With oil prices moving higher and higher, power costs tend to follow the same trend. Given that our daily life relies very much on the consumption of electricity, getting your power from alternate sources is an attractive option.
The sun, water, and even wind are viable sources of energy. What’s more, they are renewable sources of energy as they are constantly present in our environment. More and more people now care to set-up their own windmill at their homes. With the many instructions to build a windmill available out there, it is up to you to find the one that is easy to comprehend.
Here are some simple instructions to build a windmill:
Basically, there are several different types of windmills, based on the direction their blades spin:
1. The Horizontal upwind, where the wind hits the blade before the tower and the shaft stands horizontally;
2. The Horizontal downwind where the wind hits the tower before the blade; and
3. The Vertical Axis, mounted on short towers and its blades are pointing upwards.
Essentially, a windmill has four parts that must be given extra attention:
– base
– tower
– blades
– nacelle
In building this structure, the main objective is to maximize the conversion of the wind’s energy into electricity. Therefore, it should be high enough to take advantage of the wind’s action in obstructed terrains – an average tower usually stands at 5 feet.
The base must be strong and heavy compared with other parts, to ensure a sturdy structure because it is the main foundation. It is advisable to use materials like sandbags or concrete, and in the case of a five-foot windmill, the base must be at least 18 inches square thick and 20 pounds heavy.
The tower supports the blade in capturing wind energy. There are many approaches when building it. You can either use guyed lattice or steel and pipe tubings or erect them using a jin pole or crane.
The nacelle attaches the blade to the tower and contains copper wires and magnets that run the blade and help convert the wind’s energy to electricity.
The blade is the propeller used to capture the wind’s energy, so it is necessary that the blades are able to gather the flow of the wind easily, turning with the least potential resistance.
Materials to be used for these parts must be lightweight, so you can carve them from plastic or PVC pipes. Note that in strong winds and storms, the blades can pose a danger if separated from the structure, so be sure to lock in the blades securely, keeping safety precautions in mind.
Considering that a simple windmill could cost at least $40,000, constructing one for personal use can be quite expensive, but utilizing what is around you can help you save some expenses.
It is therefore recommended to recycle parts in order to reduce your expenses. Following these simple instructions to build a windmill will enable you to build one from scratch.
Windmills are just the beginning. To learn more about solar and wind power, go to Solar and Wind Power For Residential Homes or if you are looking for a simple way of building your own residential wind generator, see our Energy4Green Review.