How to Create Power Using Windmills
There are a lot of good reasons to use the wind to generate the electricity to power your home: It's cheap, easy to install and constant. Unlike solar power, windmills can make electricity at all times of the day and night. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Rotor (the blade assembly) Shaft -- this connects to the rotor and rotates when the blades turn Generator to produce electricity
Instructions
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Understand how wind energy works. Wind-energy systems work by using moving blades made of a durable plastic, fiberglass or wood connected to a rotor to capture kinetic energy from the wind and convert it into rotating mechanical energy stored in the spinning shaft. By connecting this spinning shaft to a generator, the turbine can convert this captured mechanical energy into usable electrical energy.
There are basically two kinds of wind: prevalent wind and energy wind. Energy wind is the most powerful, usually blowing three out of every 14 days. Energy wind produces nearly 70 percent of a system's power. Prevalent winds are lighter winds that constantly blow. Although they do not have the power of energy wind, they are more predictable and can still sustain a system.
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Choose a wind system. There are three basic categories of wind systems to choose from. A grid-connected system will use wind energy from your system when there is enough and standard electricity when there isn't. You may also choose a grid-connected system with battery storage, which will allow you to stay connected to the local energy grid for emergencies, but use stored wind energy at most other times. Finally, you may choose a stand-alone or hybrid system, which relies on wind energy only or a combination of wind and solar power.
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Evaluate your power capabilities and needs. Determining what type of wind-generating power system you will choose will depend a great deal on both your energy-producing capabilities and your current household needs. With wind generators ranging from from 400 to 20,000 watts, the first thing you will need to decide is your output. This is determined by both the size of your wind generator and local wind speeds. For instance, a 1,000-watt machine located in an area with stable 12-mile-an-hour winds will generate up to 200 kWh of electricity per month, which will likely only be about one third of the electricity you'll need to power your home. If you plan on being energy-efficient in your home, a 2,500- to 6,000-watt generator should be enough. However, if you don't want to watch your output, you'll likely need a 10,000-watt unit. To determine wind speeds in your area, check the wind maps available on the Department of Energy website or your local airport for readings.
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Buy a wind-generator kit. It's usually best to buy a ready-made kit since they come with all the materials and instructions needed. Even if you plan to hire someone else to install your wind generator, these kits give you everything you need to get the job done quickly and efficiently.
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Install your windmill. Be sure to hire a qualified (and experienced) installer to handle the building of your new wind-generating system. These systems can be expensive and you'll want to know that's its being built right.
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Tips & Warnings
When choosing the right size windmill, be sure to consider how much power you'll need to create. Know what your local wind speeds are duirng different times of the year; what type of backup power system you'll use; what size blades your system (and local ordinanaces) will support; and how tall your tower can and should be to generate the electricity you want.
No matter where you live, be sure to check with the local building code officer to see how large your new wind-generating system can be. Most municipalities (even rural ones) have restrictions regarding tower height and system installation.
