A DIY wind turbine project may seem overwhelming at first, but the benefits a DIY wind turbine have to offer are so fantastic that even the effort you must put in to creating it is well worth it. The DIY wind turbine has come about as a result of the popular drive towards finding more cost efficient and environmentally friendly sources of electricity than have been used widely. Those energy sources have been efficient but recently it has come into even greater understanding that the methods have been depleting natural resources that cannot be renewed while also polluting the planet. Electricity generated from some traditional means such as through the burning of coal produces by products that are spewed into the air. These chemicals are breathed in by everyone around the plants which leads to respiratory and health problems. This type of air pollution also effects animal and plant life. Electrical power plants also produce waste that is sometimes deposited into water ways. This water then contaminates the drinking water of people, as well as that of animals, and the habitat of many types of plant and animal life. A DIY wind turbine is a home version of a type of alternative electricity generation. Wind is very powerful and, when harnessed by a device such as a DIY wind turbine, can provide a clean, cost-effective source of electrical energy.
Windmill Power Generation
A DIY wind turbine is a part of a family of machines designed for the purpose of generating electricity by garnering the power the wind. Indirectly, wind power is an extension of extremely powerful solar energy. Solar energy referring to energy that is created by the sun. When the sun heats land the air above the land is heated as well. This heated air is lighter than the cooler air around it and the increased barometric pressure will force this hot air to rise. When the hot air rises it leaves a gap that must be filled. Lighter, cooler air flows into the space. This flow is what we feel as wind. Your DIY wind turbine will take advantage of this wind.
Windpower Generators
The DIY wind turbine is not a revolutionary project. In fact, people have been engaging in DIY wind turbine projects for thousands of years. As early as 200 BC wind powered machines have been used for energy. A DIY wind turbine that is used for mechanical purposes such as grinding wheat into flour or powering a water pump are generally referred to as windmills. Using windmills wind energy was used to perform tasks that took tremendous amounts of time and effort, making these necessary actions much easier and more time-efficient. Also referred to much of the time as windmills wind turbines are technically the devices that are used to create electricity. A DIY wind turbine is comprised of a tower, a hub with blades much like a fan, and a generator. When your DIY wind turbine is up and running the wind will cause the blades to turn. This will cause rotation of a shaft inside the tower. The shaft is attached to the generator. This generator is what allows your DIY wind turbine to create usable energy.
Windmills for Home Use
A DIY wind turbine is a great way to produce energy for a home or farm. There are certain specifications that should be kept in mind when creating your DIY wind turbine but if you observe them your DIY wind turbine will be a useful and pleasant addition to your space. Any form of wind powered generator, including a DIY wind turbine, should be kept at least 1000 to 1500 feet away from a residence. This setback ensures that the sound your DIY wind turbine will produce will not be much louder than the hum of a regular refrigerator, and that the shadows it casts will not fall on the home. If your DIY wind turbine will be used to produce electricity for a farm it will not negatively impact livestock. Because the blades are high above the ground, livestock can graze all the way up to the base of the DIY wind turbine.
Benefits of a DIY Wind Turbine
Building a DIY wind turbine offers many benefits. This project, though large in scale at the beginning, is very worth the work for many people.
- The electricity generated by a DIY wind turbine reduces or eliminates your dependence on companies that provide electrical energy. This means that after the installation of the DIY wind turbine has been compensated for, the energy will be drastically less expensive.
- A DIY wind turbine creates a clean and sustainable source of energy. A DIY wind turbine produces absolutely no carbon dioxide emissions and no other pollution.
- The wind used by a DIY wind turbine is also completely renewable. There will never be a depletion of wind so your DIY wind turbine will never lack for “fuel”.
- Use of a DIY wind turbine reduces your carbon footprint, or the impact you make on the environment, especially if your home or industry utilizes a tremendous amount of energy.
- A DIY wind turbine is less expensive to install than a utility sized wind turbine
Creating Your DIY Wind Turbine
It is recommended that when you want to create a DIY wind turbine you first start with aq small version. A 8 to 11 foot DIY wind turbine can produce up to 1000 watts and can be accomplished relatively easily. Larger DIY wind turbine projects can produce devices that can generate 2000 watts. Much larger than a DIY wind turbine, a utility version can generate 2 megawatts of power. You will need to build your DIY wind turbine in an area that receives wind on a regular basis. Without wind your DIY wind turbine will not be able to create energy. Winds should be at least 8 miles an hour to produce any wind, but they should preferably be higher. Your DIY wind turbine should be as tall, or as high, as possible. A DIY wind turbine that is not fully in the wind will not be effective in generating energy.
