Everyone is aware of the fact that the conventional sources of energy like coal, petrol, diesel etc. are not going to last forever. In fact the rate at which we are utilizing these resources, it is quite evident that very soon we are going to face their acute shortage. The non conventional sources of energy like solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy etc. are the effective alternative to all of our energy demands. For example, the wind turbine is an attempt to reap all the benefits of the wind energy. These are normally installed in the houses to cope up with some of the daily power requirements. The wind turbine consists of rotating blades connected to a turbine. In the same way, the turbine is connected to a battery. Wind turbines are an effective way to generate clean and renewable electric energy. One added advantage of wind turbines is that besides the cost of installation, you don’t have to pay a single penny ever. The installation process is little bit complex yet with some professional help, you can build it properly.
Complexity level: Complex
Time required: 18-20 hours
Estimated cost: $150-$200
Resources required:
- Tower
- Base
- Wind blades
- LED
- Glue
- Sheets of plywood or PVC
- Glue
- Nacelle, which is the gearbox that moves the blades
- Screwdriver
- Compass
Instructions:
1. Choose an appropriate location for the turbine
Although this step seems to be very simple yet it is the most important step. Choice of location is very important when it comes to building a wind turbine. It is very necessary that the turbine is provided with a continuous supply of wind otherwise it will not function properly. Now for a continuous supply of wind, two factors are very important, first the place at which the turbine is installed and, the other is, alignment of the fans. You should make sure that the fans are at an open place and at high altitude. Also the knowledge of the direction of wind flow is equally important to get the maximum output.
2. Prepare the renewable energy (RE) system
For making the renewable energy system you will require a turbine and a battery. This step is done even before building the tower for the turbine. The real mechanism behind the working of a wind turbine lies in this system only. The wind energy is converted into electrical energy by the turbine which then charges the battery. This energy stored in the battery is used for the household needs. Thus, this system gets charged and discharged continuously making it a renewable energy system.
3. Assemble the other parts and make the connection with RE system
- First of all purchase the turbine kit which includes several parts like alternators, blades, blade hubs, tail booms etc.
- The initial step of assembling the turbine begins with installing the rectifier system into the RE system prepared in step 2.
- In the last step all you have to do is to connect the tower with the RE supply through a wire.
4. Mount the assembly and run the turbine
- Raise the tower along with the turbine. You can also take the help of guy-wires in order to stabilize the tower.
- Now the tail boom is connected to the tail vane, and the blades to the rotor. Then the alternator is attached.
- Make sure that the blades are balanced and then run the turbine. Now your wind turbine is absolutely ready to supply power to your house.
FAQ’s:
Can I make eco friendly wind turbines?
The answer is definitely yes. The wind turbines are eco friendly as they do not require any petroleum product as its fuel, it is totally dependent on the wind energy. It also contribute towards zero emission as no polluting gas is emitted by wind turbines. Once installed, wind turbines continue to provide you with continuous supply of clean power, that too at zero cost. They also don’t lead to any other environmental concerns.
Quick tips:
- Always take some professional advice before commencing this job.
- Try to install wind turbine at a high altitude where strong currents of wind are present.
Things to watch out for:
- Follow all the safety recommendations carefully.
- Try not to make your wind turbine near the power lines.
