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Posts Tagged ‘Best DIY Solar and Wind Guides’

For centuries now, people have been using wind turbines to generate energy. Even now, the basic principle behind this type of device remains the same, but design aspects of the blades used have undergone major changes over the years. The basic advantage of modern blade design is that it allows wind turbines to generate power more efficiently now than ever before, which in turn makes it realistic to use smaller and quieter turbines.

Mats made out of reeds were used as the blades for the first-generation wind turbines. While they did the job under the right conditions, they broke easily. If the winds got too high, these blades would usually be damaged.

The next stage in the development of wind turbine blades was the cloth sail. With the help of this blade design, early windmills were able to harness wind power effectively in order to process grain.

The next major kind of blade to be introduced was the wood blade, which was usually used in conjunction with a horizontal axis configuration. The impetus for the new turbine designs was the design of airplane blades, which had recently made major strides. Although much lighter, wooden blades were nevertheless able to provide much more power than earlier turbine blades.

These designs allowed turbines to be used for the purpose of generating electricity. Larger wind turbines were soon built to capitalize on these improvements, providing power in commercial settings.

From this point on, wind turbine blade development separated into two distinct paths: horizontal axis blades, and vertical axis blades. With regard to horizontal axis blade design, the majority of the changes would manifest themselves as differences in blade shape and pitch, materials, and the number of blades used per rotor.

In most cases, 3-blade designs came to be used for horizontal axis wind turbines, as they provide the best balance of stability and rotor speed. Modern turbines make use of composite blades, which are both lightweight and durable. Unlike older turbines, these new turbines can both spin at higher speeds and pick up winds of lower velocity.

Some of the most radical and effective designs on the market currently can be found on vertical axis wind turbines. The rotation for these units is usually provided by features that take advantage of either the lift or drag of the wind.

Regardless of the direction of the wind, modern vertical axis turbines will always convert it into energy. In this respect, they can give you a more constant supply of power than standard horizontal axis turbines. Residential users will find vertical axis turbines particularly attractive, as they generally don’t require a tower or an open landscape in order to get the best production.

If you would like to know the pros and cons of solar energy, take a look at Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Power.

For the best guide I have found for building your own wind turbines with step by step videos, go to Best DIY Solar and Wind Guides.

Here’s another guide to building your own wind turbine Homemade Wind Turbine.