A home wind turbine is device that converts wind energy into mechanical energy which is later converted into usable electricity.
It typically consists of the following parts:
• The blades – A wind turbine can consist of any number of blades from 4 to 20. Some special wind turbines have higher number of blades.
• The tower – The tower holds the rotating blades high up in the air so that the winds rotate them.
• The shaft – The shaft is responsible for joining the blades with the tower and for the smooth rotation of the blades.
• The generator – These home wind generators are what that generate electricity from the mechanical energy. It also stores power for future usage.
• The base: The base of the home wind turbine keeps it grounded to the earth.
There are many factors that affect the design of a home wind turbine and they are:
• Wind speed: The wind speed can be accurately measured with the help of an anemometer. It is not possible to determine the right kind of wind turbine without knowing the accurate wind speed.
• Wind direction: For designing a wind turbine, it is also important to know the direction from which the wind flows most of the time.
• Change in wind speed: Apart from the constant speed of mind, it is important that you know how the wind changes its speed.
• Change of wind direction: The direction of wind turbine not be constant, so it important to note the way it changes its direction.
• Obstructions on the site: It is best to install a wind turbine at a place without many obstructions. Look out for existing and potential structures that may affect the performance of your wind turbine.
• Wind turbulence: The movement of the wind is not always predictable. However, it is a great idea to understand the patter of wind turbulence in your site.
• Distance of wind activity from the ground: The height of the tower is dependent on the height of which the wind is active.
The designs of home wind turbines vary in the following measures:
• The number of blades
• Shape of the blades
• The height of the tower
• Types of generators
• The distance of the installation spot from the ground
• Distance between the tower and the generator