Wind generator for a private home: device, types, review of the best offers
Windmills have long ceased to be an exotic novelty; they are now considered as one of the possible saving options.Air flows over the earth's surface carry a huge amount of energy, which is currently successfully used in industrial wind turbines and small wind turbines for private use.
We will tell you how to choose the right and technically competent installation of a wind generator for a private home. Our proposed article describes the rules for assembling and operating mini power plants. Interested buyers are given recommendations on their choice, and a rating of popular models is given.
The content of the article:
Design and operating principle of wind turbines
Wind generators are special devices that transform the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy. These are independent sources of electricity that are excellent for installation in private residential buildings, small and medium-sized farms, and production bases.
The design of a standard mini-power station for domestic use includes the following functional elements:
- Blades aerodynamically shaped to catch wind.
- Generator to produce alternating current.
- Controller for automatic control of a wind farm. Allows you to regulate battery charging and distribute energy flows between devices.
- Storage device. Special batteries for storing generated electricity.
- Inverter to bring the parameters of generated energy to grid standards.
- Mast, raising the blades to a certain height above ground level.
There are different types of masts: free-standing without guy wires, rigidly fixed and rotating on guys. The latter can be lowered and raised for maintenance, as well as for repair and restoration work.
In reality, energy from a wind farm does not flow directly to the consumer. The system must be connected to special devices for converting electric current.
A controller is placed in the circuit after the generator. It converts alternating current to direct current. In this form, electricity is accumulated and stored in batteries, and then from them through an inverter, which transforms direct current into alternating current, the energy is supplied to the private power grid.
This scheme makes it possible to smooth out voltage instability, as well as accumulate energy during periods of complete absence of consumption. And this, in turn, makes it possible to use wind generators of less power than the total power of household electrical appliances.
Together with an autonomous wind station, it is possible to install both solar modules and fuel generators.
If several devices are used at once to generate electricity, the circuit is supplemented with another element - an automatic circuit breaker (ABP). It is necessary so that when one source of alternative energy is turned off, another, a backup one, starts up.
Modern wind farms use various designs of rotors - rotating parts. They have their advantages and disadvantages, different efficiency and functionality. Currently, there are many developments of autonomous systems capable of interacting with winds of different speeds and strengths.
Types of wind power plants
Based on the type of consumer, a distinction is made between autonomous wind generators and network-powered installations. The former supply energy to consumers remote from central electrical networks.
The second ones can number several tens/hundreds of wind turbines, which form a single system and supply energy to a common network. The power of autonomous units rarely exceeds 75 kW, while the power of network installations starts at 100 kW.
Depending on the type of construction, wind generators are distinguished:
- With vertical axis of rotation;
- With horizontal axis of rotation.
These devices are used for different operating conditions, but the most common are models with a horizontal axis. They work like regular weather vanes and have a similar structure. The rotor axis rotates parallel to the earth's surface.
Such units are characterized by high efficiency (about 40%), simple power adjustment and a more affordable price, but are also characterized by high levels of noise and vibration generated.In addition, they must be oriented towards the direction of the wind.
Wind generators with a vertical axis of rotation have a more compact design and are less susceptible to environmental factors.
In devices of this type, the turbine is located perpendicular to the plane of the Earth. Such structures are launched even from a weak wind and do not depend on the direction of air flow.
However, there is also a significant disadvantage - the efficiency of such generators is only 15%. In addition, they are more expensive than horizontal axis models.
Models of wind generators differ from each other not only in the location of the rotational axis, but also:
- number of blades – there are windmills with two and three blades, and there are also multi-blade modifications;
- materials for manufacturing functional parts – with sail and rigid blades;
- propeller pitch – adjustable or fixed.
Multi-blade stationary windmills begin to rotate even in low winds, but two- and three-blade devices require stronger winds to operate. At the same time, each additional blade in the design creates more resistance to the wheel, making it more difficult to achieve the generator's standard operating speed.
Depending on the material of manufacture blades for wind turbines, certain difficulties may arise in your work. Sailing elements are easier to manufacture and therefore cost less.
But if it is necessary to ensure reliable operation of a wind turbine for autonomous power supply, it is worth giving preference to structures with rigid blades made of metal or reinforced fiberglass.
As for the propeller pitch, things are not so simple here either. The variable pitch allows you to significantly expand the range of effective speeds for operating a wind farm and this is a big plus. But at the same time, such a mechanism reduces the overall reliability of the stationary installation and significantly makes the wind wheel heavier, complicating the operation of the unit.
The feasibility of installing a wind generator
Small wind power plants are now widely used as alternative sources of electricity, which allow real savings to be achieved.
Such devices are usually installed in summer cottages, in areas remote from main power grids. But this is not the only reason why people increasingly prefer structures of this type.
However, not every area is suitable for installing a wind turbine. In order for the mini-power plant to fully function during the service life declared by the manufacturer, the climatic conditions of the area must meet the requirements of special equipment.
The average wind speed should not be less than 4.5-5 m/s. Only in this case will the installation of a structure with a wind turbine be economically justified.
To find out approximate data on the average annual wind speed by region, you need to view a special wind map.More accurate information can be obtained using an anemometer and a signal reading device.
The measuring system must be installed at a high altitude so that nearby buildings and trees do not distort the results.
If you decide to install a mini wind farm for your home, you should also think about the available space. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account that the wind must “walk” absolutely freely along the blades, and without obstacles in its path, reach them from different sides.
That is why the ideal place to install a wind turbine is considered to be the tops of hills, where air masses are compacted with a corresponding increase in pressure and wind speed. Marine regions and the steppe zone are also considered suitable.
Any obstacles within a radius of 250 m will affect wind generator operation. To obtain maximum efficiency indicators, it is necessary to install the turbine axis above the level of obstacles by at least 4-5 m.
Equipment selection rules
The selection of a wind generator for your home should be approached responsibly.
You need to collect basic information in advance:
- Calculate the nominal and maximum amount of electricity to meet the needs of the house.
- View the average annual wind speed in your area to determine when your windmill will be idle.
- Take into account the climatic features of the area. If there are severe frosts in the winter season, installing a wind farm will not be worthwhile.
- Find out the intensity of noise created when wind generators operate.
- Compare the technical characteristics of devices from different manufacturers.
The selection of component functional elements for a wind power plant is carried out according to the nominal power value. In this case, the nominal wind speed also plays a role - the values at which the wind generator generates the calculated amount of electrical energy.
It is also necessary to focus on the fact that the power of a wind generator depends on the diameter of the wheel formed by the blades. If the size is doubled, the windmill will produce 4 times more electricity at the same wind speed.
The capacity of the batteries is also important. If there is no wind, they should have enough energy to power the house.
Low-power models of wind generators with light, low masts can be installed independently. The central support must be mounted on a reinforced concrete foundation. For lateral stability of the structure, 3-4 stretch marks are used.
Approximate prices and payback of wind generators
The popularity of wind turbines is growing every day. They are beneficial for equipping large and expensive cottages, the maintenance of which requires a lot of electrical energy.
It is advisable to install wind turbines in populated areas where there is no centralized power supply or the power supply is constantly interrupted.
It is in such cases that wind generators will come to the rescue, the use of which has a number of advantages:
- transformation of air flow energy into free electricity;
- environmental safety of wind turbines;
- absence of raw materials and waste in electricity production;
- minimal wear of functional parts;
- long service life - 25-30 years;
- there is no need to constantly monitor the operation of the wind farm.
Disadvantages include variability and unpredictability of wind strength. To minimize losses, you need to duplicate the source or install an additional buffer for energy storage. Also, a rotating wind wheel poses a potential threat to flying birds.
Another significant disadvantage of wind turbines for domestic use is their high cost. These bulky structures are made of expensive materials and include a controller, batteries, an inverter installation and a mast.
It should be noted that household wind generators from Russian manufacturers, as well as high-quality wind turbines produced in China, are much cheaper than their European counterparts. The cost of domestic wind turbines with a vertical axis with a nominal power of up to 2 kW varies in the range of $1300-2500.
But at this price, the package only includes a generator with blades.The remaining equipment will have to be purchased separately or do it yourself. Complete installations cost approximately 40-50% more.
The price of wind farms for home use with a power of 3 kW to 7 kW is much higher. Such generators with associated equipment will cost the buyer $5,000-$12,000.
And even when there are interruptions in the supply of network electricity, it is not always advisable to install a wind generator. It will be easier and cheaper to install an uninterruptible power supply system based on industrial batteries in combination with a UPS.
It makes sense to install a wind power plant in places where access to a centralized energy supply is completely absent. The payback period in this case is 25 years.
Before purchasing components for assembling and installing a wind power generator, it is advisable to carry out calculations using formulasgiven in our recommended article. Here you will find the order and rules for performing calculations.
Review of the best brands and installations
The Russian market of wind generators offers both reliable, relatively inexpensive devices from domestic brands, and models of wind turbines from foreign manufacturers that vary in functionality. To decide on the choice of installation for your home, you need to compare the characteristics of different units.
No. 1 - wind generators Condor Home (Russia)
A series of wind turbines for home use includes devices with a power of 0.5-5 kW. They can serve as the main source of electricity or additional.Condor Home stations are adapted for operation in low temperature conditions and are capable of producing energy even in low winds.
Depending on the model, the generator housing is made of plastic or cast aluminum, the blades are made of fiberglass. There is an effective dual braking system. The mast is composite, on guy wires, and has a height of 8-12 m. To install these units, you need a pile or concrete foundation.
The basic package includes a mast and guy ropes, a generator, a rotor and blades, a charge controller, and fasteners.
No. 2 - Falcon Euro mini-power plants (Russia)
They are high-tech vertical-axis wind generators with a power of 1-15 kW. They are used for primary/backup power supply to consumers remote from power lines. Can be used as part of a complex with solar panels and a fuel generator.
Windmills are equipped with powerful neodymium magnets. The starting wind speed for starting the installation is 1.5 m/s, the nominal speed is 11 m/s. The installed aerodynamic brake helps limit wheel speed. The declared service life from the manufacturer is 20 years, the factory warranty on the mini-power plant is 36 months.
The basic Falcon Euro installation kit includes several functional elements: a wind wheel, a generator and controller, a mast, and embedded parts. The inverter installation and batteries are selected separately.
No. 3 - wind turbines Sokol Air Vertical (Russia)
Small wind power plants of this brand can provide electricity to both small cottages and medium-sized enterprises. For domestic use, SAV devices with a power of 0.5-15 kW are produced.
They are characterized by high efficiency in light winds, operate smoothly at low and high temperatures in the range from -50 °C to +50 °C, are characterized by low noise levels and resistance to external influences.
The generation of electricity by Sokol Air Vertical units does not depend on wind direction. Vertical-axial installations operate in automatic mode without maintenance personnel. The design provides an electromagnetic and aerodynamic braking system to limit the speed of the wind wheel.
The blades are made of reinforced polyester or aircraft grade aluminum (depending on the model) and have a self-unwinding profile. The generator is a multi-pole three-phase generator with excitation from permanent magnets.
The basic package of a wind power plant includes: a wind turbine with a battery charge controller, a mast with guys, and an installation kit. The inverter and batteries are selected separately according to the technical specifications.
No. 4 - wind generators Energy Wind (Russia)
Buyers have access to single- and three-blade models of universal-use products with a power of 1-10 kW. These wind turbines are perfect for creating projects to provide electricity to private residential buildings and cottages.
Energy Wind units are based on durable blades made of reinforced fiberglass, painted with auto enamel, and a reliable air flow exhaust system. These units with a horizontal axis of rotation operate stably at temperatures from -40 to +40 degrees Celsius.
The minimum operating wind speed is 2 m/s, at some blade positions - 3 m/s, the recommended mast height is 8-20 m. The average service life of Russian brand installations is 25 years, the official warranty from the manufacturer is 3 years.
The basic equipment of the installations includes a permanent magnet electric generator with a mounting unit for the mast and a rotating mechanism, blades, and a set of fasteners for assembling a wind turbine. The mast, as well as the controller, inverter and batteries for storing electricity must be purchased separately.
No. 5 - Altek EW wind turbines (China)
Type of wind turbines – with a horizontal axis of rotation. Devices with a rated power from 1 kW to 10 kW are ideal for solving the problems of power supply to country houses and cottages.
The protective casing of Altek EW wind turbines is made of aluminum alloy, which significantly facilitates the design. The functional metal parts of the generator are coated with silicon for heat resistance.
The blades are made of fiber-reinforced plastic.The starting wind speed for launching household units of the Chinese brand is 2.5 m/s, the nominal speed is 12 m/s.
The basic package includes blades, a generator and a controller. The remaining functional elements for the windmill must be purchased.
If the cost of a factory-produced kit seems too high to you, it makes sense to build DIY wind generator. The article we recommend describes how to make a useful household appliance from a washing machine.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Prospects for the use of wind power plants:
The operating principle of modern wind turbines. How wind energy is converted into electricity:
Even today, the use of wind turbines requires constant development. The capabilities and long-term prospects of this alternative method of generating electricity are promising. However, certain measures are needed both from equipment manufacturers and from local administrations.
Installing small wind generators for private households will not completely solve the problem of energy supply in the regions. But for some land owners, this option may be a way out.
Tell us about your own experience in choosing or installing a wind turbine on a country plot. Please write comments, post photos and ask questions in the block below. Share technological subtleties and useful information that will be useful to site visitors.
There is enough wind now, the forests have been cut down - hurricanes are blowing. The noise during operation and the possibility of energy accumulation are confusing. The problem now is not so much to generate electricity as to accumulate it.
Of course, it will not be possible to fully provide the house with electricity, but removing at least half the load will already be a relief for the budget; electricity is now very expensive.
In general, it’s surprising why we don’t use an alternative, but are dependent, quite expensive, on energy companies? Conservatism and fear of everything new hinders the development of progress.
And at what budget will very expensive wind generators be purchased?
The key factors are, of course, not reliability or stability, but the payback of the equipment. If it works efficiently and repays the investment in no more than five years, then there will be a demand for wind turbines. And now, private owners install them for the sake of showing off, nothing more. Some other countries, this is not an example, governments simply finance wind energy from the budget, again a banal desire to stand out and extra money.
Dmitry, everything new once started with a minimum payback (by the way, where does this figure come from - 5 years?), and then, as mass production began, the equipment became cheaper. And, in addition to payback, we must not forget about the environment. Especially when it comes to large projects that replace coal-fired power plants, the main source of air pollution.
Our neighbor in the country installed a generator on the roof of his house and now only uses it. True, he doesn’t live at the dacha permanently and comes mostly only on weekends.But at least it no longer depends on the power supply, and this is a big plus. Moreover, in our area, power outages occur quite often. So it's quite a useful thing.
Who can advise how to make a Bondarev aerodynamic propeller?
As for an engineer, the advice is illiterate. There are NO vertically axial wind turbines.
Why, competent engineers know this.
Chinese windmills are of poor quality and have very little energy production.