy as is for pumping out water or for grinding purposes whereas the wind generator is the one that produces electrical energy.

What are the different types of wind turbines?

Wind turbines are classified into two kinds based on their orientation:

• Horizontal axis turbines – The blades in these wind turbines rotate along a horizontal axis.

• Vertical axis turbines – The blades in these turbines rotate along a vertical axis.

The horizontal axis wind turbines are more commonly used. They are more efficient that vertical axis turbines.

What are the advantages of installing a wind turbine?

Let’s look at the major advantages of a wind turbine:

• Power-saving: Since the wind turbines use a free energy, the wind energy, they prove to be a very cost-effective mechanism for generating electricity, thus helping not only save power but also generate power for the world.

• Cost-effective: The only cost involved in installing a wind turbine is the initial cost and the cost of maintenance. The energy comes free and there is no other fuel.

• Environment-friendly: The wind turbines are environment friendly in a way that they do emit harmful gases or affect the environment in any way.

• Uninterrupted power supply: A wind generator helps you become independent of government’s electricity supply. Moreover, you overcome the hurdles of power outages.

What are the factors you should consider for installing a wind turbine?
While installing a wind turbine is extremely beneficial for you and for the rest of the world, you must take care not to implement the solution in an incorrect way. You should take into consideration the following when installing a wind turbine.

Make sure the following two pre-requisites are met:

• The site for installation is at least of one acre area.

• The average wind speed is around 11 miles per hour.

• Make sure the tower and the base are sturdy. It is important to foresee the turbulence in the wind before you invest in the wind turbine.

• Make sure the tower’s height and the distance between the wind generator and the cells are optimum.

Windmill design

Published
by
admin
on August 5, 2008
in Energy Saving, Green Living, Green Products, Save Electricity, Saving Tips, Wind Electricity and Wind Power
. 0 Comments

What constitutes a windmill?

A windmill is device that converts wind energy into mechanical energy which is later converted into electrical energy. A windmill typically consists of the following parts:

• The blades – A windmill can consist of any number of blades from four to 20. Some special wind mills have higher number of blades.

• The tower – The tower holds the rotating blades high up in the air so that the winds rotate them.

• The shaft – The shaft is responsible for joining the blades with the tower and for the smooth rotation of blades.

• The generator – The generator is what generates electricity from the mechanical energy. It also stores power for future use.

• The base: The base of the windmill keeps it grounded to the earth.

What factors affect windmill design?
There are many factors that affect the design of a windmill. Let’s understand the major ones:

• Wind speed: The wind speed can be accurately measured with the help of an anemometer. It is not possible to determine the right kind of wind mill without knowing the accurate wind speed.

• Wind direction: For designing a windmill, it is also important to know the direction from which the wind flows most of the time.

• Change in wind speed: Apart from the constant speed of mind, it is required that you know how the wind changes its speed.

• Change of wind direction: The direction of wind will not be constant, so it important to note the way it changes its direction.

• Obstructions on the site: It is best t install a windmill at a place without many obstructions. Look out for existing and potential structures that may affect the performance of your windmill.

• Wind turbulence: The movement of wind is not always predictable. However, it is a good idea to understand the patter of wind turbulence in your site.

• Distance of wind activity from the ground: The height of the tower is dependent on the height at which the wind is active.

What are the possible designs of windmills?
Aerodynamics determines the design of a windmill based on the factors mentioned in the section above. The designs of windmills vary in the following measures:
• Number of blades
• Shape of the blades
• Height of the tower
• Kind of generators
• Distance of the installation spot from the ground
• Distance between the tower and the generator

Making electricity

Published
by
admin
on August 5, 2008
in Energy Saving, Go Green, Green Living, Green Products, Save Electricity, Saving Tips, Solar Power, Wind Electricity and Wind Power
. 2 Comments

How is electricity produced conventionally?

Conventionally, electricity is produced by moving colossal turbines. These turbines are moved with the help of various types of energy. Let’s look at the most conventional ways of producing electrical energy:

• By using various fuels and water - Water is heated on a large-scale in furnaces. The vapor generated helps move the blades of turbines. Fuels like petroleum, coal, and natural gas are used to heat large quantities of water.

• By nuclear fission - Electricity is produced in nuclear reactors by making use of the heat generated in the chain reaction caused by nuclear fission. This heat boils water on a large scale converting it into vapor that turns the blades of the turbines.

• By bio-waste - Electricity is now also being produced by burning bio-fuels instead of fossil fuels. Bio-fuels are obtained from biological waste, mainly from plants. Bio-fuels are considered safer than fossil fuels.

• By hydro-power - Water is also a popular method of producing electricity. Rivers and large bodies of water are used to move huge turbines. Though this method of electricity production does not affect the air around us, it spoils the ecological balance inside the water bodies.

• By wind - Electricity is produced by wind generators. These wind generators convert wind energy into mechanical energy which is further converted into electrical energy.

Why is there a need for looking for alternate electricity sources?

Alternate power solutions are needed in the light of highly-depleting fuels and energy sources. Moreover, most of the convention ways of electricity production harms the environment in one way or the other.

The world is currently faced with tremendous power-crisis. We can no longer depend on fossil fuels for power. At the same time, we need to take measures to prevent the harmful effects that convention power production has on the environment.

How can we produce electricity?

In times of global power-crisis and severe environmental-damage, the question is: what can we do to help? We can do plenty if we want to. We need to start with consuming less power. Next, we can employ any of the following energy solution to make electricity:

• Wind power solution – Installing a wind turbine can help generate electricity for our homes and farms.

• Solar power solution – Using the solar power to cook light up and heat our homes is a wise idea.

• Bio-gas – Bio-gas can be used to produce electricity on small scales.

Making wind power

Published
by
admin
on August 5, 2008
in Eco-Friendly Products, Energy Saving, Go Green, Money Saving Products, Save Electricity, Wind Electricity and Wind Power
. 0 Comments

Wind energy is readily available but wind power is not. Unfortunately, the wind power system has not reached the status of becoming a regular power system. However, the good news is that the concept is picking up.

Why is wind power important?
Wind power makes sense in these times when the demand far exceeds the supply. The convention ways of producing electricity make use of the non-renewable fuels, not only making such resources scarce but also affecting the environment negatively. The power generated by wind proves beneficial in the following ways:

• Free source of energy – The wind power makes use of wind energy which is absolutely free, thus saving the non-renewable sources of energy for longer.

• No environmental hazards – The generation of wind power is extremely environment-friendly. It does not emit harmful gases nor does it have any other environment-damaging impact.

• Cost-effective – Using a free energy makes wind turbines extremely cost-effective. Moreover, there remains no worry of sky-rocketing electricity bills.

• 24/7 uninterrupted supply – The wind power ensures that you never have power outages in your house and farm.

• Self-dependent source – Making use of wind power makes you independent. You no longer depend on the government and its agencies for power.

How can we make power from the wind?
A wind turbine is employed to make use of the abundant wind energy. A wind turbine converts wind energy into mechanical energy for mechanical work. Such a wind turbine is generally referred to as a windmill. A wind generator is a wind turbine that further converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy.

A wind turbine typically consists of blades, a tower, a shaft, a base, and a generator. The blades of the wind turbine rotate in the wind to generate mechanical energy. The two pre-requisites for installing a wind turbine are a large area of at least one acre and an average wind speed of 11 miles per hour.

What are the uses of wind power?
The uses of wind power are many. Let’s look at some of the popular ones:
• Running all possible electrical and electronic appliances
• Pumping out water
• Grinding grains and stones

By employing a wind turbine at your home or farm, you definitely make the world a better place. The wind power is a green solution to the power crisis. It does not harm the environment in any way. Moreover, it does not make use of any fuel, thus promising a future of no power-crisis.

Homemade windmill

Published
by
admin
on August 5, 2008
in Eco-Friendly Products, Energy Saving, Go Green, Green Living, Green Products, Money Saving Products, Save Electricity, Saving Tips, Wind Electricity and Wind Power
. 0 Comments

When the whole world is looking for ways to cope with the severe energy crisis, what is the least we can do? We need to begin by saving the power we have and generating more power using alternate power solutions like solar and wind power systems.

The implementation of a windmill is not considered very cheap; however, it turns out a huge money saver in the long run when the cost of producing power becomes zero. It has been observed lately that people are implementing wind power solutions even at places with the average speed of power less than 11 miles per hour. Ideally, the average speed of wind at the site you propose to set up the windmill at should be 11 miles per hour, but a slightly lower average is also reaping good results for people.

One thing that dissuades people from setting up a windmill is the initial cost. However, one can set up a windmill at home at a much less price. It is, however, important to consider certain things while setting up a windmill on your own.

• Get a good plan to make a windmill at home. Keep in mind the output you want the windmill to generate.

• Look for sturdy components. Your homemade windmill should not get damaged by heavy winds.

• Compare the prices of the equipment in the market and go for the components that suit your budget and your site.

When looking for a windmill plan, look for the following features:

• Illustrations: Visual descriptions work better than only-text ones. If your windmill guide has illustrative descriptions for making a windmill, it makes your task easier.

• Easy language: If your windmill-making guide uses a lot of jargon and technical information, it is better to look for a different one. Look for one that has easy-to-understand language making your task fluid.

• Component descriptions: Your homemade windmill guide should be able to provide you with detailed visual and textual descriptions of all the components you need to use. It is also important that the guide tells you which type of component works best for a site like yours.

• Local information: If your guide gives you information about the best available equipment in Europe while you are reading it from a countryside location in western USA, your guide is as good as useless. Look for a guide that provides equipment information of places around you.

Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill. Get the complete guide at Earth4Energy

Making a windmill

Published
by
admin
on August 5, 2008
in Eco-Friendly Products, Energy Saving, Go Green, Green Living, Green Products, Money Saving Products, Save Electricity, Saving Tips, Wind Electricity and Wind Power
. 1 Comment

A windmill is a device that converts wind energy into other types of energy. It uses wind power to make mechanical energy for rotating its blades which in turn help produce electrical energy. The windmill is a very useful machine in times of energy crisis. The windmill started producing electricity lately; it used to be a popular method for pumping water and towing boats.

In the current situation of extreme energy crisis across the globe, it only makes sense that we look for alternate power solutions. The windmill proves to be an economical option, especially in farms and in the countryside. A windmill may not be the optimum solution in a highly-populated area.

What are the prerequisites for setting up a windmill?
There are two important pre-requisites for a windmill:

• The place where the solution is to be implemented should have an area of at least one acre. It is not advisable to set up a windmill in a smaller area as the windmill blades will not be able to capture enough wind power for the windmill to work.

• The average speed of wind in the area should approximately be 11 miles per hour. It is not advisable to employ the windmill at a site where factors like high-rise buildings and tall towers block the wind. You also need to make sure that the wind speed is consistent at your site.

What are the components of a windmill?
You will need the following components to make a windmill:

• Blades: These blades are responsible for making use of the wind energy. Blades are typically made of wood or plastic.

• Tower: The tower is the pillar that holds the system high enough to be able to use the wind. They are made up of hard material such as poly-vinyl chloride.

• Shaft: The shaft is used to join the blades to the tower, at the same time allowing them to rotate smoothly.

• Base: The base of the windmill is what holds the tower and the blades.

How is a windmill set up?
You will find ready-to-install windmill kits in the market. Consult an expert to choose the one that best suits your place and needs. If you would like to choose the components personally and set the windmill on your own, make sure you seek professional help; a mismatch of size in the components will make your windmill useless.

Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill. Get the complete guide at Earth4Energy