The issue of wind energy in our innovative time is of interest to many. Those who have ever visited European countries in their car have probably seen huge wind farms.
Hundreds of generators are encountered along the way.
Observing such a picture, many begin to believe that obtaining electricity with the help of wind is a very promising and profitable occupation. Wise Europeans cannot be wrong.
At the same time, for some reason, the fact is ignored that in other places of the same Europe, there are practically no such wind farms. Why's that?
That's it about this, when, where and how it is profitable to use windmills, and when not, and will be discussed in the article.
autonomy
Surely, after the next rise in the price of electricity, you thought about installing a wind generator on your site. Thus, providing, if not all, then most of their needs for electricity.
Some are even considering becoming independent from the grid this way. How realistic and possible is this? Unfortunately, for 90% of owners of private houses, these dreams will remain dreams.
And so that you do not waste your money, we will tell you with the calculation of all the numbers why this is so.
Wind speed
Unfortunately, there are not many regions in our country where the wind speed is at least at the level of 5-7 meters per second. The data is taken on an annual average. In the vast majority of latitudes suitable for habitation, this very speed is equal to a maximum of 2-4 m / s. 
This suggests that your wind turbine most of the time, simply will not work. For stable electricity generation, it needs a wind of about 10 m/s. 
If the wind in your area is 7m/s, then the generator will operate at a maximum of 50% of its nominal value. And if only 2 m / s, then by 5%.
In fact, in an hour, a 2kW generator will give you no more than 100W.
You will also encounter another wind problem that manufacturers are silent about. Near the ground, its speed is much less than at the top, where industrial installations 25-30m high are placed. 
You will mount your unit at a maximum of ten meters. Therefore, do not even be guided by wind tables from different sites. This information does not apply to you.
Manufacturers are modestly silent that for their wind resource maps, measurements are made at a height of 50 to 70 meters! In addition, data on turbulence and eddies are not taken into account there. 
If you try to lift it higher than 10m, you will definitely think about lightning protection. Blades electrified by air friction, very tasty bait for discharges! 
In addition, for some reason, everyone is only worried about such a parameter as wind speed, and at the same time they forget about its density or pressure. And the difference for energy is very significant. The dependence of electricity generation on wind pressure is disproportionate.
So, if the wind pressure doubles, the generated power increases eight times!
In addition, there is a certain craftiness in the specified technical characteristics of generators.
Of course, you can trust them, but only for ideal conditions. Because:
- and in laminar flow with a constant direction and increased density
In your summer cottage, the wind speed can be such that it will not work and turn the shaft, let alone generate energy. 
And this is spring or autumn. It is during this period that the most active movements of air masses occur. 
Do not forget that the windmill does not operate in the idling mode of the turntable, but must spin the generator rotor surrounded by neodymium magnets. 
And this is only as long as the electric potential of the windmill is lower than the battery voltage. When the voltage is sufficient to start charging, the battery turns into a load. 
If low-speed structures with a vertical axis of rotation are used, then there is already a step-up gearbox. Have you tried spinning the booster? Such a design becomes more complicated, weight, windage, cost increase. 
Even at the lighthouses of the Northern Fleet, given the constant winds and the polar night, experts prefer to use solar panels. When asked why this is so, they answer in a simple way - there are fewer problems!
Wind turbine batteries
Large industrial wind turbines can transfer energy directly to the grid, bypassing any batteries. 
But you can't do without them. Without a battery, neither the TV nor the refrigerator will work. Even the lighting will shine in fits and starts, depending on the gusts of wind. 
At the same time, for 12-15 years of operation of the generator, you will be required to change 3-4 sets of batteries, thereby doubling your initial costs. Moreover, we take an almost ideal option, when the batteries will be discharged no more than half of their capacity. 
Of course, you can buy cheap battery models, but the costs will not decrease from this. Just going to the store for new batteries will not be done 4 times, but already 8.
Where is the best place to install
Another thing to seriously think about is the availability of free space. Moreover, in terms of area, it can go 100 or more meters in each direction from the mast. 
The wind should move freely along the blades, and reach them without interference from all sides. It turns out that you must live either in the steppe or near the sea (preferably directly on its shore).
The ideal location would be at the top of the hill. Where from the position of aerodynamics, the air flow is compacted with a corresponding increase in wind speed and pressure. 
Forget about neighbors. Their gardens and two-three-story mansions will “drink your blood” great, blocking the tailwind every time. As well as neighboring forest plantations. 
The same industrial windmills are not placed directly one behind the other, but mounted diagonally. Each subsequent one should not close the previous one. 
Price for 1 kW of power
The 4th reason is the high price. Do not be fooled by the prices of sellers in price lists. They never show the real cost of all the necessary equipment.
Therefore, always multiply prices by 2, even when choosing the so-called ready-made kits. 
But that's not all. Do not forget about operating costs, reaching up to 70% of the cost of windmills. Try repairing the generator at a height, or dismantling and disassembling and assembling the mast each time. 
Don't forget to replace the battery periodically. Therefore, do not expect that a windmill can cost you $ 1 per 1 kW of electricity.
When you calculate all the real costs, it turns out that each kilowatt of power of such a wind generator cost you at least 5 bucks.
Payback period and savings calculation
The fifth reason is inextricably linked with the first four. This is the payback period.
For your individual wind turbine, this period is NEVER.
The cost of a windmill, mast and additional equipment for 2-kilowatt high-quality models will reach an average of 200 thousand rubles. The performance of such installations is from 100 to 200 kW per month, no more. And this is under good weather conditions. 
Even precipitation reduces the power of windmills. Rain by 20%, snow by 30%.
So it turns out all your savings - this is 500 rubles. For 12 months of continuous work, a little more will come in - 6 thousand.
But if you remember the initial spending of 200 thousand, then you will return them in thirty-two years!
And all this without taking into account operating costs. And if you estimate that the average life of a good windmill is about 20 years, it turns out that it will finally and irrevocably break down even before it reaches payback. 
At the same time, a 2-kilowatt unit will not cover 100% of your needs. A maximum of a third! If you want to completely connect everything from it, then take a 10-kilowatt model, no less. The payback period will not change. 
But there will already be completely different dimensions and weight. 
And fixing it just like that on a pipe through the attic of your roof will definitely not work. 
However, some are still convinced that due to the endless rise in the price of electricity, the wind generator will at one fine moment, in any case, become profitable.
When to buy a wind turbine
Of course, electricity is getting more expensive every year. For example, 10 years ago, its price was 70% lower. Let's carry out approximate calculations and find out the prospect of a windmill paying off, taking into account the sharp rise in the cost of electricity.
We will consider a generator with a power of 2 kW. 
As we found out earlier, the cost of such a model is about 200 thousand. But taking into account all the additional costs, you need to multiply it by two. It will turn out at least 400 thousand rubles. costs, with a service life of twenty years.
That is, for a year it turns out 20 thousand. At the same time, in fact, this year the unit will give you a maximum of 900 kW. Because of the coefficient installed capacity (it does not exceed five percent for small windmills), you will wind up 75 kW per month. 
Even if we take 1000 kW per year for ease of calculation, the cost of 1 kW / h received from a windmill will be 20 rubles for you. If we assume that electricity from thermal power plants will rise in price by 4 times, then this will not happen tomorrow, and not even in 5 years. 
Which windmills to choose
Well, for those who live far from substations and VL-0.4kv, it is worth purchasing the most powerful windmill models that you can afford. Since from the power that is indicated in the pictures, you will get no more than 15%.
Another category of consumers, quite deservedly, makes a choice not in favor of Chinese factory models, but, on the contrary, prefers home-made windmills from self-taught masters. It also has its benefits. 
For the most part, the inventors of such devices are competent and responsible guys. And in almost 100% of cases, without any problems, they can return the installation if something went wrong, or it needs to be repaired. This will definitely not be a problem. 
In industrial Chinese windmills, the appearance is certainly prettier. And if you still decide to buy it, immediately after checking it with an electric drill, do preventive maintenance and replace Chinese scrap metal with bearings with high-quality grease. 
If there are large bird nests near you, it does not hurt to purchase an additional set of blades.
Chicks sometimes fall under the distribution of a spinning "mini mill". Plastic blades break and metal ones bend. 
And I would like to finish with wisdom from those users who did not listen to all the arguments and came across all the problems described above. Remember, the most expensive weather vane for a home is a wind turbine!
If you have a house, an old cooler from a computer, you can build an excellent wind turbine that will produce electricity. A mini wind generator is a great thing, especially for areas with frequent and strong winds. We will learn about the features and technology of its manufacture further.
How to make a mini wind generator with your own hands
Work on a mini wind generator should begin with the manufacture of drawings for a future wind turbine. In addition, materials should be prepared in the form of:
- thick plastic bottle;
- an old cooling cooler or fan, the power of the generator itself directly depends on its size and power;
- low-current wire in the amount of 5-8 meters;
- wooden beam, the section and dimensions of which are determined individually;
- two steel pipes that go one into one;
- diodes;
- epoxy adhesive and super adhesive composition;
- fasteners in the form of lingering ties;
- old CD.
First of all, you need to start work by finding a suitable cooling mechanism. We suggest using a cooler from an old computer. Initially, the cooler is disassembled, its propeller part is located on the electric motor. Most often, it is fixed on the retaining ring, it is located under the rubber seal. After dismantling the O-ring, remove the blades on the fan.
This is followed by the process of soldering the cables that ensure the operation of the generator set. There are two wire connections on the copper coils of the fan, they are connectors on the coils. One of the sections is distinguished by the presence of a connected copper wire, and the second has two wires. Two wires are connected to the legs of one wire by soldering.
At the next stage of creating a small wind generator, a rectifier is being created. The main function of this device is to convert AC to DC. For these purposes, you will need four diodes, they are cut in such a way that one pair from the black mark remains with a 10 cm segment. The long end of the diode is bent, so you get a U-shaped connection. All diodes are interconnected by soldering. To test the wind generator, connect diodes to it, if the LED works, then the wind generator is functioning correctly. The outer plastic part of the cooler is removed, to process all the bumps, use a knife.
Next is the manufacturing process of the wind turbine blade. To make the blades, use an old bottle, such as a shampoo bottle. The top and bottom of the bottle are cut off. You will get a cylindrical product, it needs to be cut along. Pre-make a drawing in the form of blades, according to it, cut out the blades for the wind generator from the bottle. Please note that the end of the blades must be cut at an angle of one hundred and twenty degrees. This is followed by the process of fixing the blades on the cooler.
The next step is the manufacture of the windmill shank. To fix the motor, a beam made of wood is used. Its rotation is carried out using steel tubes. For the manufacture of the shank, use an unnecessary disk. The wooden block is equipped with a through hole, its diameter should be slightly larger than the diameter of the steel pipe. If the tube is loose, fix it with epoxy glue. At the end of the bar, a cut is made for mounting the disk. The place where the motor is connected to the bar must also be treated with an adhesive. Wires and soldering are also recommended to be coated with glue to prevent corrosion.
The following is the process by which the support is made. For its construction, use two pipes. One of them is fixed on a wooden block, and the second is set in relation to rotation. To connect them, you can use bearings, and to improve sliding, use fluoroplastic.
DIY mini wind generator from a motor
We offer the option of manufacturing a wind generator from a motor from an old printer. This model differs in average productivity and works, even at the slightest wind. To operate the wind generator, you will also need a battery, the maximum power of the device is 100mA.
As the main part of the windmill, a motor is used, from an idle inkjet printer. The printer must first be disassembled and the motor removed from it.
A transistor is used to hold the blades. It must be drilled in relation to the size of the installed shaft. Further, all parts are fixed with an epoxy-based adhesive. In addition, with the help of this composition, the most important parts of the device are protected from moisture and bad weather.
Using a piece of plastic pipe, about 12 cm in diameter, cut out the blades for the windmill. For these purposes, a cutting machine is used. The optimal width of the part is 90 mm, the holes are made with a special tool, and then the shaft is mounted on the generator motor using screw connections.
A pipe with a diameter of 55 mm is used as the basis for the manufacture of a windmill. Use plywood to make the tail. The motor is installed inside the pipe, Next, the construction of the rectifier is carried out. Since the motor does not produce a large amount of electricity with a small wind. Thus, it is possible to apply the doubling scheme, which is connected in series.
The circuit is installed in a plastic bag and installed inside the pipe together with the rectifier. Next, the motor is fixed with a wire. In addition, all holes are sealed with a silicone gun. One hole is used to drain water, and the second to evaporate condensate masses.
A bolt and wire are used to fix the tail of the wind generator. Thus, it will be possible to securely fix the installation. Watch the rigidity of the resulting joints.
In order to build a mast for installing a windmill, use bars connected to each other with self-tapping screws. Fix the windmill on the mast and install it in the pre-allocated place. With the help of such an installation, it is possible to charge a mobile phone or organize a backlight.
We make a mini wind generator with our own hands
Before starting work on a wind generator, you need to determine the number of winds in your climatic region. Gray-green - windless zones imply the use of sail-type wind turbines only. If it is necessary to provide direct current, a device in the form of a booster is added to them. This device performs the function of a rectifier, and also stabilizes the voltage. You will also need a charger, a high-power battery, a converter. The cost of manufacturing this installation is prohibitively high and is not always justified.
In areas with weak winds, marked in yellow, it is possible to manufacture a low-speed wind generator. These devices perform well.
For windy regions, any wind turbine is suitable. Most often, vertical-type devices are used - blades or sailboats.
In order to perform calculations to determine the power of a wind turbine, it is necessary to take into account such factors as:
- constant wind speed in a particular region;
- air is a continuous medium, therefore, the power of the wind generator depends on the quality and performance of the rotor;
- air currents have kinetic energy.
We offer to consider the features of sailing wind turbines. These devices are made of wear-resistant material that perfectly resist the winds. If you decide to make such an installation yourself, then you must first of all carry out a series of calculations related to these devices.
As a material for the manufacture of a wind generator, you can use various pieces of iron that are lying around in your home. The most expensive item is the battery. Its power determines the size of the installation and its performance.
Making a homemade axial-type wind generator at home is quite simple. Work should begin with the mast. For its manufacture, pipes are most often used, they must be different in diameter. A welding machine is used to connect pipes to each other. The mast is installed on a concrete platform. At the same time, several meters of it go deep into the ground to obtain a stable structure. On individual parts of the installation, two magnets must be glued. For a stronger fixation, they are additionally poured with epoxy resin.
This is followed by the process of making molds and plywood. For these purposes, coils connected by a phase are used. The stator manufacturing process looks like this: wax paper is installed on a previously cut plywood square. This is followed by the installation of plywood, on which holes for mounting the stator are pre-cut. This is followed by the process of mounting a glass cloth mug and coils are installed.
After that, the finished stator is removed from the previously prepared mold. For the manufacture of the screw, a duralumin pipe is used. The screw is made with a diameter of one meter. Use an electric jigsaw to cut the blades. In the central part of the installation, equip a hole with which the screw will be fixed on the generator.
The wind generator has a tail element displaced with respect to the axis. With strong gusts of wind, pressure occurs on the surface of the wind generator and it shifts to the side. This scheme allows you to protect the device from strong winds. This wind generator model allows you to generate enough energy to provide street lighting for the house. It is not difficult to make a wind generator, the main condition for obtaining a quality device is to compare the wind strength in your region with its power.
Do-it-yourself mini wind generator manufacturing technology
For wind turbine manufacture, a minimum supply of tools and materials is required. We offer a variant of the construction of a mini wind generator for summer cottages. This device is able to provide a small house with a minimum number of electrical appliances - electricity.
For the manufacture of such a wind generator, you will first need a disk on which magnets are installed. This is followed by the process of winding copper coils, which are filled with resin. For rotation, the generator is installed on a previously provided base.
These wind generators are distinguished by good performance and high-quality work. The ratio of the magnet to the poles is two to three, if the wind generator has two phases, a ratio of one to three is sufficient for a single-phase device. All poles are related to each other depending on the coil options used.
The power of a wind generator is determined primarily by the size of the magnets used in its design. As a mast for the generator, it is enough to use a steel pipe or a log. It is not necessary to use new batteries, any devices that are suitable in terms of power will fit.
It is possible to manufacture several wind turbines at once, while each of them will perform certain functions - one provides a home with light, the second is responsible for the operation of the TV, and the third is for night lighting.
The activity of both individuals and all of today's humanity is practically impossible without electricity. Unfortunately, the rapidly increasing consumption of oil and gas, coal and peat leads to a decrease in the reserves of these resources on the planet. What can be done while earthlings still have all this? According to the conclusions of experts, it is the development of energy complexes that can solve the problems of world economic and financial crises. Therefore, the most relevant are the search and use of fuel-free energy sources.
Renewable, ecological, green
Perhaps it is not worth reminding that everything new is a well-forgotten old. People have learned to use the strength of the river flow and the speed of the wind to obtain mechanical energy for a very long time. The sun heats water for us and moves cars, feeds spaceships. Wheels, installed in the beds of streams and small rivers, supplied water to the fields as early as the Middle Ages. One could provide flour to several surrounding villages.
At the moment, we are interested in a simple question: how to provide your home with cheap light and heat, how to make a windmill with your own hands? 5 kW power or a little less, the main thing is that you can supply your home with current for the operation of electrical appliances.
It is interesting that in the world there is a classification of buildings according to the level of resource efficiency:
- conventional, built before 1980-1995;
- with low and ultra-low energy consumption - up to 45-90 kWh per 1 kV/m;
- passive and non-volatile, receiving current from renewable sources (for example, by installing a rotary wind generator (5 kW) with your own hands or a system of solar panels, you can solve this problem);
- energy-active buildings that generate more electricity than they need, receive money by giving it through the network to other consumers.
It turns out that our own, home mini-stations installed on rooftops and in yards can eventually compete with large electricity suppliers. And the governments of different countries in every possible way encourage the creation and active use
How to determine the profitability of your own power plant
Researchers have proven that the reserve capacity of the winds is much greater than all the accumulated centuries-old fuel reserves. Among the ways to obtain energy from renewable sources, windmills have a special place, since their manufacture is simpler than the creation of solar panels. In fact, a 5 kW wind generator can be assembled with your own hands, having the necessary components, including magnets, copper wire, plywood and metal for the blades.
Connoisseurs argue that not only a structure of the correct shape, but also built in the right place can become productive and, accordingly, profitable. This means that it is necessary to take into account the presence, constancy and even the speed of air flows in each individual case and even in a particular region. If calm, calm and calm days periodically come in the area, the installation of a mast with a generator will not bring any benefit.
Before you start making a windmill with your own hands (5 kW), you need to consider its model and appearance. Do not expect a large energy output from a weak design. Conversely, when you only need to power a couple of light bulbs in the country, it makes no sense to build a huge windmill with your own hands. 5 kW is enough power to provide electricity to almost the entire lighting system and home appliances. There will be constant wind - there will be light.
How to make a wind generator with your own hands: a sequence of actions
At the place chosen for the high mast, the windmill itself is strengthened with a generator attached to it. The generated energy goes through the wires to the desired room. It is believed that the higher the mast design, the larger the diameter of the wind wheel and the stronger the air flow, the higher the efficiency of the entire device. In fact, everything is not quite like this:
- for example, a strong hurricane can easily break the blades;
- some models can be installed on the roof of an ordinary house;
- A properly selected turbine starts easily and performs well even in very low wind speeds.
The main types of windmills
Designs with a horizontal axis of rotation of the rotor are considered classic. Usually they have 2-3 blades and are installed at a great height from the ground. The greatest efficiency of such an installation is manifested at a constant direction and its speed of 10 m/s. A significant disadvantage of this bladed design is the failure of the rotation of the blades with frequently changing, impetuous. This leads either to unproductive work or to the destruction of the entire installation. To start such a generator after stopping, a forced initial spin-up of the blades is necessary. In addition, with active rotation, the blades emit specific sounds that are unpleasant to the human ear.
The vertical wind generator ("Volchok" 5 kW or other) has a different placement of the rotor. H-shaped or barrel-shaped turbines capture wind from any direction. These designs are smaller, run even at the weakest air flows (at 1.5-3 m/s), do not require high masts, they can be used even in urban environments. In addition, do-it-yourself (5 kW - this is real) assembled windmills reach their rated power with a wind of 3-4 m / s.
Sails are not on ships, but on land
One of the most popular trends in wind energy today is the creation of a horizontal generator with soft blades. The main difference is both the material of manufacture and the shape itself: do-it-yourself windmills (5 kW, sail type) have 4-6 triangular fabric blades. Moreover, unlike traditional structures, their cross section increases in the direction from the center to the periphery. This feature allows not only to "catch" a weak wind, but also to avoid losses during a hurricane air flow.
The advantages of sailboats include the following indicators:
- high power at slow rotation;
- self-orientation and adjustment to any wind;
- high vane and low inertia;
- no need for forced spinning of the wheel;
- completely silent rotation even at high speeds;
- absence of vibrations and sound disturbances;
- relative cheapness of construction.
DIY windmills
5 kW of required electricity can be obtained in several ways:
- build a simple rotary structure;
- to assemble a complex of several successively located on the same axis of the sailing wheels;
- use an axial construction with neodymium magnets.
It is important to remember that the power of the wind wheel is proportional to the product of the cubic value of the wind speed and the swept area of the turbine. So, how to make a 5 kW wind generator? Instructions below.
As a basis, you can take a car hub and brake discs. 32 magnets (25 by 8 mm) are placed in parallel in a circle on the future disks of the rotor (the moving part of the generator) for each disk, 16 pieces, moreover, the pluses necessarily alternate with the minuses. Opposite magnets must have different pole values. After marking and placement, everything on the circle is poured with epoxy.
Coils of copper wire are placed on the stator. Their number should be less than the number of magnets, that is, 12. First, all the wires are brought out and connected to each other with a star or triangle, then they are also filled with epoxy glue. It is recommended to insert pieces of plasticine into the coils before pouring. After the resin has hardened and removed, holes will remain that are needed for ventilation and cooling of the stator.
How it all works
The rotor disks, rotating relative to the stator, form a magnetic field, and an electric current appears in the coils. And the windmill, connected by means of a system of pulleys, is needed in order to move these parts of the working structure. How to make a wind generator with your own hands? Some start building their own power plant by assembling a generator. Others - from the creation of a bladed rotating part.
The shaft from the windmill is coupled with a sliding joint to one of the rotor discs. A lower, second disk with magnets is placed on a strong bearing. The stator is located in the middle. All parts are attached to the plywood circle with long bolts and fixed with nuts. Between all the "pancakes" be sure to leave minimal gaps for free rotation of the rotor discs. The result is a 3-phase generator.
"Barrel"
It remains to make windmills. With your own hands, a 5 kW rotating structure can be made from 3 circles of plywood and a sheet of the thinnest and lightest duralumin. Metal rectangular wings are attached to plywood with bolts and corners. Preliminarily, wave-shaped guide grooves are hollowed out in each plane of the circle, into which the sheets are inserted. The resulting two-story rotor has 4 wavy blades attached to each other at right angles. That is, between each two hubs fastened with plywood pancakes, there are 2 duralumin blades curved in the shape of a wave.
This design is mounted in the center on a steel stud, which will transmit torque to the generator. Do-it-yourself (5 kW) windmills of this design weigh approximately 16-18 kg with a height of 160-170 cm and a base diameter of 80-90 cm.
What to Consider
A windmill-“barrel” can be installed even on the roof of a building, although a tower 3-4 meters high is quite enough. However, it is imperative to protect the generator housing from natural precipitation. It is also recommended to install an energy storage battery.
To obtain an alternating current from a direct 3-phase current, a converter must also be included in the circuit.
With a sufficient number of windy days in the region, a self-assembled windmill (5 kW) can provide current not only to a TV and light bulbs, but also to a video surveillance system, air conditioning, refrigerator and other electrical equipment.
Wind turbines continue to grow in popularity. They are most often interested in people living in rural areas and having the opportunity to install such impressive structures on their plots. But, given the high cost of this equipment, not everyone can afford to buy it. Let's see how to make a DIY wind turbine and save money on creating your own alternative source of electrical energy.
Wind generator - a source of electricity
Utility tariffs are raised at least once a year. And if you look closely, then in some years the same electricity rises in price twice - the numbers in payment documents grow like mushrooms after rain. Naturally, all this hits the pocket of the consumer, whose income does not show such a steady growth. And real incomes, as statistics show, show a downward trend.
Until quite recently, it was possible to fight against the growth of electricity tariffs in one simple, but illegal way - with the help of a neodymium magnet. This product was applied to the body of the flowmeter, as a result of which it stopped. But we strongly do not recommend using this technique - it is unsafe, illegal, and the fine upon capture will be such that it will not seem small.
The scheme was just great, but subsequently it stopped working for the following reasons:
The frequent control rounds began to massively identify unscrupulous owners.
- Control rounds have become more frequent - representatives of regulatory authorities go from house to house;
- Special stickers began to be pasted on the counters - under the influence of a magnetic field they darken, exposing the intruder;
- The counters have become immune to the magnetic field - electronic accounting units are installed here.
Therefore, people began to pay attention to alternative sources of electricity, such as wind turbines.
Another way to expose the violator who steals electricity is to conduct an examination of the level of magnetization of the meter, which easily reveals the facts of theft.
Windmills for the home are becoming commonplace in areas where winds often blow. The wind power generator uses the energy of wind air currents to generate electricity. To do this, they are equipped with blades that drive the rotors of the generators. The resulting electricity is converted into direct current, after which it is transmitted to consumers or stored in batteries.
Wind generators for a private house, both homemade and factory assembled, can be the main or auxiliary sources of electricity. Here's a typical example of an auxiliary source running - it heats water in a boiler or feeds low-voltage home lights, while the rest of the home appliances are powered by the main power supply. It is also possible to work as the main source of electricity in houses that are not connected to electrical networks. Here they feed:
- Chandeliers and lamps;
- Large household appliances;
- Heating appliances and more.
Accordingly, in order to heat your home, you need to make or purchase a 10 kW wind farm - this should be enough for all needs.
The wind farm can power both traditional electrical appliances and low-voltage ones - they operate on 12 or 24 volts. A 220 V wind generator is carried out according to a scheme using inverter converters with the accumulation of electricity in batteries. Wind generators for 12, 24 or 36 V are simpler - simpler battery charge controllers with stabilizers are used here.
Homemade wind generator for the home and its features
Before we tell you how to make a windmill to generate electricity, let's talk about why you can't use the factory model. Factory wind turbines are indeed more efficient than their homemade counterparts. Everything that can be done in production will be more reliable than what can be done in artisanal conditions. This rule also applies to wind turbines.
Self-manufacturing of a wind generator is beneficial for its low cost. Factory samples with a capacity of 3 kW to 5 kW will cost 150-220 thousand rubles, depending on the manufacturer. Such a high price explains the inaccessibility of store models for most consumers, because it also affects the payback period - in some cases it reaches 10-12 years, although some models "beat off" themselves much earlier.
Factory wind farms for the home are more reliable and less likely to break down. But each breakdown can lead to gigantic costs for spare parts. As for homemade products, they are easy to repair on their own, as they are assembled from improvised materials. This justifies far from the most perfect design.
Yes, it will be very difficult to make a 30 kW wind generator with your own hands, but anyone who knows how to work with tools will be able to assemble a small windmill of low power and provide themselves with the necessary amount of electricity.
Scheme of a homemade wind generator - the main components
Making a homemade wind turbine at home is relatively easy. Below you can see a simple drawing explaining the location of the individual nodes. According to this drawing, we need to make or prepare the following nodes:
Scheme of a homemade windmill.
- Blades - they can be made from a variety of materials;
- Generator for a wind generator - you can buy ready-made or make it yourself;
- Tail section - directs the blades in the direction of the wind, allowing you to achieve maximum efficiency;
- Multiplier - increases the rotation speed of the shaft (rotor) of the generator;
- Mounting mast - all of the above nodes will be held on it;
- Tension cables - hold the entire structure and prevent it from falling from gusts of wind;
- The charge controller, batteries and inverter provide the conversion, stabilization and accumulation of the received electricity.
We will try to make a simple rotary wind generator with you.
Step-by-step instructions for collecting a wind generator
Even a child can make a windmill from plastic bottles. It will spin merrily in the wind, making noise. There is a huge number of various schemes for the construction of such windmills, in which the axis of rotation can be located both vertically and horizontally. Such things do not provide electricity, but they perfectly disperse moles in personal plots, which harm plants and dig their minks everywhere.
A homemade wind generator for the home is somewhat similar to such a bottle windmill. Only in size it is larger, and the design is more serious. But if you attach a small motor to such a windmill, then it can become a source of electricity and even power some electrical thing, for example, an LED - its power is not enough for more. Looking at the diagram of such a “toy”, you can understand how to make a full-fledged wind generator.
Making a generator for a windmill
In order to assemble a wind farm, we need a generator, and with self-excitation. In other words, its design must contain magnets that induce electricity in the windings. This is how some electric motors are arranged, for example, in screwdrivers. But it will not work to make a decent wind generator from a screwdriver - the power will be simply ridiculous, the maximum will be enough to operate a small LED lamp.
It will also not work to make a wind farm from an autogenerator - it uses an excitation winding powered by a battery, so it does not suit us. From a household fan, we can only make a scarecrow for birds attacking the garden. Therefore, you need to look for a normal self-excited generator of suitable power. Better yet, splurge and buy a purchased model.
It is really more profitable to buy a generator than to make it - the efficiency of a factory model will be higher than that of a homemade one.
Let's see how to make a generator for our windmill with our own hands.
Its maximum power is 3-3.5 kW. For this we need:
- Stator - it is made of two pieces of sheet metal, cut in the form of circles with a diameter of 500 mm. 12 neodymium magnets with a diameter of 50 mm are glued to each circle along the edge (slightly departing from the edge). Their poles must alternate. Similarly, we prepare the second circle, but only the poles here should be located with a shift;
- Rotor - it is a design of 9 coils wound with copper wire with a diameter of 3 mm in varnish insulation. We make 70 turns in each coil, although some sources recommend making 90 turns. To place the coils, it is necessary to make a base from a non-magnetic material;
- Axis - it must be done exactly in the center of the rotor. Moreover, there should be no beats, the structure must be carefully centered, otherwise it will be quickly broken by the wind.
We place the stators and the rotor - the rotor itself rotates between the stators. A distance of 2 mm is maintained between these elements. We connect all the windings according to the diagram below, so that we get a single-phase AC source.
We make blades
In this review, we are making a fairly powerful wind generator - its power will be up to 3-3.5 kW in strong winds or up to 1.5 or 2 kW in moderate winds. Moreover, it will turn out to be quite silent, unlike generators on electric motors. Next, you need to think about the location of the blades. You and I decided to make a simple three-blade horizontal wind generator. One could also think about a vertical wind generator, but in this case, the wind energy utilization factor will be lower - an average of 0.3.
If you make a vertical wind generator, then it will have only one advantage - it can work in any direction of the wind.
At home, the easiest way is to make simple blades. For their manufacture, you can use various materials:
- Wood - however, over time it can crack and dry out;
- Polypropylene - this type of plastic is suitable for low-power generators;
- Metal is a reliable and durable material from which blades of any size can be made (duralumin used in aviation is well suited).
A small table will help to estimate the diameter of the blades. Check the approximate wind speed in your local and find out what diameter the blades for the wind generator need to be made.
Making blades for a wind turbine is not so difficult. It is much more difficult to make sure that our entire structure is balanced - otherwise strong gusts of wind will quickly break it. Balancing is done by correcting the length of the blades. After that, we combine the blades with the rotor of our wind generator and install the structure on the mounting site, to which the tail section is attached.
Startup and verification
The most important thing in the future is to choose the right place to install the mast. It must be strictly vertical. The bladed generator is placed as high as possible, where the wind is strongest. Make sure that there are no forest plantations, detached trees, houses and large structures blocking the air flow nearby - if there is any interference, place the wind generator at a distance from them.
As soon as the wind generator starts to move, you need to do the following - connect a multimeter to the generator outlet and check for voltage. Now the system is ready for full operation, it remains only to decide what voltage will be supplied to the house and how it will happen.
Connecting consumers
We have already managed to make a low-noise windmill, and quite powerful. It's time to connect the electronics to it. When assembling wind turbines with your own hands for 220V, you need to take care of purchasing inverter converters. The efficiency of these devices reaches 99%, so the losses in the conversion of the supplied direct current into alternating current with a voltage of 220 volts will be minimal. In total, the system will have three additional nodes:
- Battery pack - accumulates excess generated electricity for future use. These surpluses are used to feed consumers during periods of calm or at times when it blows very weakly;
One of the most affordable renewable energy options is the use of wind energy. For information on how to independently calculate, assemble and install a windmill, read this article.
Classification of wind generators
Installations are classified based on the following wind turbine criteria:
- location of the axis of rotation;
- number of blades;
- element material;
- screw pitch.
Wind turbines, as a rule, have a design with a horizontal and vertical axis of rotation.
Execution with a horizontal axis - a propeller design with one, two, three or more blades. This is the most common version of air power plants due to its high efficiency.
Vertical axis design - orthogonal and carousel designs on the example of Darrieus and Savonius rotors. The last two concepts should be clarified, since both have a certain significance in the design of wind generators.
The Darrieus rotor is an orthogonal design of a wind turbine, where the aerodynamic blades (two or more) are located symmetrically to each other at a certain distance and are mounted on radial beams. A fairly complex version of a wind turbine that requires careful aerodynamic design of the blades.
The Savonius rotor is a carousel-type wind turbine design, where two semi-cylindrical blades are located one against the other, forming a sinusoidal shape as a whole. The efficiency of the structures is low (about 15%), but can be almost doubled if the blades are placed in the direction of the wave not horizontally, but vertically and a multi-tiered version is used with an angular displacement of each pair of blades relative to other pairs.
Advantages and disadvantages of "windmills"
The advantages of these devices are obvious, especially in relation to domestic operating conditions. Users of "windmills" actually get the opportunity to reproduce free electrical energy, except for small costs for construction and maintenance. However, the disadvantages of wind turbines are also obvious.
So, in order to achieve efficient operation of the installation, it is required to fulfill the conditions for the stability of wind flows. Man cannot create such conditions. This is purely the prerogative of nature. Another, but already a technical drawback, is the low quality of the generated electricity, as a result of which it is necessary to supplement the system with expensive electrical modules (multipliers, chargers, batteries, converters, stabilizers).
Advantages and disadvantages in terms of the features of each of the modifications of wind turbines, perhaps, balance at zero. If horizontal-axis modifications are characterized by a high efficiency value, then for stable operation they require the use of wind flow direction controllers and hurricane wind protection devices. Vertical-axis modifications have low efficiency, but work stably without a wind direction tracking mechanism. At the same time, such wind turbines are distinguished by a low level of noise, eliminate the effect of "spreading" in conditions of strong winds, and are quite compact.
Homemade wind generators
Making a "windmill" with your own hands is a completely solvable task. Moreover, a constructive and rational approach to business will help to minimize the inevitable financial expenses. First of all, it is worth sketching out the project, carrying out the necessary calculations of balancing and power. These actions will not only be the key to the successful construction of a wind farm, but also the key to maintaining the integrity of all purchased equipment.
It is recommended to start with the construction of a micro-windmill with a power of several tens of watts. In the future, the experience gained will help create a more powerful design. When creating a home wind generator, you should not focus on obtaining high-quality electricity (220 V, 50 Hz), since this option will require significant financial investments. It is wiser to limit ourselves to using the initially received electricity, which can be successfully used without conversion for other purposes, for example, to support heating and hot water systems built on electric heaters (heaters) - such devices do not require a stable voltage and frequency. This makes it possible to create a simple circuit that runs directly from the generator.
Most likely, no one will argue that heating and hot water supply in the house are inferior in importance to household appliances and lighting fixtures, for which power is often sought to install home windmills. The device of a wind turbine specifically for the purpose of providing the house with heat and hot water is the minimum cost and simplicity of design.
Generalized project of a home wind turbine
Structurally, a home project largely repeats an industrial installation. True, household solutions are often based on vertical-axis wind turbines and are equipped with low-voltage DC generators. The composition of household wind turbine modules, subject to the receipt of high-quality electricity (220 V, 50 Hz):
- wind turbine;
- wind orientation device;
- multiplier;
- DC generator (12 V, 24 V);
- battery charge module;
- rechargeable batteries (lithium-ion, lithium-polymer, lead-acid);
- DC voltage converter 12 V (24 V) to AC voltage 220 V.
Wind turbine PIC 8-6/2.5
How it works? Just. The wind turns the windmill. The torque is transmitted through the multiplier to the shaft of the DC generator. The energy received at the output of the generator through the charging module is accumulated in the batteries. From the battery terminals, a constant voltage of 12 V (24 V, 48 V) is supplied to the converter, where it is transformed into a voltage suitable for powering household electrical networks.
About generators for home "windmills"
Most residential wind turbine designs are typically constructed using low-speed DC motors. This is the simplest version of the generator that does not require modernization. Optimally - electric motors with permanent magnets, designed for a supply voltage of the order of 60-100 volts. There is a practice of using car generators, but for such a case, the introduction of a multiplier is required, since autogenerators produce the required voltage only at high (1800-2500) revolutions. One of the possible options is the reconstruction of an AC induction motor, but it is also quite complicated, requiring accurate calculations, turning, and installing neodymium magnets in the rotor area. There is an option for a three-phase asynchronous motor with the connection of capacitors of the same capacity between the phases. Finally, there is the possibility of making a generator from scratch with your own hands. There are a lot of instructions for this.
Vertical-axis homemade "windmill"
A fairly efficient and, most importantly, inexpensive wind generator can be built on the basis of the Savonius rotor. Here, as an example, a micro-power plant is considered, the power of which does not exceed 20 W. However, this device is quite sufficient, for example, to provide electrical energy to some household appliances operating on a voltage of 12 volts.
Parts set:
- Aluminum sheet 1.5-2 mm thick.
- Plastic pipe: diameter 125 mm, length 3000 mm.
- Aluminum pipe: diameter 32 mm, length 500 mm.
- DC motor (potential generator), 30-60V, 360-450 rpm, for example, PIK8-6/2.5 electric motor.
- Voltage controller.
- Battery.
Making a Savonius rotor
Three "pancakes" with a diameter of 285 mm are cut out of an aluminum sheet. Holes are drilled in the center of each for a 32 mm aluminum pipe. It turns out something similar to CDs. Two pieces 150 mm long are cut from the plastic pipe and cut in half lengthwise. The result is four semicircular blades 125x150 mm. All three aluminum "CDs" are put on a 32 mm pipe and fixed at a distance of 320, 170, 20 mm from the top point strictly horizontally, forming two tiers. Blades are inserted between the discs, two per tier and fixed strictly one against the other, forming a sinusoid. In this case, the blades of the upper tier are displaced relative to the blades of the lower tier by an angle of 90 degrees. The result is a four-bladed Savonius rotor. For fastening elements, you can use rivets, self-tapping screws, corners, or use other methods.
Connecting to the engine and mounting on the mast
The shaft of DC motors with the above parameters usually has a diameter of no more than 10-12 mm. In order to connect the motor shaft to the wind turbine pipe, a brass bushing is pressed into the lower part of the pipe, having the required inner diameter. A hole is drilled through the wall of the pipe and the sleeve, a thread is cut to screw in the locking screw. Next, the wind turbine pipe is put on the generator shaft, after which the connection is rigidly fixed with a locking screw.
The rest of the plastic pipe (2800 mm) is the mast of the wind turbine. The generator assembly with the Savonius wheel is mounted at the top of the mast - it is simply inserted into the pipe until it stops. As a stop, a metal disk cover is used, fixed on the front end of the motor, having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the mast. Holes are drilled on the periphery of the lid for attaching braces. Since the diameter of the motor housing is smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe, gaskets or stops are used to align the generator in the center. The cable from the generator is passed inside the pipe and out through the window at the bottom. During installation, it is necessary to take into account the design of the generator protection against moisture, using sealing gaskets for this. Again, in order to protect against precipitation, an umbrella cap can be installed above the connection of the wind turbine pipe with the generator shaft.
Installation of the entire structure is carried out in an open, well-ventilated area. A hole 0.5 meters deep is dug under the mast, the lower part of the pipe is lowered into the hole, the structure is leveled with stretch marks, after which the hole is filled with concrete.
Voltage controller (simple charger)
A manufactured wind generator, as a rule, is not capable of delivering a voltage of 12 volts due to the low speed. The maximum frequency of rotation of the wind turbine at a wind speed of 6-8 m / s. reaches a value of 200-250 rpm. At the output, it is possible to obtain a voltage of the order of 5-7 volts. To charge the battery, a voltage of 13.5-15 volts is required. The way out is to use a simple switching voltage converter, assembled, for example, based on the LM2577ADJ voltage regulator. By applying 5 volts DC to the input of the converter, 12-15 volts are obtained at the output, which is quite enough to charge a car battery.
Ready voltage converter on LM2577
This micro-wind generator can certainly be improved. Increase the power of the turbine, change the material and height of the mast, add a DC-to-AC mains voltage converter, etc.
Horizontal-axial wind power plant
Parts set:
- A plastic pipe with a diameter of 150 mm, an aluminum sheet 1.5-2.5 mm thick, a wooden block 80x40 1 m long, plumbing: flange - 3, corner - 2, tee - 1.
- DC motor (generator) 30-60 V, 300-470 rpm.
- Wheel-pulley for an engine with a diameter of 130-150 mm (aluminum, brass, textolite, etc.).
- Steel pipes with a diameter of 25 mm and 32 mm and a length of 35 mm and 3000 mm, respectively.
- Charging module for batteries.
- Batteries.
- Voltage converter 12 V - 120 V (220 V).
Production of a horizontal-axial "windmill"
Plastic pipe is necessary for the manufacture of wind turbine blades. A segment of such a pipe, 600 mm long, is cut lengthwise into four identical segments. The windmill requires three blades, which are made from the resulting segments by cutting off part of the material diagonally for the entire length, but not exactly from corner to corner, but from the lower corner to the upper corner, with a slight indent from the latter. The processing of the lower part of the segments is reduced to the formation of a fastening petal on each of the three segments. To do this, a square about 50x50 mm in size is cut along one edge, and the remaining part serves as a mounting petal.
The blades of the wind turbine are fixed on the wheel-pulley with the help of bolted connections. The pulley is mounted directly on the shaft of the DC motor - generator. A simple wooden block with a section of 80x40 mm and a length of 1 m is used as the chassis of the wind turbine. The generator is installed at one end of the wooden block. At the other end of the bar, a "tail" is mounted, made of aluminum sheet. At the bottom of the bar, a 25 mm metal pipe is attached, designed to act as the shaft of the rotary mechanism. A three-meter metal pipe 32 mm is used as a mast. The upper part of the mast is a swivel sleeve where the wind turbine pipe is inserted. The mast support is made from a sheet of thick plywood. On this support, in the form of a disk with a diameter of 600 mm, a construction of sanitary parts is assembled, thanks to which the mast can be easily raised or lowered, or mounted or dismantled. Stretch marks are used to fasten the mast.
All electronics of the wind turbine is mounted as a separate module, the interface of which provides for the connection of batteries and consumer loads. The module includes a battery charge controller and a voltage converter. Such devices can be assembled independently with the appropriate experience, or purchased on the market. There are many different solutions on the market that allow you to get the desired output values \u200b\u200bof voltages and currents.
Combined wind turbines
Combined wind turbines are a serious option for a home energy module. Actually, the combination involves combining in a single system a wind generator, a solar battery, a diesel or gasoline power plant. You can combine in every possible way, based on the possibilities and needs. Naturally, when there is a three-in-one option, this is the most effective and reliable solution.
Also, under the combination of wind turbines, it is supposed to create wind power plants that have two different modifications at once. For example, when a Savonius rotor and a traditional three-blade machine work in the same bundle. The first turbine operates at low wind flow speeds, and the second only at nominal ones. Thus, the efficiency of the installation is maintained, unjustified energy losses are excluded, and in the case of asynchronous generators, reactive currents are compensated.
Combined systems are technically complex and costly options for home practice.
Calculation of the power of a wind farm
To calculate the power of a horizontal-axis wind generator, you can use the standard formula:
- N = p S V3 / 2
- N— installation power, W
- p- air density (1.2 kg / m 3)
- S- blown area, m 2
- V— wind flow speed, m/s
For example, the power of an installation with a maximum blade span of 1 meter, with a wind speed of 7 m / s, will be:
- N\u003d 1.2 1 343 / 2 \u003d 205.8 W
An approximate calculation of the power of a wind turbine created on the basis of the Savonius rotor can be calculated using the formula:
- N = p R H V3
- N— installation power, W
- R— impeller radius, m
- V— wind speed, m/s
For example, for the design of a wind power plant with a Savonius rotor mentioned in the text, the power value at a wind speed of 7 m / s. will be:
- N= 1.2 0.142 0.3 343 = 17.5 W