Payment for electricity today takes up a significant share of the cost of maintaining a home. IN apartment buildings, the only way to save money is to switch to energy-saving technologies and optimize costs using multi-tariff schemes (night mode is paid at reduced prices). And if available personal plot You can not only save on consumption, but also organize independent energy supply for your private home.
This is a normal practice that originated in Europe and North America, and over the last couple of decades it has been actively implemented in Russia. However, equipment for autonomous power supply is quite expensive; the payback to “zero” does not occur earlier than after 10 years. In some states, it is possible to return energy to public networks at fixed rates, this reduces the payback time. IN Russian Federation To obtain a “cashback” you need to go through a number of bureaucratic procedures, so most users of “free” energy prefer to build a wind generator with their own hands and use it only for personal needs.
Legal side of the issue
A homemade wind generator for the home is not prohibited; its manufacture and use does not entail administrative or criminal penalties. If power wind generator does not exceed 5 kW, it is classified as a household appliance, and does not require any approvals from the local energy company. Moreover, you are not required to pay any taxes if you do not make a profit when selling electricity. In addition, a homemade generating windmill, even with such productivity, requires complex engineering solutions: it’s easy to make it. Therefore, the power of a homemade product rarely exceeds 2 kW. Actually, this power is usually enough to power a private home (of course, if you do not have a boiler and a powerful air conditioner).
IN in this case, we're talking about on federal legislation. Therefore, before making a decision to make a windmill with your own hands, it would be a good idea to check the presence (absence) of regional and municipal regulations that may impose some restrictions and prohibitions. For example, if your house is located in a specially protected natural area, the use of wind energy (and this natural resource) may require additional approvals.
Problems with the law can arise if you have troublesome neighbors. Windmills for home are classified as individual buildings, so they are also subject to some restrictions:
Types of generators
Before deciding how to make a wind generator with your own hands, let’s consider the design features:
According to the location of the generator, the device can be horizontal or vertical
According to the generated voltage rating
Typical examples of homemade wind generators
The design of the wind generator is the same, regardless of the chosen scheme.
- A propeller that can be installed either directly on the generator shaft or using a belt (chain, gear) drive.
- The generator itself. It could be finished device(for example, from a car), or a regular electric motor, which generates electric current when rotated.
- Inverter, voltage regulator, stabilizer - depending on the selected voltage.
- Buffer element - rechargeable batteries that ensure continuity of generation, regardless of the presence of wind.
- Installation structure: mast, roof mounting bracket.
Propeller
Can be made from any material: even from plastic bottles. True, flexible blades significantly limit power.
It is enough to cut cavities in them to take in the wind.
A good option is a household windmill made from a cooler. You get a finished design with professionally made blades and a balanced electric motor.
A similar design is made from a cooler for computer power supplies. True, the power of such a generator is scanty - unless you light an LED lamp or charge a mobile phone.
However, the system is quite functional.
Good blades are made from aluminum sheets. The material is available, it is easy to mold, and the propeller is quite light.
If you are creating a rotary propeller for vertical generator, you can use tin cans cut lengthwise. For powerful systems, half steel barrels are used (up to a volume of 200 liters).
Of course, you will have to approach the issue of reliability with special care. Powerful frame, shaft on bearings.
Generator
As mentioned above, you can use a ready-made automobile motor or an electric motor from industrial electrical installations (household appliances). As an example: a wind generator made from a screwdriver. The entire structure is used: engine, gearbox, cartridge for attaching the blades.
A compact generator is obtained from a printer stepper motor. Again, the power is only enough to power an LED lamp or a smartphone charger. In nature - an irreplaceable thing.
If you are comfortable with a soldering iron and have a good understanding of radio engineering, you can assemble the generator yourself. Popular scheme: wind generator using neodymium magnets. Advantages of the design - you can independently calculate the power for the wind load in your area. Why neodymium magnets? Compact with high power.
You can remake the rotor of an existing generator.
Or create your own design, with the manufacture of windings.
The efficiency of such a windmill is an order of magnitude higher than when using a circuit with an electric motor. Another undeniable advantage is compactness. The neodymium generator is flat and can be placed directly in the center coupling of the propeller.
Mast
The manufacture of this element does not require knowledge of electronics, but the viability of the entire wind generator depends on its strength.
For example, a mast 10–15 meters high requires properly calculated guy wires and counterweights. Otherwise, a strong gust of wind may topple the structure.
If the generator power does not exceed 1 kW, the weight of the structure is not so large, and issues of mast strength fade into the background.
Bottom line
A homemade wind generator is not as complex a design as it might seem at first glance. Taking into account the high cost of factory products, you can save a lot by making a home wind power plant and completely available materials. Taking into account the small costs of creating a windmill, it will pay for itself fairly quickly.
Video on the topic
A wind generator made from a car generator can help in a situation where a private home does not have the ability to connect to a power line. Or it will serve as an auxiliary source of alternative energy. Such a device can be made from scrap materials, using the best practices of folk craftsmen. Photos and videos will demonstrate the process of creating a homemade wind turbine.
Wind generator design
There is a huge species diversity wind generators and drawings for their manufacture. But any design includes the following mandatory elements:
- generator;
- blades;
- storage battery;
- mast;
- the electronic unit.
In addition, it is necessary to think through the control and distribution system of electricity in advance and draw an installation diagram.
Wind wheel
The blades are perhaps the most important part of a wind generator. The operation of the remaining components of the device will depend on the design. They are made from different materials. Even from a plastic sewer pipe. Pipe blades are easy to manufacture, inexpensive and not susceptible to moisture. The procedure for manufacturing a wind wheel is as follows:
- It is necessary to calculate the length of the blade. The diameter of the pipe should be equal to 1/5 of the total footage. For example, if the blade is one meter long, then a pipe with a diameter of 20 cm will do.
- Using a jigsaw, cut the pipe lengthwise into 4 parts.
- From one part we make a wing, which will serve as a template for cutting out subsequent blades.
- We smooth out burrs on the edges with abrasive.
- The blades are fixed to an aluminum disk with welded strips for fastening.
- Next, the generator is screwed to this disk.
After assembly, the wind wheel needs balancing. It is mounted horizontally on a tripod. The operation is carried out in a room closed from the wind. If the balancing is carried out correctly, the wheel should not move. If the blades rotate on their own, then they need to be sharpened until the entire structure is balanced.
Only after successful completion of this procedure should you proceed to checking the accuracy of rotation of the blades; they should rotate in the same plane without distortion. Please allow 2mm error.
Mast
An old one is suitable for making a mast. water pipe with a diameter of at least 15 cm, a length of about 7 m. If there are buildings within 30 m of the intended installation site, then the height of the structure is adjusted upward. For efficient operation of the wind turbine, the blade is raised above the obstacle by at least 1 m.
The base of the mast and the pegs for securing the guy wires are concreted. Clamps with bolts are welded to the stakes. For guy wires, galvanized 6 mm cable is used.
Advice. The assembled mast has considerable weight, with manual installation you will need a counterweight from a pipe with a load.
Generator conversion
To make a windmill generator, a generator from any car is suitable. Their designs are similar to each other, and the modification boils down to rewinding the stator wire and making a rotor with neodymium magnets. Holes are drilled in the rotor poles to fix the magnets. Install them alternating poles. The rotor is wrapped in paper, and the voids between the magnets are filled with epoxy resin.
In the same way you can remake an engine from an old one. washing machine. Only the magnets in this case are glued at an angle to avoid sticking.
The new winding is rewound along the reel onto the stator tooth. You can make a random winding, depending on who you are comfortable with. The greater the number of turns, the more efficient the generator will be. The coils are wound in one direction according to a three-phase circuit.
The finished generator is worth testing and measuring data. If at 300 rpm the generator produces about 30 volts, this is a good result.
Final assembly
The generator frame is welded from a profile pipe. The tail is made of galvanized sheet. The rotary axis is a tube with two bearings. The generator is attached to the mast in such a way that the distance from the blade to the mast is at least 25 cm. For safety reasons, it is worth choosing a calm day for the final assembly and installation of the mast. When exposed to strong winds, the blades can bend and break against the mast.
To use batteries to power equipment that operates on a 220 V network, you will need to install a voltage conversion inverter. The battery capacity is selected individually for the wind generator. This indicator depends on the wind speed in the area, the power of the connected equipment and the frequency of its use.
To prevent the battery from being damaged by overcharging, you will need a voltage controller. You can make it yourself if you have sufficient knowledge in electronics, or buy a ready-made one. There are many controllers available for sale for alternative energy production mechanisms.
Advice. To prevent the blade from breaking in strong winds, install a simple device - a protective weather vane.
Wind generator maintenance
A wind generator, like any other device, needs technical control and service. For uninterrupted operation The following work is periodically carried out on the wind turbine.
- The current collector requires the most attention. Generator brushes need to be cleaned, lubricated and preventatively adjusted every two months.
- At the first sign of a malfunction of the blade (shaking and imbalance of the wheel), the wind generator is lowered to the ground and repaired.
- Once every three years metal parts coated with anti-corrosion paint.
- Regularly check the fastenings and tension of the cables.
Now that the installation is complete, you can connect devices and use electricity. At least while it's windy.
Do-it-yourself generator for a windmill: video
Wind generator for a private home: photo
Reading time ≈ 4 minutes
Significantly reduce your electricity bills and provide for yourself backup source You can generate energy in your dacha by making a wind generator with your own hands.
Purchasing a ready-made wind generator is economically justified only if there is no possibility of connecting to the electrical grid. The cost of equipment and its maintenance is often higher than the price of kilowatts that you will buy from the energy sales company over the next few years. Although, when compared with the use of gasoline or diesel generators of small power, here the environmentally friendly energy source wins in terms of maintenance cost, noise level, and the absence of harmful emissions. A temporary lack of wind can be compensated for by using batteries with a voltage converter.
A wind generator assembled using some DIY parts can be several times cheaper than a ready-made kit. If you seriously decide to make your Vacation home energy-independent, but don’t want to overpay anyone - a homemade wind generator is the right solution.
Wind generator power
Before you start working, you need to decide whether there is a real need for a powerful wind generator, for example, for cooking, using power tools, heating water or heating. Maybe it's enough for you to connect the lighting, small refrigerator, TV, recharge your phone? In the first case, you need a windmill with a power of 2 to 6 kW, and in the second, you can limit yourself to 1-1.5 kW.
There are also horizontal and vertical wind generators. With a vertical axis, you can use blades of a wide variety of shapes; these can be flat or curved sheets of metal rotating on extensions. There is an option with one twisted blade. The generator itself is located near the ground. Since the blade speeds are low, the engine has a large mass and, accordingly, cost. Advantage vertical design is simplicity and ability to work in low winds.
This review will discuss the question of how to make a horizontal wind generator with your own hands. It can use various types of available generators and converted electric motors.
Design of a 220V wind generator:
- Electric generator of industrial production.
- Blades for a wind generator and a turning mechanism on the mast.
- Battery charging control circuit.
- Connecting wires.
- Installation mast.
- Stretch marks.
We will use the engine direct current from the “treadmill”, it has parameters: 260V, 5A. We obtain the generator effect due to the reversibility of the magnetic fields of this type of electric motor.
Necessary materials and components
You can easily find all the details in hardware stores or construction stores. We will need:
- threaded bushing of the required size;
- diode bridge, designed for current 30-50A;
- PVC tube.
The tail and body of the windmill can be made from the following materials:
- Steel profile pipe 25 mm;
- Masking flange;
- Pipes;
- Bolts;
- Washers;
- Self-tapping screws;
- Scotch.
Assembling a wind generator according to the drawings
Windmill blades can be made of duralumin according to the drawings given. The part must be sanded with high quality, with the front edge rounded and the back edge sharpened. A piece of tin of sufficient rigidity is suitable for the shank.
We attach the bushing to the electric motor, and drill three holes on its body at an equal distance from each other. They need to be threaded for the bolts.
We will cut the PVC pipe lengthwise and use it as a seal between square pipe and the generator housing.
We will also secure the diode bridge near the motor using self-tapping screws.
We connect the black wire from the engine to the plus of the diode bridge, and the red wire to the minus.
We screw the shank with self-tapping screws onto the opposite end of the pipe.
We connect the blades to the bushing using bolts, be sure to use two washers and a screw for each bolt.
We screw the bushing onto the motor shaft counterclockwise, holding the axle with pliers.
We screw the pipe to the masking flange using a gas wrench.
It is imperative to find the equilibrium point on the pipe with the motor and shank attached. At this point we attach the structure to the mast.
It is advisable to coat all metal parts that may be subject to corrosion with high-quality enamel.
A wind generator for a private house should be installed at some distance from the main buildings; the mast must be secured with guy ropes from steel cable. The height depends on the possible wind strength, terrain and artificial obstacles surrounding the power plant.
The electric current after the diode bridge must flow through a control ammeter to the electronic battery charging circuit. Low-power incandescent lamps can be connected directly to such a generator. Charged batteries provide a stable, constant voltage. It is recommended to be used for lighting (halogen lamps and LED strips), or output to an inverter to get 220V alternating current and connect any household appliances whose power does not exceed the parameters of the inverter.
The presented photo and video information will give you a more clear idea of assembling a wind generator with your own hands.
Video of making a wind generator with your own hands
Amounts to be paid for public utilities, are growing every year. This is especially true for electricity. But not everyone knows that you can literally get it out of thin air, or more precisely, with the help of the power of the wind.
Thanks to which this is possible, they are called wind generators. Purchasing such equipment will not be cheap. However, you can save money by making a vertical windmill with your own hands.
Unlike other methods of generating energy, wind turbines have many advantages, such as:
- environmental friendliness
- work without fuel
- energy saving
- easy maintenance
- use of an inexhaustible source of energy
In addition, a good windmill will make the house an autonomous point for generating electricity.
There are practically no disadvantages to wind generators, however, they do have minor disadvantages:
- high cost of installations (factory models)
- noisiness
- excess energy requires additional batteries
- power variability
The last drawback is the most significant, however, it can be eliminated by adding batteries to the installation. In addition, the effect of wind generators depends entirely on the variability of weather conditions.
As you can see, a wind generator has more advantages, which indicates the profitability of its use.
Who benefits from it?
There are a lot of types of wind generators, and even more so, subtypes. Which device should be installed on which one depends on the following factors:
- local wind speed
- device purpose
- estimated cost
Before directly installing a wind turbine, you need to think several times about whether the costs will pay off. First, you need to determine the wind speed and direction in the area intended for installation.
You can obtain this information in two ways: yourself or contact your local weather service. The first option will require a portable station, which can be rented or purchased.
The advantage of independent measurements is their accuracy; however, a full-fledged study will require at least one year. The data obtained from the weather service will have approximate values, but will not require the cost and time for additional calculations.
To install a wind turbine, the annual wind speed must be at least 4.5 m/s-5 m/s.
At values of about 4-5 m/s, the energy generated by an average power generator will be equal to 250 kW-hours per month. This is enough to provide electricity to a house for 3-4 people with heating and hot water. A wind turbine can generate up to 3 thousand kW-hours per year. The cost of installing such a wind generator is approximately 180 thousand rubles.
Creating your own installation is much cheaper. It is worth taking into account the constant increase in electricity tariffs. Thus, a wind generator can become a good alternative source electricity.
Where to install
Choosing a location to install a wind turbine is one of the most important steps. The best option there will be a free high point. It is important that the wind generator is not located below the level of nearby buildings that will obstruct the wind flow.
The most suitable places for installing wind generators are: steppes, shores of reservoirs, deserts and hills. In such areas, strong and constant winds most often blow.
In apartment buildings or urban environments, you can place the generator on the roof. This procedure should be agreed upon with the relevant authorities. In order to make sure that the vibrations of the windmill will not harm the roof, it is worth studying its design.
To avoid annoying noise from the generator, it should be installed at a distance of 15-25 m from residential buildings.
One of the main parameters of a windmill is the location of the rotation mechanism (shaft) relative to the earth’s surface. Based on this feature, devices are divided into horizontal and vertical.
The first ones work on the principle of a windmill: the mechanism rotates in search of wind and the blades start to move from the slightest air currents.
This type of device generates a large amount of electricity, which will be plenty for a private home.
Wind turbines with a vertical axis of rotation will ideal solution to provide electricity to a small area or private production.
In addition, such a device has the following advantages:
- regardless of wind direction
- not affected by weather conditions
- works even at low speeds
- The blade area is 2 times larger than that of horizontal wind turbines
U vertical wind generator there are also disadvantages: low efficiency and high level noise. But, these disadvantages are insignificant in comparison with the overall benefits of the device.
So, a horizontal windmill can be installed directly on the roof, but a vertical one should be kept at a distance.
How to turn wind into heat
Even a low-power windmill can provide heat for an entire house. One of the easiest to implement is a heating system with natural circulation.
By installing a vertical windmill with your own hands for heating, you can save a decent amount. In addition, when using a natural circulation system together with a wind generator, you do not need to spend money on a pump.
The heating circuit includes:
- Boiler
- Conductive straight pipe (to deliver heated water)
- Radiators
- Return pipe (for delivering cooled water back)
The boiler is installed below the level of the entire system. This is necessary to ensure a natural supply of water to it.
Using forward and return pipes, radiators are connected in series, respectively, to the upper and lower parts of the boiler. The water heated in it will be squeezed upward, falling one by one into the radiators.
This system will allow you to significantly save on heating your home. In addition, it will regulate the temperature in the room.
Wind generator components
To construct even the simplest vertical windmill with your own hands (220 V), you need to purchase the main components:
- rotor - the moving part of the generator
- blades
- mast – can have a different design (tripod, pyramid)
- stator - coils of copper wire are located on it
- battery
- inverter - converts direct current into alternating current
- controller - designed to “brake” the generator when its power exceeds the set value
It is best to use sheet plastic to make blades. Other materials are subject to severe deformation and damage. How larger area intended part, the denser the plastic should be.
When choosing a material, it is important to make sure that it is exactly high quality PVC, otherwise you will have to spend money again on new components and make complex calculations.
Thus, to create your own windmill you will not need expensive or rare parts.
Vertical windmill vs horizontal
To understand which wind turbine design works more efficiently, it is worth taking a closer look at the features of each of them. The horizontal generator has the following advantages:
- effective in any direction of air flow
- takes a lot less space compared to vertical
- operates at high speeds even at low wind speeds
- has a simple design
- doesn't make noise
In addition, wind generators horizontal type are made of lightweight materials and can even be installed on a lamp post. When placed along the road, such structures work even in calm weather.
The service life of both types of wind generators is approximately the same. Proper care and maintenance allow them to work effectively for up to 25 years. In horizontal wind turbines, the main load falls on the hub and bearing assembly. Vertical products experience more pressure on the blades.
The biggest difference between these types of wind turbines is their price. Horizontal ones cost owners of such structures much more.
It is better to use such a windmill in areas with increased turbulence and frequent changes in wind direction. Vertical ones are more suitable for terrain open type with a constant wind speed above 4.5 m/s.
Based on the comparison results, many summer residents choose a vertical type of wind generator.
Preparation of vertical windmill parts
The blades are made from various materials. The main condition is that they must be light.
Most simple option will be the production of blades from PVC pipe.
They are less susceptible to sun rays and are quite durable.
For a vertical windmill, 4 parts are created from PVC and 2 from tin. The latter are cut in the shape of semicircles and attached to both sides of the pipe.
The blades are attached to the frame in a circle. The radius of rotation of the blades will be 690 mm. The height of each blade is 700 mm.
When assembling the rotor, you will need the following parts:
- 6 neodymium magnets and 2 ferrite
- discs with a diameter of 230 mm (2 pieces)
Neodymium magnets should be placed on one disk, and do not forget to change their polarity, alternating during installation. An angle of 60 degrees must be maintained between them, with a diameter of 165 mm. Ferrite magnets should be attached to disk 2 in the same way. Then they need to be filled with glue.
In order to start making the stator, you need to wind 9 coils of 60 turns each. Typically, copper wire with a diameter of 1 mm is used for this. The coils are then soldered together as follows:
- start 1 connects with end 4
- 4 – from 7
The second phase is assembled in exactly the same way, only soldering occurs from the second coil, and accordingly, the third phase is soldered to coil 3. A special mold needs to be made from plywood. A piece of fiberglass is placed in it, and then the coils.
The final stage is filling the structure with glue. A day later, the stator is ready for work.
Now that all the parts of the generator are made, they just need to be connected:
- Studs will subsequently be present in the upper one. For them you need to make holes (4 pieces). They are designed to smoothly “land” the rotor in place.
- Holes are also made in the stator for the bracket.
- The lower rotor rests on it (magnets up).
- Then the stator is laid.
- The second rotor is placed on top with the magnets facing down. The parts are fixed to each other using nuts.
The design of the vertical generator also requires detailed consideration. Its main disadvantages include low efficiency and a larger number of parts compared to horizontal ones. On the other hand, such a product can work effectively even in low winds.
A horizontal generator is more reliable because it can withstand strong gusts of wind. The noiselessness of this type of design is also one of its most important advantages. You can even install a horizontal windmill on the roof of a residential building.
Thus, assembling the main parts of the windmill is not very difficult.
Wind generator design
A wind generator consists of a wheel with blades attached to it, a gearbox (converts and transmits torque), a battery and an inverter.
The product structure is assembled as follows:
- Preparation of a three-point reinforced foundation.
- The mast is made of durable pipes (you can use water pipes). It should carry the rotor higher than the attic.
- Screwing the generator to the finished mast.
- Attaching the frame with blades to the generator.
- Attaching the mast to the foundation and additionally securing it using a guy wire.
The collection of the electrical network is also carried out in a certain sequence.
The windmill must produce three-phase alternating current, converted to direct current using a bridge rectifier. To control the charge level, a standard automotive relay is used. An inverter is connected to the battery, which produces 220 VAC.
Thus, the following results are obtained from the operation of the finished windmill at different wind speeds:
- 5 m/s – 15W
- 10.4 m/s – 45 W
- 15.4 m/s – 75 W
- 18 m/s – 163 W
There are several ways to increase the energy output of a generator. For example, if you increase the height of the mast to 26 meters, the average annual wind speed increases to 30%. At the same time, 1.5 times more electricity is generated. This is ensured by eliminating the influence of buildings and trees on the speed of air flows.
So, in order for a windmill to work efficiently, you need to calculate its design characteristics in advance.
Windmill care
The following procedures are carried out as regular maintenance of the structure:
- lubrication of moving parts (at least 2 times a year)
- tightening bolts and electrical connections
- checking mechanisms for rust and loose stretch marks
- blade breakage control
The most common windmill damage is blade separation. In winter, a crust of ice appears on them. Cleaning them frequently will extend the life of the structure.
Parts are painted as needed. Once a year you need to completely inspect the structure for damage.
A homemade windmill is very different in power values from factory products. This is due to inaccurate calculations. A horizontal windmill with a theoretical power of 101 W will produce only 90, and a vertical windmill with 69 W will produce about 60.
In order not to be disappointed in low performance homemade design, it is worth manufacturing it with design parameters 2 times higher than required.
Thus, assembling a vertical wind turbine is a fairly simple option for providing a residential building with electricity. This is due to the ease of assembly of the structure, the low cost of the project and high efficiency device operation. In addition, it requires minimal maintenance and produces electricity constantly. How to make a windmill yourself is shown in the video:
One of the most affordable options for using renewable energy sources is the use of wind energy. To learn how to make calculations, assemble and install a windmill yourself, 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;
- propeller pitch.
Wind turbines, as a rule, have design with horizontal and vertical axis of rotation.
Version with a horizontal axis - a propeller design with one, two, three or more blades. This is the most common design of air power plants due to high efficiency.
Version with a vertical axis - orthogonal and carousel designs using the example of Darrieus and Savonius rotors. The last two concepts should be clarified, since both have some significance in the design of wind generators.
Darrieus rotor is an orthogonal wind turbine design, where aerodynamic blades (two or more) are located symmetrically to each other at a certain distance and mounted on radial beams. Enough difficult option wind turbine requiring careful aerodynamic design of the blades.
Savonius rotor is a carousel-type wind turbine design, where two semi-cylindrical blades are located one against the other, overall forming a sinusoidal shape. 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-tier design is used with the angular displacement of each pair of blades relative to the other pairs.
Advantages and disadvantages of wind turbines
The advantages of these devices are obvious, especially in relation to domestic operating conditions. Users of wind turbines actually have the opportunity to generate free electrical energy, not counting the small costs of construction and maintenance. However, the disadvantages of wind power plants are also obvious.
Thus, in order to achieve efficient operation of the installation, the conditions for stability of wind flows must be met. Man cannot create such conditions. This is purely the prerogative of nature. One more, but already technical defect, the low quality of the generated electricity is noted, 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 modification of wind turbines, perhaps, balance at zero. If horizontal-axial modifications are characterized by a high efficiency value, then for stable operation they require the use of wind flow direction controllers and devices for protection against hurricane winds. Vertical-axis modifications have low efficiency, but work stably without a mechanism for tracking wind direction. At the same time, such wind turbines are distinguished by a low noise level, eliminate the effect of “spreading” in conditions of strong winds, and are quite compact.
Homemade wind generators
Making a "windmill" with my own hands- the problem is completely solvable. Moreover, a constructive and rational approach to business will help minimize inevitable financial expenses. First of all, it’s worth sketching out the project and carrying out the necessary balancing and power calculations. These actions will not only be the key to the successful construction of a wind power plant, but also the key to maintaining the integrity of all purchased equipment.
It is recommended to start by building 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 makes more sense to limit ourselves to the use of 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 (TEH) - such devices do not require stable voltage and frequency. This makes it possible to create simple diagram, operating directly from the generator.
Most likely, no one will argue that heating and hot water supply in the house are inferior in importance household appliances And lighting fixtures, to power which they often try to install home windmills. The construction of wind turbines is precisely for the purpose of providing the house with heat and hot water- This minimum costs and simplicity of design.
Generalized design of a home wind turbine
Structurally, a home project largely replicates an industrial installation. True, household solutions are often based on vertical-axis wind turbines and are equipped with low-voltage DC generators. Composition of household wind turbine modules, subject to high-quality electricity (220 V, 50 Hz):
- wind turbine;
- wind orientation device;
- animator;
- DC generator (12 V, 24 V);
- charge module batteries;
- rechargeable batteries (lithium-ion, lithium-polymer, lead-acid);
- DC voltage converter 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 the multiplier to the shaft of the DC generator. The energy received at the output of the generator is accumulated in batteries through the charging module. 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 domestic wind turbine designs are typically constructed using low-speed DC motors. This is the simplest generator option that does not require modernization. Optimally - electric motors with permanent magnets, designed for a supply voltage of about 60-100 volts. There is a practice of using car generators, but for this case the introduction of a multiplier is required, since car generators produce the required voltage only at high (1800-2500) speeds. One of possible options- reconstruction asynchronous motor alternating current, but also quite complex, requiring precise calculations, turning, and installation of 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 a Savonius rotor. Here, as an example, a micro-energy installation 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.
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.
Manufacturing of the 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 aluminum pipe 32 mm. It turns out something similar to CDs. From plastic pipe two pieces 150 mm long are cut 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 disks, two per tier, and fixed strictly one against the other, forming a sinusoid. In this case, the blades of the upper tier are shifted relative to the blades of the lower tier at an angle of 90 degrees. The result is a four-blade Savonius rotor. To fasten elements, you can use rivets, self-tapping screws, corners, or other methods.
Connection to engine and installation on 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 having the required internal diameter is pressed into the lower part of the pipe. A hole is drilled through the wall of the pipe and the bushing, 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 remaining part 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. A metal disk cover mounted on the front end of the motor, having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the mast, is used as a stop. Holes are drilled on the periphery of the cover for attaching guy wires. Since the diameter of the electric motor housing is smaller than the internal 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 exited through the window at the bottom. During installation, it is necessary to take into account the protection of the generator from moisture by using sealing gaskets. Again, for the purpose of protection from precipitation, an umbrella cap can be installed above the connection of the wind turbine pipe with the generator shaft.
The entire structure is installed 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 wires, after which the hole is filled with concrete.
Voltage controller (simple charger)
A manufactured wind generator, as a rule, is not capable of producing 12 volts due to the low rotation speed. The maximum rotation speed of the wind turbine at a wind speed of 6-8 m/sec. reaches a value of 200-250 rpm. At the output it is possible to obtain a voltage of about 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, based on the LM2577ADJ voltage regulator. By supplying 5 volts of DC to the input of the converter, the output is 12-15 volts, which is quite enough to charge a car battery.
Ready-made voltage converter based on LM2577
This micro-wind generator can certainly be improved. Increase the turbine power, change the material and height of the mast, add a DC-to-AC voltage converter, etc.
Horizontal-axis wind power plant
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, angle - 2, tee - 1.
- DC electric 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).
Manufacturing of a horizontal-axis “windmill”
A plastic pipe is needed to make wind turbine blades. A section 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 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 indentation from the latter. Processing 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 measuring approximately 50x50 mm is cut along one edge, and the remaining part serves as a fastening petal.
The wind turbine blades are secured to the wheel-pulley using bolted connections. The pulley is mounted directly on the shaft of a DC electric motor - generator. A simple wooden block with a cross-section of 80x40 mm and a length of 1 m is used as a wind turbine chassis. The generator is installed at one end wooden block. At the other end of the bar, a “tail” made of an aluminum sheet is mounted. At the bottom of the bar, attached metal pipe 25 mm, designed to act as a shaft rotary mechanism. A three-meter 32 mm metal pipe is used as a mast. The upper part of the mast is the bushing of the rotating mechanism, into which 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 structure is assembled from plumbing parts, thanks to which the mast can be easily raised or lowered, or mounted or dismantled. Guys are used to secure the mast.
All wind turbine electronics are mounted in a separate module, the interface of which provides for connecting batteries and consumer loads. The module includes a battery charge controller and a voltage converter. Such devices can be assembled independently if you have the appropriate experience, or purchased on the market. There are many on sale different solutions, allowing you to obtain the desired output values of 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 in a single system, solar battery, diesel or gasoline power plant. You can combine in every possible 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, the combination of wind turbines involves the creation of wind power plants that include two different modifications at once. For example, when a Savonius rotor and a traditional three-blade machine work in one combination. The first turbine operates at low wind speeds, and the second only at nominal ones. This preserves the efficiency of the installation, eliminates unjustified energy losses, and in the case of asynchronous generators reactive currents are compensated.
Combined systems are technically complex and expensive options for home practice.
Calculation of the power of a wind power plant
To calculate the power of a horizontal-axial 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, m2
- V— wind flow speed, m/sec
For example, the power of an installation with a maximum blade span of 1 meter at a wind speed of 7 m/sec 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 a 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/sec
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/sec. will be:
- N= 1.2 · 0.142 · 0.3 · 343 = 17.5 W
