How to make a wind generator with your own hands. Do-it-yourself windmills for home - which model is the most suitable? Progress of design work

wind farms- This is the most alternative option for saving electrical energy today.

Very often, such installations can be found in suburban areas.

People use them in places where suburban areas are remote from the main electrical networks. But this is not the only reason. Most people use wind farms for economy and autonomy.

Wind farms have their own characteristics that potential buyers need to know, and how productivity depends on their competence.

The main incentive to purchase a wind generator- this is undoubtedly its expediency. One of the main criteria for achieving this goal is the requirements for the wind. It is known that the average annual wind speed is about 4.0-4.5 m / s, this indicator is more than enough for a home wind farm to be profitable in use, that is, it makes it possible to save electricity.

In order to estimate the wind speed in your area, you can use the wind map. If you have a desire to measure the wind speed with maximum accuracy, you should purchase a special device that will help you with this.

This invention includes a part called an anemometer. With it, you receive a signal equivalent to the speed of the wind. Also, you will need a device that reads the signals that the anemometer gives. There are other devices of this type.

In order for the data to be as accurate as possible, such devices must be installed high so that external factors such as trees, various buildings, etc., do not distort the results of the device.

Device Components

It is very important when buying a home wind farm to know its components, this will give you the opportunity to be more competent in this matter and choose the best model for your home.

The wind farm includes:

1. Rotor with blades(depending on the model, wind turbines are divided into two-blade, three-blade and multi-blade).
2. The gearbox, in other words, the gearbox. Its task is to regulate the speed between the rotor and the generator.
3. Protective cover- its name speaks for itself, it is designed to protect all the components of the wind farm from external influences.
4. "Tail" of the wind turbine- needed to rotate the structure in the direction of the wind.
5. Accumulator battery Its main purpose is to store electricity. This is due to the fact that weather conditions are not always favorable for a wind farm, and with the help of this component, a certain amount of energy is stored.
6. inverter installation- designed to convert direct current to alternating current. This is necessary to ensure the operation of household electrical appliances.

Types and principle of operation

Wind farms are divided into types according to the following four criteria:

1. In the direction of the axis of rotation of the blades(divided into horizontal and vertical. Vertical ones are more resistant to external conditions, but they have less electricity generation).
2. By number of blades(in this case, wind turbines are two-, three- and multi-bladed).
3. According to the material used(they are distinguished with rigid and sail blades. The main difference is that sail blades are cheaper, but they are less durable);
4. Blade control method(there are fixed and variable pitch blades. Experts recommend a fixed pitch blades, as variable causes difficulty in use).

When choosing a power plant, it would be advisable to know what the principle of operation of a wind generator is. The principle of operation of the installation is extremely simple. The design consists of a shank with blades mounted on a metal mast, which rotate with the help of the wind and turn the generator rotor.

Before supplying current to the battery compartment, it passes through a converter, where it converts AC to DC to a voltage of 220 volts at a frequency of 50 hertz and supplies the house with electricity in calm weather.

A modern wind generator does not need a strong wind. Its design is so well thought out that for a private house a wind speed of up to 4 - 5 m / s is enough.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of wind turbines:

1. The costs are spent on the installation and maintenance of the device. More expenses are not required, since the structure does not need fuel to operate.
2. You do not need to control and interfere with the operation of the windmill, since power generation occurs whenever there is wind.
3. Depending on the type of generator, it won't make any noise.
4. The device is suitable for most climatic conditions.
5. Part wear is negligible.

The main disadvantages of a wind farm:

1. In certain modes or when the mast is incorrectly installed, the wind generator can emit infrasound.
2. high mast necessarily requires grounding.
3. The need for regular preventive maintenance.
4. Probability of fixture damage during hurricanes, etc.

Choice of size and placement

The size of a wind farm is a very important issue for potential buyers. In order to determine the size, you need to carefully study - how much energy do you consume in one month? The resulting figure must be multiplied by 12 months.

Then, you need to use the formula: AEO = 1.64 * D*D * V*V*V.

Notations that you need to know when using the formula:

1. AEO- the electricity you use per year.
2. D- rotor diameter, which is indicated in meters.
3. V- the average annual wind speed, indicated in m / s.

Thus, these calculations will help determine what size generator you need, depending on your electricity consumption.

When thinking about purchasing a wind farm for your home, you need to study all the details associated with the design as accurately as possible, since it depends on how your goal will be satisfied.

When placing a wind turbine, you should consider the following factors:

1. There should be no trees near your installation, various buildings and other things that could interfere with the maximum productivity of your generator.
2. It is best to install a wind turbine on a specially constructed structure, which should be a couple of meters higher than obstacles located at a distance of at least 200 meters.
3. It is recommended to place wind farms at a distance of about 30-40 meters from residential buildings, as they create a certain noise that brings discomfort.

Also, you should take into account that you will not be able to constantly get the same result from your wind farm, as the natural conditions change, there may be different gusts of wind in the same place, respectively, and the amount of energy you receive will be dynamic.

Price overview

In most cases, the price of wind farms depends on their capacity. In domestic conditions, generators with a power of 5 to 50 kW are quite enough.

More details about the ratio of prices and types of generators:

1. Wind generators with a power of 3 kW / 48V– approximate cost 93 000.00 rub. Similar ones can be used not only as an additional source of power supply, but also as the main one. Such models are able to provide electricity to the cottage.
2. Wind generators with a power of 5 kW / 120V– approximately 220,100.00 rubles. Such a design can provide energy to the whole house. You can simultaneously turn on a sufficiently large number of household electrical appliances.
3. Wind generators with a power of 10 kW/240V- prices within 414,000.00 rubles. It is enough to provide energy for a farm or several houses. In addition to household appliances, you can easily use, for example, electrical construction tools all day. Such power generators are often used for supermarkets to ensure the continuous operation of departments and video surveillance.
4. Wind generators with a power of 20 kW/240V- the price of such a device is 743,700.00 rubles. Power plants of this type are very powerful. They are able to provide electricity to the entire water pressure system. In domestic conditions, he will be able to more than fully provide energy to a huge house.
5. Wind generators with a power of 30 kW/240V- cost within 961,800.00 rubles. This model is so powerful that it can provide electrical energy to a five-story house.
6. Wind turbines with a power of 50 kW/380V- approximate price is about 3,107,000.00 rubles. This model is not rational for domestic use, as it is so powerful that it can more than provide energy for several multi-storey buildings.

When buying a home power plant, it is worth knowing that in most cases the prices are for the complete set, but you can add or exclude certain components yourself. This is subject to your personal discretion.

Efficiency and payback

Wind farms for the home are an alternative solution to save energy. They have become quite widespread.

In order to provide energy to the whole house, it is enough to use one wind generator and at the same time not limit yourself by saving on electricity.

It is also beneficial that to obtain such an effect, a minimum wind speed of 1.8 to 4.5 meters per second is sufficient.

But weather conditions are not always suitable for a wind turbine, so you need to purchase a backup generator that will provide power. This will give you the opportunity to increase the productivity of your home wind farm.

Among the positive aspects of the installation, it is worth noting the following:

1. Spending a lot of money on a generator, you will no longer need to spend money, since the device does not need fuel to operate. That is, in a few years your purchase will be able to pay off.
2. Wind generator performance does not depend on the season or other weather conditions, its operation does not stop even in winter, which is undoubtedly a plus, since in the winter season the energy consumption is higher than in others. This fact undoubtedly testifies to its effectiveness and payback.
3. Generator parts wear is negligible, given the regular preventive maintenance of the wind turbine, which is necessary. With proper and competent installation, as well as operation of a wind farm for a home, it can serve you for more than thirty years, which is undoubtedly a significant plus.

The full payback period for wind farms is approximately 5-7 years, and then you can use electricity absolutely free.

With rising prices for electricity, there is a search and development of its alternative sources everywhere. In most regions of the country, it is advisable to use wind turbines. To fully provide electricity to a private house, a sufficiently powerful and expensive installation is required.

Wind generator for home

If you make a small wind generator, you can use electric current to heat water or use it for part of the lighting, such as outbuildings, garden paths and porches. Heating water for household needs or heating is the simplest option for using wind energy without its accumulation and conversion. Here the question is more about whether there will be enough power for heating.

Before you make a generator, you first need to find out the features of the winds in the region.

A large wind generator, for many places in the Russian climate, is not very suitable due to the frequent change in the intensity and direction of air flows. Above 1 kW, it will be inertial and will not be able to fully spin up when the wind changes. Inertia in the plane of rotation leads to overloads from the side wind, leading to its failure.

With the advent of low-power energy consumers, it makes sense to use small home-made wind generators of no more than 12 volts to illuminate the cottage with LED lamps or charge telephone batteries when there is no electricity in the house. When this is not necessary, the generator can be used to heat water.

Type of wind generator

For a windless area, only a sail wind generator is suitable. In order for the power supply to be constant, you will need a battery of at least 12V, a charger, an inverter, a stabilizer and a rectifier.

For low-wind areas, you can independently make a vertical wind generator with a power of no more than 2-3 kW. There are many options and they are almost as good as industrial designs. It is advisable to buy windmills with a sailing rotor. Reliable models with power from 1 to 100 kilowatts are produced in Taganrog.

In windy regions, you can make a vertical generator for your home with your own hands, if the required power is 0.5-1.5 kilowatts. The blades can be made from improvised means, for example, from a barrel. It is advisable to buy more productive devices. The cheapest are "sailboats". A vertical windmill is more expensive, but it works more reliably in strong winds.

DIY low-power windmill

At home, a small homemade wind generator is easy to make. To start working in the field of creating alternative energy sources and gaining valuable experience in this how to assemble a generator, you can make a simple device yourself by adapting a motor from a computer or printer.

12V wind generator with horizontal axis

To make a low-power windmill with your own hands, you must first prepare drawings or sketches.

At a rotation speed of 200-300 rpm. the voltage can be raised to 12 volts, and the generated power will be about 3 watts. It can be used to charge a small battery. For other generators, the power must be increased to 1000 rpm. Only then will they be effective. But here you need a gearbox that creates significant resistance and also has a high cost.

Electrical part

To assemble the generator, you need the following components:

1. a small motor from an old printer, drive or scanner;
2. 8 diodes type 1N4007 for two rectifier bridges;
3. capacitor with a capacity of 1000 microfarads;
4. PVC pipe and plastic parts;
5. aluminum plates.

The figure below shows the generator circuit.

Stepper motor: connection diagram to the rectifier and stabilizer

Diode bridges are connected to each motor winding, of which there are two. After the bridges, the LM7805 stabilizer is connected. As a result, the output is a voltage that is usually supplied to a 12-volt battery.

Neodymium magnet power generators with extremely high adhesive force have gained great popularity. They should be used carefully. With a strong impact or heating to a temperature of 80-250 0 C (depending on the type), neodymium magnets demagnetize.

You can take the hub of a car as the basis for a do-it-yourself generator.

Rotor with neodymium magnets

About 20 neodymium magnets with a diameter of about 25 mm are glued onto the hub with superglue. Single-phase power generators are made with an equal number of poles and magnets.

Magnets located opposite each other must be attracted, i.e. turned by opposite poles. After gluing neodymium magnets, they are filled with epoxy resin.

Coils are wound round, and the total number of turns is 1000-1200. The power of the generator on neodymium magnets is selected so that it can be used as a source of direct current, about 6A to charge the battery at 12 V.

Mechanical

The blades are made from plastic pipe. Workpieces 10 cm wide and 50 cm long are drawn on it, and then cut out. A bushing is made on the motor shaft with a flange to which the blades are attached with screws. Their number can be from two to four. Plastic will not last long, but for the first time it will be enough. Now enough wear-resistant materials have appeared, for example, carbon fiber and polypropylene. Stronger aluminum alloy blades can then be made.

The blades are balanced by cutting off excess parts at the ends, and the angle of inclination is created by heating them with a bend.

The generator is bolted to a piece of plastic pipe with a vertical axis welded to it. An aluminum alloy weather vane is also installed coaxially on the pipe. The axle is inserted into the vertical tube of the mast. A thrust bearing is installed between them. The whole structure can freely rotate in a horizontal plane.

The electrical board can be placed on a rotating part, and the voltage can be transmitted to the consumer through two slip rings with brushes. If the board with a rectifier is installed separately, then the number of rings will be six, how many pins a stepper motor has.

The windmill is mounted at a height of 5-8 m.

If the device will efficiently generate energy, it can be improved by making it vertically axial, for example, from a barrel. The design is less subject to lateral overloads than the horizontal one. The figure below shows a rotor with blades made from barrel fragments, mounted on an axis inside the frame and not subject to overturning force.

Wind turbine with a vertical axis and a barrel rotor

The profiled surface of the barrel creates additional rigidity, due to which thinner sheet metal can be used.

Wind generator with a capacity of more than 1 kilowatt

The device should bring tangible benefits and provide a voltage of 220 V so that you can turn on some electrical appliances. To do this, it must independently start and generate electricity in a wide range.

To make a wind generator with your own hands, you must first determine the design. It depends on how strong the wind is. If it is weak, then the sail version of the rotor may be the only option. More than 2-3 kilowatts of energy cannot be obtained here. In addition, it will need a gearbox and a powerful battery with a charger.

The price of all equipment is high, so you should find out if it will be beneficial for the house.

In areas with strong winds, a home-made wind generator can produce 1.5-5 kilowatts of power. Then it can be connected to a 220V home network. It is difficult to make a device with more power on your own.

Electric generator from a DC motor

As a generator, you can use a low-speed motor that generates electric current at 400-500 rpm: PIK8-6 / 2.5 36V 0.3Nm 1600min-1. Body length 143 mm, diameter 80 mm, shaft diameter 12 mm.

What does a DC motor look like?

It needs a multiplier with a gear ratio of 1:12. With one revolution of the windmill blades, the generator will make 12 revolutions. The figure below shows a diagram of the device.

Windmill device diagram

The gearbox creates an additional load, but still less than for a car alternator or starter, where a gear ratio of at least 1:25 is required.

It is advisable to make the blades from an aluminum sheet measuring 60x12x2. If you install 6 of them on the motor, the device will not be so fast and will not go haywire with large gusts of wind. It should be possible to balance. To do this, the blades are soldered to the bushings with the possibility of winding onto the rotor so that they can be moved further or closer to its center.

The power of a permanent magnet generator made of ferrite or steel does not exceed 0.5-0.7 kilowatts. It can be increased only on special neodymium magnets.

A generator with a non-magnetized stator is not suitable for operation. With a small wind, it stops, and after that it will not be able to start on its own.

Constant heating during the cold season requires a lot of energy, and heating a large house is a problem. For giving in this regard, it can come in handy when you have to go there no more than 1 time per week. If everything is weighed correctly, the heating system in the country works for only a few hours. The rest of the time the owners are in nature. Using a windmill as a source of direct current for charging the battery, in 1-2 weeks you can accumulate electricity for space heating for such a period of time, and thus create sufficient comfort for yourself.

To make a generator from an AC motor or a car starter, they need to be reworked. The motor can be upgraded to a generator if the rotor is made on neodymium magnets, machined to their thickness. It is made with the number of poles, like the stator, alternating with each other. The rotor on neodymium magnets glued to its surface should not stick during rotation.

Types of rotors

Rotor designs vary. Common options are shown in the figure below, where the values ​​​​of the wind energy utilization factor (KIEV) are indicated.

Types and designs of wind turbine rotors

For rotation, windmills are made with a vertical or horizontal axis. The vertical version has the advantage of ease of maintenance when the main nodes are located at the bottom. The thrust bearing is self-aligning and has a long service life.

The two blades of the Savonius rotor create jerks, which is not very convenient. For this reason, it is made of two pairs of blades spaced 2 levels apart with one rotated relative to the other by 90 0 . Barrels, buckets, pots can be used as blanks.

The Darrieus rotor, whose blades are made of elastic tape, is easy to manufacture. To facilitate promotion, their number should be odd. The movement is jerky, because of which the mechanical part quickly breaks. In addition, the tape vibrates as it rotates, making a roar. For permanent use, this design is not very suitable, although the blades are sometimes made of sound-absorbing materials.
In an orthogonal rotor, the wings are profiled. The optimal number of blades is three. The device is high-speed, but it must be untwisted at start-up.

The helicoid rotor has a high efficiency due to the complex curvature of the blades, which reduces losses. It is used less frequently than other windmills due to its high cost.

Horizontal bladed rotor design is the most efficient. But it requires a stable average wind, and it also needs hurricane protection. Blades can be made from propylene when their diameter is less than 1 m.

If you cut the blades from a thick-walled plastic pipe or barrel, you will not be able to achieve power above 200 watts. The segment profile is not suitable for compressible gaseous media. A complex profile is needed here.

The diameter of the rotor depends on how much power is required, as well as on the number of blades. A two-blade 10 W requires a rotor with a diameter of 1.16 m, and a 100 W - 6.34 m. For a four-blade and a six-blade, the diameter will be 4.5 m and 3.68 m, respectively.

If you put the rotor directly on the generator shaft, its bearing will not last long, since the load on all the blades is uneven. The support bearing for the windmill shaft must be self-aligning, with two or three tiers. Then the rotor shaft will not be afraid of bends and displacements during rotation.

An important role in the operation of the windmill is played by the current collector, which must be regularly maintained: lubricated, cleaned, adjusted. The possibility of its prevention should be provided, although this is difficult to do.

Security

Wind turbines with a power exceeding 100 W are noisy devices. In the courtyard of a private house, you can install an industrial wind turbine if it is certified. Its height should be higher than the nearest houses. Even a low-power windmill cannot be installed on the roof. Mechanical vibrations from its work can create resonance and lead to the destruction of the structure.

High rotational speeds of the wind generator require high-quality manufacturing. Otherwise, if the device is destroyed, there is a danger that its parts may fly off over long distances and cause injury to a person or pets. This should be especially taken into account when making a windmill with your own hands from improvised materials.

Video. Wind generator with your own hands.

The use of wind turbines is not advisable in all regions, since it depends on climatic features. In addition, it makes no sense to make them with your own hands without a certain experience and knowledge. To get started, you can take on the creation of a simple design with a power of several watts and a voltage of up to 12 volts with which you can charge your phone or light an energy-saving lamp. The use of neodymium magnets in the generator can significantly increase its power.

Powerful wind turbines, which take over a significant part of the power supply at home, are best purchased industrial, to create a voltage of 220V, while carefully weighing the pros and cons. If you combine them with other types of alternative energy sources, electricity can be enough for all household needs, including a home heating system.

It is difficult not to notice how the stability of electricity supplies to suburban facilities differs from the provision of urban buildings and enterprises with electricity. Admit that you, as the owner of a private house or cottage, have repeatedly encountered interruptions, inconveniences and damage to equipment associated with them.

The listed negative situations, together with the consequences, will no longer complicate the life of lovers of natural spaces. And with minimal labor and financial costs. To do this, you just need to make a wind power generator, which we describe in detail in the article.

We have described in detail the options for manufacturing a system that is useful in the economy, eliminating energy dependence. According to our advice, an inexperienced home craftsman will be able to build a wind generator with his own hands. A practical device will help to significantly reduce daily expenses.

Alternative energy sources are the dream of any summer resident or homeowner whose site is located far from the central networks. However, when we receive bills for electricity consumed in a city apartment, and looking at the increased tariffs, we realize that a wind generator created for domestic needs would not hurt us.

After reading this article, perhaps you will make your dream come true.

A wind generator is an excellent solution for providing a suburban facility with electricity. Moreover, in some cases, its installation is the only possible way out.

In order not to waste money, effort and time, let's decide: are there any external circumstances that will create obstacles for us in the process of operating a wind turbine?

To provide electricity to a summer house or a small cottage, it is enough, the power of which will not exceed 1 kW. Such devices in Russia are equated to household products. Their installation does not require certificates, permits or any additional approvals.

Do-it-yourself vertical wind generator, drawings, photos, videos of a windmill with a vertical axis.

Wind generators are divided according to the type of placement of the rotating axis (rotor) into vertical and horizontal. We considered the design of a wind turbine with a horizontal rotor in the last article, now let's talk about a wind generator with a vertical rotor.

Scheme of an axial generator for a wind generator.

Wind turbine manufacturing.

The wind wheel (turbine) of a vertical wind generator consists of two supports, upper and lower, as well as blades.

The wind wheel is made from sheets of aluminum or stainless steel, and the wind wheel can also be cut from a thin-walled barrel. The height of the wind wheel must be at least 1 meter.

In this wind wheel, the angle of the blades bend sets the speed of rotation of the rotor, the greater the bend, the greater the speed of rotation.

The wind wheel is bolted directly to the generator pulley.

To install a vertical wind generator, you can use any mast, the manufacture of the mast is described in detail in this.

Scheme of connection of the vetogenerator.

The generator is connected to the controller, which in turn is connected to the battery. It is more practical to use a car battery as an energy storage device. Since household appliances run on AC, we will need an inverter to convert DC 12V to AC 220V.

For connection, a copper wire with a cross section of up to 2.5 squares is used. The connection diagram is described in detail.

Video showing a wind generator in operation.