How to Design a Wind Generator Tower

These wind towers generate electricity from the force of the wind.

Alternative energy is a hot topic in political, scientific and business circles. Various new technologies hold out the prospect of replacing the fossil fuels on which we rely to power our vehicles, homes and office buildings. Among the many alternative energies being developed is wind power, which harnesses the natural momentum of wind and uses it to generate electricity. It is a modern take on the quintessential wooden windmill.

Instructions

1. Select the site. An ideal site is both high in elevation and in a place where, of course, there is a lot of wind. Wide open spaces such as the plains are good because there is fewer natural and man-made obstructions to block wind currents.

2. Plan the physical structure of the tower itself. It must be strong, well-anchored and tall. Remember that the tower will need to withstand strong gusts and gale-force winds. The two main types of wind towers are the stationary and tilt-up. A stationary tower will require you to climb up to perform maintenance.

3. Install an anemometer, which measures wind speed. This is a crucial design feature because it lets you know how well the generator is performing and when to shut it down in the case of extremely strong winds. Commercial-grade weather center anemometers are available, or you can buy a logging anemometer as a cheaper alternative.

4. Design the rotor, the spinning device that collects the wind's energy to convert to electricity. When planning on the rotor to be used, you must consider elements such as blade material, diameter, tip speed ratio and taper.

5. Customize the generator, which is responsible for generating power from the tower. Design it to match the size of the tower and the voltage of power you wish to produce. You can construct your own generator from scratch or obtain a prefabricated generator such as a PM converted induction motor, a DC generator or a vehicle alternator.

References

• Otherpower.com: Wind Generator Design
• Renewable Resource Data Center: Wind Energy Atlas

Resources

• American Wind Energy Association