The issue of wind energy in our innovative time is of interest to many. Those who have visited European countries at least once in their cars have probably seen huge wind farms.
Hundreds of generators meet 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 did it happen?
This is exactly about this, when, where and how it is profitable to use wind turbines, 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 in your area. Thus, having provided, if not all, then most of their needs for electricity.
Some are even considering becoming grid-independent in this way. How realistic and possible is this? Unfortunately, for 90% of private home owners, these dreams will remain dreams.
And so that you do not waste your money, we will tell you, with 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 5-7 meters per second. The data is taken on average for the year. In the overwhelming majority of latitudes suitable for habitation, this very speed is equal to a maximum of 2-4 m / s. 
This means that your wind turbine will not work most of the time. For a stable generation of electricity, 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 2m / s, then even by 5%.
In fact, in an hour, a 2kW generator will give you no more than 100W.
You will also face another wind problem that manufacturers are silent about. Near the ground, its speed is much lower than above, where industrial installations with a height of 25-30 m are placed. 
You will mount your unit at a maximum of ten meters. Therefore, do not even be guided by the wind tables from different sites. This data is not suitable for you.
Manufacturers are modestly silent that for their maps of wind resources, measurements are made at an altitude of 50 to 70 meters! In addition, the 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. Friction electrified blades, delicious bait for discharges! 
In addition, for some reason everyone worries only 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 power generation on wind pressure is disproportionate.
So, when the wind pressure doubles, the generated power increases eightfold!
In addition, there is a certain slyness in the specified technical characteristics of the generators.
Of course, you can believe them, but only for ideal conditions. Because:
- and in laminar flow with constant direction and increased density
At your summer cottage, the wind speed may be such that it will not work to turn the shaft, let alone generate energy. 
And this is in the spring or autumn. It is during this period that the most active movements of air masses occur. 
Do not forget that the wind turbine does not work in the idling mode of the turntable, but must spin the rotor of the generator 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 we use low-speed structures with a vertical axis of rotation, then there is already a step-up gearbox. Have you tried to spin the boost gear? This design becomes more complicated, increasing weight, windage, cost. 
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, the answer is simple - there are fewer problems!
Batteries for wind turbines
Large industrial wind turbines can transfer power directly to the grid, bypassing any batteries. 
But you cannot do without them. Neither the TV nor the refrigerator will work without a battery. Even the lighting will shine in fits and starts, depending on the gusts of wind. 
At the same time, for 12-15 years of generator operation, 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 be reduced. Just going to the store for new batteries will be carried out not 4 times, but already 8 times.
Where is the best place to install
Another thing worth seriously considering 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 walk freely along the blades, and reach them without hindrance from all directions. It turns out that you have to live either in the steppe or near the sea (better directly on its shore).
The ideal location would be at the top of the hill. Where aerodynamically, the air flow is compacted with a corresponding increase in wind speed and pressure. 
Forget about the neighbors nearby. Their gardens and two-three-story mansions will “drink your blood” well, every time blocking the favorable breeze. As well as neighboring forest plantations. 
The same industrial windmills are not placed directly behind each 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. Don't be fooled by the sellers' prices in the price lists. They never show the real cost of all the necessary equipment.
Therefore, always multiply the prices by 2, even when choosing the so-called ready-made kits. 
But that's not all. Don't forget about operating costs, which can be up to 70% of the cost of wind turbines. Try to repair the generator at a height, or each time dismantle and disassemble-assemble the mast. 
Also, do not forget to periodically replace the battery. Therefore, do not expect that a wind turbine can cost you $ 1 for 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 calculation of savings
The fifth reason is inextricably linked with the first four. This is the payback period.
For your customized wind turbine, this period is NEVER.
The cost of a windmill, a mast and additional equipment for 2 kilowatt high-quality models will reach an average of 200 thousand rubles. The productivity of such installations is from 100 to 200 kW per month, no more. And this is in good weather conditions. 
Even precipitation reduces the power of the wind turbines. Rain by 20%, snow by 30%.
So all your savings turns out - that's 500 rubles. For 12 months of continuous work, a little more will come up - 6 thousand.
But if you remember the initial expenses of 200 thousand, then you will return them in thirty-two years!
And all this without taking into account operating costs. And if we estimate that the average service 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. Maximum by 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 from this. 
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, a wind generator will one day 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 make approximate calculations and find out the prospect of reaching the payback of the windmill, 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, it turns out 20 thousand per year. Moreover, in fact, this year the unit will give you a maximum of 900 kW. Due to coeff. installed capacity (it does not exceed five percent for small wind turbines), in a month you wind up 75 kW. 
Even if we take 1000 kW per year for simplicity of calculations, the cost of 1 kW / h received from a wind turbine 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, those who live far from substations and 0.4 kV overhead lines should purchase the most powerful models of wind turbines 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 wind turbines from self-taught masters. This also has its benefits. 
For the most part, the inventors of such devices are competent and responsible guys. And in almost 100% of cases, they can return the installation without any problems if something went wrong, or it needs to be repaired. This will certainly not be a problem. 
Industrial Chinese windmills, of course, look prettier. And if you nevertheless decide to buy it, immediately after checking with an electric drill, make preventive repairs and replace the Chinese scrap metal with bearings with high-quality lubrication. 
If there are large nesting sites of birds nearby, it would not hurt to purchase an additional set of blades.
Chicks sometimes fall under the spinning "mini mill" distribution. Plastic blades break, and metal blades bend. 
And I would like to end with wisdom from those users who did not obey all the arguments and are closely faced with all the above problems. Remember, the most expensive weather vane for a home is a wind generator!
If you have an old computer cooler at home, you can build an excellent wind turbine that will generate electricity. A mini wind turbine is a great thing, especially for areas with frequent and strong winds. We will learn more 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 start 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;
- a wooden beam, the section and dimensions of which are determined individually;
- two steel pipes that go one into one;
- diodes;
- epoxy glue and super glue;
- tie fasteners;
- old CD disk.
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 removing the O-ring, remove the fan blades.
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.
The next step in creating a small wind turbine is the creation of a rectifier. The main function of this device is to convert AC to DC. For these purposes, four diodes will be required, 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 to form a U-shaped connection. All diodes are connected by soldering. To test the wind generator, connect diodes to it, if the LED is working, then the wind generator is functioning correctly. The outer plastic part of the cooler is removed, use a knife to handle any irregularities.
This is followed by the process of making a 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 lengthwise. Pre-make a drawing in the form of blades, according to it, cut out blades for a wind generator from a bottle. Note that the end of the blades should 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 stage is the manufacture of the windmill shank. A bar made of wood is used to fix the motor. Its rotation is carried out using steel tubes. Use an unnecessary disc to make the shank. The wooden block is equipped with a through hole, its diameter should be slightly larger than the diameter of the steel pipe. If the tubing is loose, fix it with epoxy glue. At the end of the bar, a cut is made for mounting the disc. 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 covered with glue to prevent corrosion.
This is followed by the process in which the support is made. Use two pipes to build it. One of them is fixed on a wooden block, and the second is set in relation to the rotation. You can use bearings to connect them, and use fluoroplastic to improve sliding.
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 has an average performance and works even in 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 for the blade retainers. It must be drilled in relation to the size of the shaft to be installed. Further, all parts are fixed with an epoxy-based adhesive. In addition, with the help of this composition, the especially 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 optimum part width is 90 mm, the holes are made with a special device, and then the shaft is mounted on the generator motor using screw connections.
A pipe with a diameter of 55 mm is used as a basis for the manufacture of a wind turbine. Use plywood to make the tail. The motor is installed inside the pipe, then the construction of the rectifier is carried out. Since the motor does not generate a lot of electricity in a light wind. Thus, it is possible to apply the doubling scheme, which is included in series.
The circuit is installed in a plastic bag and installed inside the pipe along with a 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 other to evaporate condensate masses.
A bolt and wire is used to secure the tail of the wind generator. Thus, it will be possible to securely fix the installation. Observe the rigidity of the joints obtained.
In order to build a mast for installing a windmill, use the beams connected to each other with self-tapping screws. Fix the wind turbine on the mast and install it in the previously designated 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 decide on the amount of winds in your climatic region. Gray-green - windless zones imply the use of exclusively sail-type wind generators. If it is necessary to provide a constant current, a device in the form of a booster is added to them. This device acts as 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 slow-speed wind generator. These devices have good performance.
Any wind turbine is suitable for windy regions. Most often, vertical-type devices are used - blades or sailboats.
In order to perform calculations to determine the power of a wind farm, 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 propose to consider the features of sailing wind turbines. These devices are made of wear-resistant material that withstands winds very well. If you decide to make such an installation yourself, then you must first of all carry out a number 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 plant and its performance.
It is quite simple to make a homemade axial-type wind generator at home. Work should start from the mast. For its manufacture, pipes are most often used, they should be different in diameter. A welding machine is used to connect the pipes together. The mast is installed on a concreted area. At the same time, several meters of it go deep into the ground to obtain a stable structure. Two magnets must be glued to individual parts of the installation, for a more durable fixation, they are additionally poured using epoxy resin.
This is followed by the process of making molds and plywood. For these purposes, phase-connected coils 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 are pre-cut for mounting the stator. This is followed by the process of installing a glass cloth mug and installing the coils.
After that, the finished stator is removed from the previously prepared form. A duralumin pipe is used for the manufacture of the screw. The screw is manufactured with a diameter of one meter. Use an electric jigsaw to cut the blades. In the central part of the unit, equip a hole with which the screw will be fixed on the generator.
The wind generator has a tail element offset with respect to the axis. With strong gusts of wind, pressure on the surface of the wind generator occurs and it shifts to the side. This scheme allows you to protect the device from strong winds. This model of wind turbine allows you to generate enough energy to provide street lighting at home. It is not difficult to make a wind generator, the main condition for obtaining a high-quality device is to compare the wind strength in your region with its power.
DIY mini wind generator manufacturing technology
For a wind generator of manufacture, a minimum supply of tools and materials is required. We offer the option of constructing a mini wind generator for a summer residence. 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 of all need a disk on which the magnets are installed. This is followed by the process of winding copper coils, which are cast with resin. For rotation, the generator is installed on the previously provided base.
These wind turbines are distinguished by good performance and quality work. The ratio of the magnet to the poles is two to three, if the wind generator has two phases, for a single-phase device, a ratio of one to three is sufficient. All poles are related to each other depending on the used coil options.
The power of a wind generator is primarily determined by the size of the magnets used in its construction. It is enough to use a steel pipe or log as a mast for the generator. It is not necessary to use new batteries; any devices of suitable power will do.
It is possible to manufacture several wind generators at once, while each of them will perform certain functions - one provides the dwelling 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 urgent are the search and use of fuel-free energy sources.
Renewable, ecological, green
Perhaps it is not worth reminding that everything new is well forgotten old. People learned to use the force of the flow of the river and the speed of the wind to obtain mechanical energy a long time ago. The sun heats our water and propels cars, powers spacecraft. 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 neighboring villages.
At the moment, we are interested in a simple question: how to provide our home with cheap light and heat, how to make a windmill with our 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 kW / 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 solar panel system, you can solve this problem);
- energy-efficient buildings that generate more electricity than they need receive money by giving it through the grid to other consumers.
It turns out that their own, home mini-stations, installed on roofs and in yards, can eventually form a kind of competition with large current suppliers. And the governments of different countries in every possible way encourage the creation and active use of
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 methods of obtaining energy from renewable sources, wind turbines have a special place, since their manufacture is easier 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.
Experts argue that a structure not only 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 the area is periodically calm, calm and windless days, the device of a mast with a generator will not bring any benefit.
Before you start making a wind turbine with your own hands (5 kW), you need to think over its model and appearance. Do not expect a large energy output from a weak design. And vice versa, when you need to power only a couple of light bulbs in the country, there is no point in building a huge wind turbine with your own hands. 5 kW - power sufficient to provide electricity for almost the entire lighting system and household appliances. There will be a 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 is fed through the wires to the desired room. It is believed that the higher the mast structure, 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 so:
- 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 is easy to start and performs well even in very low wind speeds.
The main types of wind turbines
Structures with a horizontal placement of the rotor axis of rotation are considered classic. They usually have 2-3 blades and are mounted high above the ground. The greatest efficiency of such an installation is manifested with a constant direction and its speed of 10 m / s. A significant drawback of this blade design is the failure of the rotation of the blades with frequently changing, gusty This leads either to unproductive work, or to the destruction of the entire installation. To start such a generator after stopping, a forced initial spinning of the blades is required. In addition, with active rotation of the blades, they emit specific sounds that are unpleasant to the human ear.
Vertical wind generator ("Volchok" 5 kW or other) has a different rotor placement. H-shaped or barrel-shaped turbines capture wind from any direction. These structures are smaller, run even with 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, the rated power of the wind turbines, assembled by their own hands (5 kW is real), reach with a wind of 3-4 m / s.
Sails are not on ships, but on land
One of the popular directions in wind power now 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 wind turbines (5 kW, sail type) have 4-6 triangular fabric blades. Moreover, in contrast to 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 hurricane air flow.
The advantages of sailboats include the following indicators:
- high power with slow rotation;
- self-orientation and adjustment for any wind;
- high weathering and low inertia;
- no need for forced unwinding of the wheel;
- completely silent rotation even at high speeds;
- absence of vibrations and sound disturbances;
- the relative cheapness of the design.
DIY windmills
5 kW of required electricity can be obtained in several ways:
- build the simplest rotary structure;
- to assemble a complex of several sailing wheels sequentially located on the same axle;
- use axial design 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 turbine? The instruction is further.
You can take a car hub and brake discs as a basis. 32 magnets (25 by 8 mm) are placed in parallel in a circle on the future discs of the rotor (the moving part of the generator) on each disc, 16 pieces, moreover, the pros always alternate with the minuses. Opposite magnets must have different pole values. After marking and placing, everything on the circle is poured with epoxy.
Copper wire coils are placed on the stator. Their number should be less than the number of magnets, that is, 12. Previously, all the wires are brought out and connected to each other by a star or triangle, then they are also poured with epoxy glue. It is recommended to insert pieces of plasticine into the coils before pouring. After the resin has hardened and removed, there will be holes 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 arises 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 begin to build their own power plant by assembling a generator. Others - with the creation of a vane rotating part.
The shaft from the windmill is engaged with a sliding joint with one of the rotor discs. The lower, second disc with magnets is placed on the strong bearing. The stator is located in the middle. All parts are attached to the plywood circle with long bolts and secured with nuts. Minimum clearances for free rotation of the rotor discs must be left between all the "pancakes". The result is a 3-phase generator.
"Barrel"
It remains to make wind turbines. 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 the plywood with bolts and corners. Preliminarily, in each plane of the circle, guide grooves in the form of a wave are hollowed out, into which the sheets are inserted. The resulting double-deck rotor has 4 wavy blades attached to each other at right angles. That is, between each two plywood pancakes fastened with hubs, there are 2 duralumin blades curved in the form of a wave.
This design is mounted centrally on a steel pin, which will transmit torque to the generator. Self-made windmills (5 kW) of this design weigh about 16-18 kg with a height of 160-170 cm and a base diameter of 80-90 cm.
What to consider
The wind turbine-"barrel" can be installed even on the roof of the building, although a tower 3-4 meters high is enough. However, it is imperative to protect the generator case from natural precipitation. It is also recommended to install a battery energy storage device.
To obtain a 3-phase AC current from a constant, it is necessary to include a converter in the circuit.
With a sufficient number of windy days in the region, a wind turbine assembled with its own hands (5 kW) can provide electricity not only to a TV and light bulbs, but also to a video surveillance system, an air conditioner, a refrigerator and other electrical equipment.
Wind power generators continue to gain in popularity. They are most often interested in people living in rural areas and having the opportunity to install such impressive structures on their sites. But, given the high cost of this equipment, not everyone can afford to buy it. Let's see how to make a wind generator with your own hands and save money on creating your own alternative source of electrical energy.
Wind generator - a source of electricity
Utility rates are raised at least once a year. And if you look closely, 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 incomes do not show such steady growth. And real incomes, as statistics show, show a downward trend.
Not so long ago, it was possible to deal with the rise in electricity tariffs in one simple but illegal way - with the help of a neodymium magnet. This product was applied to the body of the flow meter, 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 like little.
The circuit was just great, but later it stopped working for the following reasons:
More frequent control rounds began to massively identify unscrupulous owners.
- Control rounds have become more frequent - representatives of regulatory bodies go to their homes;
- Special stickers began to be glued to the counters - under the influence of a magnetic field, they darken, exposing the offender;
- The meters have become immune to the magnetic field - electronic metering units are installed here.
Therefore, people began to pay attention to alternative sources of electricity, for example, wind generators.
Another way to expose an intruder stealing electricity is to conduct an examination of the level of magnetization of the meter, which easily reveals the facts of theft.
Indoor windmills are becoming common in areas where winds often blow. A wind power generator uses the energy of wind streams of air to generate electricity. To do this, they are equipped with blades that drive the rotors of the generators. The received electricity is converted into direct current, after which it is transmitted to consumers or stored in batteries.
Wind turbines for a private house, both self-made and factory-assembled, can be the main or auxiliary sources of electricity. Here is a typical example of an auxiliary source working - it heats water in a boiler or powers low-voltage household lamps, while the rest of the household appliances operates on the main power grid. It is also possible to work as the main source of electricity in houses that are not connected to power grids. Here they feed:
- Chandeliers and lamps;
- Large household appliances;
- Heating devices and much 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 from 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 home and its features
Before we tell you how to make a wind turbine to generate electricity, let's talk about why you can't use a factory model. Factory wind turbines are indeed more efficient than their home-made 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-made wind turbine is advantageous 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 home are more reliable and less likely to break down. But every breakdown can lead to huge costs for spare parts. As for homemade products, they are easy to repair yourself, since they are assembled from scrap 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 can assemble a small wind turbine of low power and provide himself with the necessary amount of electricity.
Diagram of a homemade wind generator - the main nodes
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:
Diagram of a homemade windmill.
- Blades - they can be made from a wide variety of materials;
- A generator for a wind generator - you can buy ready-made or make it yourself;
- Tail - guides the blades in the direction of the wind, allowing you to achieve maximum efficiency;
- Multiplier - increases the rotational speed of the generator shaft (rotor);
- Lashing mast - all of the above nodes will be held on it;
- Tension ropes - hold the entire structure and prevent it from falling from gusts of wind;
- Charge controller, batteries and inverter - provide 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 assembling a wind generator
Even a child can make a windmill from plastic bottles. It will rotate merrily under the breeze, making noise. There are a huge number of all kinds of schemes for the construction of such wind turbines, in which the axis of rotation can be located both vertically and horizontally. Such things do not give electricity, but they perfectly disperse moles in personal plots, which harm plants and dig their burrows everywhere.
A homemade wind generator for the house is somewhat similar to such a bottle wind turbine. It is only larger in size, and more serious in design. 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 - it will not have enough power 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, magnets must be present in its design, inducing 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, there will be enough maximum for the operation of a small LED lamp.
It will also not work to make a wind farm from an autogenerator - an excitation winding powered by a battery is used here, so it does not suit us. From a household fan, we will only be able to make a scarecrow for the birds attacking the garden. Therefore, you need to look for a normal self-excited generator of suitable power. Better yet, spend money and purchase a purchased model.
The generator is really more profitable to buy than to make - the efficiency of the factory sample 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 from 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 stepping back from the edge). Their poles should alternate. In the same way, we prepare the second circle, but only the poles should be located here with a shift;
- Rotor - it is a structure of 9 coils wound with copper wire with a diameter of 3 mm in varnish insulation. We make 70 turns in each coil, although in some sources it is recommended to make 90 turns. To place the coils, it is necessary to make a base from a non-magnetic material;
- Axle - it must be made exactly in the center of the rotor. Moreover, there should be no beats, the structure must be carefully centered, otherwise it will be quickly smashed 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 rather 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 medium 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. We are planning to make a simple three-blade horizontal wind turbine. One could think about a vertical wind generator, but in this case the coefficient of wind energy use will be lower - on average 0.3.
If you make a vertical wind generator, then it will have only one advantage - it can work in any wind direction.
At home, the easiest way is to make simple blades. Various materials can be used to make them:
- The tree is true, 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 works well).
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 you need to make the blades for the wind generator.
Making blades for a wind generator is not so difficult. It is much more difficult to make our whole structure 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 assembly site, to which the tail section is attached.
Launch and check
The most important thing in the future is to choose the right place to install the mast. It should be placed strictly vertically. The blade generator is placed as high as possible where the wind is stronger. Make sure that there are no forest plantations, detached trees, houses and large structures blocking the air flow nearby - if there are any obstacles, place the wind generator at a distance from them.
As soon as the wind generator starts to move, it is necessary to do the following - connect a multimeter to the generator outlet and check the presence of voltage. Now the system is ready for full-fledged operation, it remains only to decide what voltage will be supplied to the house and how this will happen.
Connecting consumers
We have already managed to make a low-noise windmill, and quite powerful. It's time to connect electronics to it. When assembling wind generators 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 on converting 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 surplus generated electricity for future use. This surplus is used to feed consumers during periods of calm or when it blows very weakly;
One of the most affordable options for using renewable energy sources is the use of wind energy. Read about how to independently make a calculation, assemble and install a wind turbine in this article.
Wind turbine classification
Installations are classified based on the following wind turbine criteria:
- the location of the axis of rotation;
- number of blades;
- material of elements;
- screw pitch.
Wind turbines, as a rule, have a design with a horizontal and vertical axis of rotation.
Horizontal axis design - propeller design with one, two, three or more blades. This is the most common version of air power plants due to its high efficiency.
Execution with a vertical axis - orthogonal and carousel structures on the example of Darrieus and Savonius rotors. The last two concepts should be clarified, since both have a certain value in the design of wind generators.
Darrieus rotor is an orthogonal design of a wind turbine, where aerodynamic blades (two or more) are located symmetrically to each other at a certain distance and are fixed on radial beams. A rather complex version of the wind turbine, requiring careful aerodynamic execution 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 it can be almost doubled if the blades are placed in the direction of the wave not horizontally, but vertically and use a multi-tiered design with an angular displacement of each pair of blades relative to other pairs.
Advantages and disadvantages of "wind turbines"
The advantages of these devices are obvious, especially when applied to domestic conditions. Users of "wind turbines" actually get the opportunity to reproduce free electricity, apart from the small costs of construction and maintenance. However, the disadvantages of wind turbines are also obvious.
So, in order to achieve the efficient operation of the installation, the conditions for the stability of wind flows must be met. A person cannot create such conditions. This is purely the prerogative of nature. Another, but already 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).
The advantages and disadvantages in terms of the features of each of the modifications of wind turbines, perhaps, balance at zero. If horizontal-axial modifications have a high efficiency value, then for stable operation they require the use of wind flow direction controllers and hurricane wind protection devices. Vertical-axial modifications have low efficiency, but they work stably without a mechanism for tracking the direction of the wind. At the same time, such wind turbines are distinguished by a low noise level, exclude the effect of "runaway" 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 a project, carrying out the necessary balancing and power calculations. These actions will not only ensure the successful construction of the wind farm, but also ensure that all purchased equipment remains intact.
It is recommended to start with the construction of a micro-windmill with a capacity of several tens of watts. In the future, the experience gained will help create a more powerful structure. 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 the use of the initially obtained electricity, which can be successfully used without conversion for other purposes, for example, to support heating and hot water supply systems built on electric heaters (TEN) - such devices do not require a stable voltage and frequency. This makes it possible to create a simple circuit that operates directly from the generator.
Most likely, no one will argue that heating and hot water supply in a house is inferior in importance to household appliances and lighting devices, for which power is often sought to install home wind turbines. The device of a wind turbine is precisely for the purpose of providing the house with heat and hot water - this is the minimum cost and simplicity of design.
Generalized project of a home wind turbine
Structurally, a home project is in many ways similar to an industrial installation. True, household solutions are often based on vertical-axial wind turbines and are equipped with low-voltage DC generators. The composition of the modules of a household wind turbine, provided that high-quality electricity is obtained (220 V, 50 Hz):
- wind turbine;
- wind orientation device;
- multiplier;
- DC generator (12V, 24V);
- battery charging module;
- rechargeable batteries (lithium-ion, lithium-polymer, lead-acid);
- converter of DC voltage 12 V (24 V) to AC voltage 220 V.
Wind generator PIC 8-6 / 2.5
How it works? Just. The wind turns the wind turbine. The torque is transmitted through a multiplier to the DC generator shaft. The energy received at the generator output is accumulated in the batteries through the charging module. From the terminals of the storage batteries, 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 "wind turbines"
Most of the household structures of wind turbines, as a rule, are designed 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 automobile generators, but for such a case, the introduction of a multiplier is required, since autogenerators produce the required voltage only at high (1800-2500) rpm. One of the possible options is the reconstruction of an asynchronous AC motor, but it is also quite complicated, requiring accurate calculations, turning work, 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 on this matter.
Vertical-axis homemade "windmill"
A fairly efficient and most importantly inexpensive wind generator can be built on the basis of the Savonius rotor. Here, a micro-power plant is considered as an example, the power of which does not exceed 20 watts. However, this device is quite sufficient, for example, to provide electrical energy to some household appliances operating from a voltage of 12 volts.
Set of parts:
- 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, electric motor model PIK8-6 / 2.5.
- Voltage controller.
- Battery.
Making the Savonius rotor
Three "pancakes" with a diameter of 285 mm are cut from the aluminum sheet. In the center of each, holes are drilled for a 32 mm aluminum pipe. It turns out something like CDs. Two pieces of 150 mm in length are cut from the plastic pipe and cut in half lengthwise. The result is four semicircular blades 125x150 mm. All three aluminum "compact discs" 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 pieces per tier and fixed strictly against one another, 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 the elements, you can use rivets, screws, corners or apply other methods.
Motor connection and mast mounting
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 tube, a brass bushing with the required inner diameter is pressed into the lower part of the tube. A hole is drilled through the wall of the pipe and sleeve, and 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 set 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 disc 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 cover for fastening the guy wires. Since the diameter of the electric motor housing is less than the inner diameter of the pipe, spacers or stops are used to align the generator in the center. The cable from the generator is passed inside the pipe and out through a window at the bottom. When installing, it is necessary to take into account the design of the generator protection against moisture, using sealing gaskets. 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 guy ropes, 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 its low speed. The maximum rotational speed 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 pulse voltage converter, assembled, for example, on the basis of the LM2577ADJ voltage regulator. By supplying 5 volts of direct current 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 for LM2577
This micro-wind generator can certainly be improved. Increase turbine power, change mast material and height, add DC-to-AC converter, etc.
Horizontal-axial windy electrical installation
Set of parts:
- Plastic pipe with a diameter of 150 mm, aluminum sheet 1.5-2.5 mm thick, 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.
- Battery charging module.
- Batteries.
- Voltage converter 12 V - 120 V (220 V).
Manufacturing of a horizontal-axis "wind turbine"
A plastic pipe is required for the manufacture of wind turbine blades. A piece of such a pipe, 600 mm long, is cut lengthwise into four identical segments. For a windmill, three blades are required, which are made from the resulting segments by cutting part of the material diagonally along the entire length, but not exactly from corner to corner, but from the lower corner to the upper corner, with a slight offset 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 of approximately 50x50 mm is cut along one edge, and the remaining part serves as a fastening petal.
The blades of the wind turbine are fixed to the wheel-pulley using 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 a sheet of aluminum. In the lower part of the bar, a 25 mm metal pipe is attached, designed to play the role of a rotary shaft. A three-meter metal pipe 32 mm is used as a mast. The top of the mast is the slewing bushing where the wind turbine tube is inserted. The mast support is made from a sheet of thick plywood. On this support, in the form of a disc with a diameter of 600 mm, a structure is assembled from plumbing parts, thanks to which the mast can be easily raised or lowered, or mounted - dismantled. Stretch braces are used to secure the mast.
All electronics of the wind turbine are mounted in a separate module, the interface of which provides for the connection of batteries and consumer load. The module includes a battery charge controller and a voltage converter. Such devices can be assembled independently with relevant experience, or purchased on the market. Many different solutions are available on the market to obtain the desired output voltages and currents.
Combined wind turbines
Combined wind turbines are a serious option for a home energy module. Actually, the combination involves combining a wind generator, solar battery, diesel or gasoline power plant in a single system. You can combine in every way, based on your capabilities 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 planned to create wind power plants, which include two different modifications at once. For example, when a Savonius rotor and a traditional three-blade machine work in one bundle. The first turbine operates at low wind speed, and the second only at nominal. Thus, the efficiency of the installation is preserved, 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.
Calculating the power of a home 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 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= 1.2 1 343/2 = 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