Wind generator for home: reviews. Wind generator for home by own hands

Today, as electricity tariffs increase and people's desire to build suburban cottages and dachas far from "civilization" increases, many owners of private properties are increasingly turning to the search for alternative energy sources. The cheapest at the moment is wind power. To use it, special devices are designed. Further in the article we will consider what the wind generator is.

Terminology

The wind power generator is a device that converts the kinetic energy of the airflow into a mechanical one. This force triggers the rotation of the rotor. As a result of his work, the mechanical energy is subsequently transformed into electrical energy.

Use in industry

Such devices are built by large private or state energy companies. Usually they are united in so-called networks. As a result, wind power stations are obtained. Such industrial networks differ from nuclear or thermal ones by the complete absence of both raw materials (fuel) and waste. In order for the generator for the wind power station to function smoothly, the average annual air flow rate should be high. The capacity of modern systems can reach 7.5 MW.

Some operational difficulties

An industrial wind generator is mounted on a specially prepared site for seven or ten days. And obtaining permits for the construction of a structure can take in some cases more than a year. In addition, long-term studies are needed at the site where the installation of wind generators will be carried out. At least for a year the direction and speed of air flows are studied. All these events significantly increase the period of implementation of projects.

A Brief Historical Reference

It is worth noting that people began to use wind energy in ancient times. A simple example is the sail. 200 years before our era, windmills were already being built , and after the discovery of electricity people began to try to use the power of air streams to receive it. Up to the fifties of the previous century, there was a continuous work on designing and designing new equipment in the Soviet Union. Wind generators were widely distributed in the country.

Application area

A wind generator can either be used directly for its intended purpose, or it can perform only decorative functions. The propeller can be equipped with a ratchet and put the device in any suitable place. For industrial purposes, the wind generator was used earlier for grinding grain. Today, for these purposes, other equipment is used, as a rule. Wind generators for home are often used. Reviews of suburban real estate owners indicate the effectiveness of such a design in the process of pumping water. So, according to some users, the unit is able to raise from the well or well about 30-50 liters / hour. Such generators are very relevant for dachas. Wind structures are often indispensable where there are interruptions with the supply of current to the network. They are also used to start the heating system. However, the most widely used wind generator for generating electricity.

Classification

If there was a need to purchase a wind generator for a private house, you should learn more about the types of this unit and the principle of operation. The design can be carousel type. In this case, there is a vertical axis of rotation in it. The design can also be winged. This means that the axis of rotation of the unit is horizontal. Next, consider each species separately.

Carousel construction

Such a wind generator, of course, has its merits. He quickly gaining traction in the process of increasing the strength of the air flow. Subsequently, the rotation speed is practically at the same level. This design independently tracks the direction of the wind. This means that she does not need additional devices. The wind-powered carousel generator is quiet. This allows us to use rather simple schemes. At the same time, the slowdown significantly limits the use of structures. This is due to the fact that there is a need to additionally use step-up gears. Multipliers have a fairly low efficiency. Without a reducer, the operation of the wind generator is much more difficult.

Winged construction

What is such a generator (windmill)? The feedback of many users speaks in favor of such a design. The wing type unit has many advantages compared to the one described above. To the indubitable advantages that such a wind generator possesses, users attribute a sufficiently high speed of rotation. Due to this, there is no need for additional use of the multiplier. The blades of the winged structure must be perpendicular to the air flow, that is, vertically. For this, a stabilizer is used. Another advantage, which, according to users, has a wind turbine generator, is a high energy conversion ratio of air flow. At the same time, the rotation speed in such constructions is inversely proportional to the number of blades. In this regard, the aggregates have, as a rule, no more than three wings. The wide popularity of such installations is also due to the simplicity of the design.

Criteria for device selection

First of all, it is necessary to determine exactly the average speed and the preferred direction of the air flow in the place where the unit will operate. You should know about some parameters. Thus, the initial speed at which the rotation of the blades is started is 2 m / s. The maximum efficiency is achieved with a flow of 9-12 m / s. The power of the generator depends on the diameter of the screw and the wind speed.

Design Features

What does the home wind generator consist of? The design itself includes a wheel with blades. It also has a reducer. This mechanism is designed for conversion and transmission of torque. Also in the construction there is a mast. The device itself is installed on it. The unit is also equipped with a battery and an inverter. With the help of the latter, the conversion of a direct current into an effective variable is carried out.

Device and network

Most of the existing units today operate in the presence of a centralized or local electric source. As it, for example, can act as a diesel generator. The need for an additional source is explained by the instability of air currents. In this case, the network performs a stabilizing task. There are certain conditions for the use of such structures. One of the main things is that the power of the network must necessarily be higher than that of the wind generator, at least 1.8 times.

Principle of operation

Powerful air flows drive the blades of the wind generator. They begin to rotate. The energy received is transferred to the multiplier by means of a rotor. As it was said above, the aggregates can function both individually and in groups. In some designs, multipliers are installed to improve the performance of the device. It should be said that not everyone can buy such an aggregate. In this regard, some people build wind generators for the house with their own hands. How to do this, we will consider further.

Unit type

What are wind generators for the house? There are two types of devices. The first is horizontal, and the second is a vertical wind generator. The last design, according to the users themselves, is easier to assemble and install - balancing the device is easy enough. In addition, this system has a higher coefficient of effective wind impact. The more powerful the assembly selected for assembly, the greater the weight and diameter of the wheel. This, in turn, will complicate the balancing and installation.

Accessories

Before making a wind generator, you should prepare all the necessary elements and details:

• Battery for 12 V. You can use the car device, but it is better to buy an alternative. Such a battery will be more safe and durable.
• The generator is 12 V.
• The rotor is 1.5-2 m.
• Metal barrel or bucket (large). The capacity is preferably aluminum or stainless steel.
• Battery charging relay.
• Relay for charging the lamp (automotive, for example).
• Semi-hermetic switch.
• Junction box.
• Voltmeter. You can use the car.
• Mast, the height of which is from 2 to 10 meters. You can make it yourself. This will require PVC pipes and metal parts for the base.
• 4 bolts M6.
• Wires.
• Stainless wire or clamps. These elements will be attached to the mast.

The following tools will also be needed:

• Nippers.
• Drill and drill bits.
• Screwdriver.
• Keys.

Mast mounting

Before installing it, it is necessary to fill the foundation in accordance with the volume of the base and the section of the pipe. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the climatic features and soil properties. Installation of the mast with a wind motor is carried out after the solution has solidified (after at least a week after pouring). You can just dig a pole into the ground and secure the braces. However, this option is less reliable.

Rotor

Diameter is selected in accordance with the average statistical wind speed. A rotor is made and a pulley is modified (a special friction wheel with a rim or circumferential groove designed to transfer the drive belt or rope). In fact, with a wind speed of up to 6-7 m / s, the element's power is 3 m higher.

Wings

The barrel is divided into 4 equal parts. To do this, you use a tape measure and a marker. Cutting blades with metal scissors. The wings are then fixed to the pulley and bottom. Bolts are used as fixing elements. Places for them should be measured very accurately, otherwise in the future will often have to adjust the rotation. The blades bend gently, within reason, to prevent unnecessary gusts in the air stream.

Assembly

The wires are connected to the generator and the circuit is assembled in the switchbox. The unit is attached to the mast. The wires are fixed on the pole and the generator. Next, the unit, and then the battery is connected to the circuit. With the help of wires, the cross section of which is up to 2.5 kW, the load is connected. Depending on the degree of bending of the blades, the speed of rotation is set. Such an aggregate should be sufficient to provide energy for a country house or a summer residence.

Increase in productivity

When the mast is raised to 20-25 meters, the air speed will increase by 30%. At the same time, energy production will be increased up to 1.5 times. This option is used with reduced wind speed (up to 4 m / s). With a tall mast, the influence of trees and buildings will be eliminated. Here's how to make a wind generator yourself.

Development of industry

Today you can buy a home wind generator at a very reasonable cost. This shows the constant and active development of this industry. By purchasing or independently assembling the installation, it is possible to ensure for a fairly long time the energy independence of our own housing. As a rule, for a small building, an aggregate with a nominal output of 1 kW is sufficient. At the same time, the wind speed in the work area of the device should be 8 m / s. If there is no stable air flow on the terrain, or it is weak, the device can be equipped with a diesel generator or photovoltaic cells. In Russia, today there is only a beginning of the trend of installation of wind generators. On the domestic market, products of only a few low-power units for domestic use are presented. The cost of wind generators for 1 kW in the complete set starts from 35-40 thousand rubles. These are prices two years ago. You do not need to issue a certificate to install the device.

Disadvantages and advantages of operation

Despite constant growth of tariffs for energy carriers, the cost of electricity itself does not amount to any significant amount in the bulk of production at other costs. For the consumer today, the key factors are the stability and reliability of supply. The main reasons provoking a rise in the cost of energy for industrial use, obtained from wind generators, are:

• The need for autonomous operation for some time. In these cases, batteries are used.
• The need to obtain electrical energy of industrial quality. The inverter is used for this.
• The need for continued smooth operation. In such cases, diesel generators are additionally used.

With regard to the use of devices in everyday life, the minuses of operation include:

• High cost of rechargeable batteries. It is approximately 25% of the price of the device itself.
• Relatively high cost of the inverter.
• To ensure a reliable supply of electricity in some cases, a diesel generator is used. Its cost is comparable to the price of the device itself.

However, it should be noted that these factors lose their relevance with a modern UPS with double conversion and the availability of a common network. Today, from the economic point of view, it is most expedient for industrial purposes to obtain, with the help of a wind generator, not electric power, but a constant or alternating current. Subsequently, it is converted into heat for obtaining hot water and heating the housing. For this purpose, heaters are used. This scheme has its advantages. In particular, in this case an ordinary boiler with water can act as an energy storage device, for the consumption of heat there are not such strict requirements for the continuity and quality of supply.