Do-it-yourself vertical wind generators for the home. Vertical wind generator for a summer residence

A windmill does not need fuel or solar energy to generate electricity. This feature makes many people think about how to build a wind turbine with their own hands, because the purchase and installation of finished equipment is expensive.

The principle of operation and types of wind generator

You can make a windmill on your own only with an understanding of its device. The prototype of this unit is an old windmill. With the pressure of air flows on its wings, a shaft came into motion, which transmitted the torque to the mill equipment.

In wind turbines for the production of electricity, the same principle of using wind energy to rotate the rotor is applied:

1. The movement of the blades when exposed to wind causes the input shaft with the gearbox to rotate. The torque is transmitted to the secondary shaft (rotor) of the generator, equipped with 12 magnets. As a result of its rotation, an alternating current arises in the stator ring.
2. This kind of electricity cannot charge batteries without a special device - a controller (rectifier). The device converts alternating current into direct current, allowing it to be stored so that household appliances can work without interruption. The controller also performs another function: it stops charging the battery in time, and the excess energy generated by the windmill is transferred to units that consume a large amount of it (for example, to heating elements for heating a house)
3. To provide a voltage supply of 220 V, the current is supplied from the batteries to the inverter, and then it goes to the points of electricity consumption.

To ensure that the blades are always in the best position for interacting with the wind, a tail is installed on the impeller devices, which allows you to turn the propeller towards the wind. Factory models of windmills have braking devices or additional circuits for folding the tail or removing the blades from wind blows in adverse weather.

There are several types of wind turbines, classifying them by the number and material of the blades or the pitch of the propeller. But the main division occurs according to the location of the axis or input shaft:

1. The horizontal type implies the location of the shaft parallel to the ground. Such generators are called vane generators.
2. In vertical windmills, the axis is located perpendicular to the horizon, and the planes are located around it. Vertical generators can be called orthogonal or carousel.

Regardless of the location of the axis of rotation, the principle of operation of the unit remains the same.

Models of windmills can have a propeller or a wind wheel of 2, 3 or several blades. It is believed that multi-bladed devices are able to generate current in a small wind, and propellers with 2-3 wings require a greater air flow. When choosing a model, it is also necessary to take into account the important rule that each blade creates resistance to the wind flow and reduces the rotation speed, so it is quite difficult to spin a multi-blade wheel to operating speed.

Among the varieties of windmills there are sailing and rigid ones. These names refer to the material from which the wings are made. With self-assembly, the sail type will be simpler and more economical, but the blades made of plastic material (fabric, films, etc.) are not durable and wear resistant.

Vertical option

It is easier to make a vertical type wind generator than a horizontal one. The design does not require a vane device, it is located at a low height (up to 2 m). Reviews of those who use vertical wind turbines (wind power plant) indicate a slight noise during rotation and ease of maintenance of the working units of the units. The generator is located at the bottom of the structure and maintenance can be carried out without having to work at height or lower the mast to the ground.

A bearing is installed at the upper end of the axis, which simultaneously acts as a mast. This part requires virtually no maintenance and is able to serve for several years without repair.

Unlike a bladed windmill, vertical wind turbines do not require the installation of a high mast. They work regardless of the direction of the wind, which simplifies the design of the moving part. For the blades of a compact wind turbine, you can use a large diameter PVC pipe (for example, a sewer pipe), and thin galvanized steel is suitable for a more powerful wind turbine. These materials are available to any home craftsman and are relatively cheap.

The design of the wind wheel can be chosen independently from the many options available:

• Dornier design with 2 flat blades;
• Savonius system with 4 semi-cylindrical wings;
• orthogonal multi-bladed windmill with 2 rows of planes;
• helicoid wind turbines with curved blade profiles.

All vertical windmills use the principle of the Savonius aggregate. At home, blades can be made from steel or plastic barrels, cut in half lengthwise. The design feature is that the efficiency of the unit reaches a maximum at a blade speed 2 times less than the wind speed. Therefore, you should not try to increase the speed for a vertical wind turbine.

Horizontal Models

Unlike vertical generators, home-made wind turbines with a propeller have a higher efficiency with an increase in the speed of the blades. But numerous and narrow elements of the screw do not contribute to better work: with a strong wind pressure, they do not have time to spin the shaft due to the air cushion formed in front of the screw.

Do-it-yourself multi-bladed wind turbines for a home are best done in areas with not too strong winds. If the wind strength in the region often exceeds 10-15 m per second, it makes sense to build a windmill with 2-3 blades. Both types are able to start working at an air flow speed of about 2-3 m per second.

The horizontal model requires the installation of a high mast (6-12 m). To avoid high-altitude work during maintenance, craftsmen install the simplest folding mechanism at the base of the mast - the axis. For the stability of the structure with a strong wind load, cable-stayed braces are required to hold the rack in a vertical position.

The nacelle with the generator and propeller must be mounted on a bearing and provided with a vane plumage so that the propeller always takes an advantageous position relative to the wind. Cables carrying current should be positioned so that they do not twist when the nacelle rotates, interfere with or break. Therefore, they are carried out inside a tubular mast.

How to make a 220V wind generator?

Work on the creation of a wind turbine should begin with determining the required power of the unit:

• to light several rooms, it is enough to have a generator with a power of less than 1 kW; it will provide power to incandescent or energy-saving lamps, and in addition it will be possible to plug in a laptop or TV;
• a home-made wind generator with a capacity of 5 kW will provide electricity to household appliances (refrigerator, washing machine, stove, etc.);
• in order to completely transfer the house to an autonomous supply of electricity, you need a powerful generator with a capacity of more than 20 kW.

The generator can be made independently or adapted from the corresponding unit removed from the old car. In this way, it is possible to ensure the production of current up to 2-3 kW. To make a more powerful 220V do-it-yourself wind generator, you will need to accurately calculate the number of coils and turns of wire, the size and number of magnets on the rotor, and the parameters of the blade wings.

Simple design

For the simplest design with a power of about 1-1.5 kW, you will need:

• car generator (12 V);
• acid battery (12 V);
• switch-button (12 V);
• current converter 700-1500 V and 12-220 V;
• metal large capacity;
• bolts, washers, nuts;
• clamps for fastening the generator (2 pcs.).

In the pulley of the automobile generator, you need to make symmetrical holes for the bolts. Divide the circumference of the container into 4 equal parts. Cut blades:

• on the side of the container, mark the rectangles according to the markings for dividing the circle;
• find the vertical middle of each element;
• mark the top and bottom of the container with solid rims 3-5 cm wide;
• cut the metal between individual rectangles to the line of the rims;
• make cuts along the upper and lower borders of the markup so that the middle of the rectangle remains intact and connected to the rims;
• deploy each blade relative to the central axis;
• determine the center of the round bottom, mark the locations of the bolt holes in accordance with their location on the generator pulley.

When deploying the wings, it is worth determining the direction of rotation of the wind wheel in order to bring out the necessary parts of the planes. To ensure the same load on all the blades, their angles of rotation should be measured.

The assembly of the structure consists in bolting the generator pulley and the bottom of the tank. After that, a base is prepared for the installation of a wind generator (a mast made of a thick pipe about 2 m high). It is easiest to attach the generator to it with clamps of the appropriate diameter. To charge the battery, the current from the generator must be passed through the rectifier, the connection must be made using the car's electrical circuits.

Homemade generator for a bladed wind turbine

The unit for a horizontal wind generator can be assembled from wheel hubs from a car or an electric motor from a washing machine can be used. To work, you will need to purchase magnets made of neodymium (niobium alloy). It is better to take rectangular elements.

You can determine their number by the number of coils, if an engine is used. For a three-phase generator, the number of magnets should be 2/3 of the number of coils, and for a single-phase generator, it should correspond to it. Master practitioners advise opting for a three-phase generator.

When using a motor from a washing machine, magnets must be glued to the motor rotor. If a wheel hub is used, the magnets are placed on a circle of sheet steel about 5 mm thick. When assembling the rotor, follow the rules:

1. The distance between the magnets must be the same. Rectangular elements on the hub have long sides along the radii of the circle, and on the motor shaft - along its longitudinal axis.
2. Before work, you need to determine and mark the poles of the magnets. They are installed so that the opposite elements have different polarities. When placing magnets, alternate the positive and negative poles of adjacent parts.
3. To keep the magnets firmly on the surface of the rotor, it is recommended to fill them with epoxy.

When using the motor shaft as a rotor, the part is installed in its place in the winding and the operability of the structure is checked by applying voltmeter probes to the wire leads and rotating the shaft with a drill.

If a hub is used, then coils are wound independently from enameled copper wire with a cross section of 1 mm. Each coil should consist of 60 turns and have a height of 9 mm. Coils should be mounted on the flat part of the wheel hub.

For a three-phase generator, connect the ends of the wires like this:

• leave the outer terminal 1 of the coil free, and connect the inner terminal to the outer one by 4;
• connect the inner wiring of 4 coils with the outer one at 7 and continue to the end, connecting the winding parts every 2 pieces; on the latter, a free inner end should remain, which is easily twisted with the output already left or marked differently;
• repeat the process with 2 coils, connecting the wires according to the same principle every 2 elements;
• do the same with 3 coils and the remaining unconnected.

At the end of the work, the master will have 6 separate pins. The winding must be filled with epoxy and dried.

Then, in the hub bearing, you need to clamp the shaft, on which to put the rotor ring with magnets. The gap between the planes of the parts is 1-1.5 mm. Check the presence of current at the terminals, assemble the windmill and install it on the mast.

Equipment service

During the operation of the windmill, once a month, it is necessary to carry out a general inspection of the fasteners, check the electrical system for voltage imbalance, the controller is in good condition, and the cables are evenly tensioned. For uninterrupted operation, once every 3-4 months, it is worth inspecting the battery terminal connections, checking the electrolyte and oil levels at the generator gearbox.

The annual inspection includes checking the surfaces of the blades, determining the performance of the bearings and replacing them. During these periods, the electrolyte level is also replenished, oil is added to the gearbox. Annual maintenance involves checking all nodes for operability.

Perhaps, not a single summer resident will argue with the fact that today it is necessary to have some kind of alternative source of electricity, because the light can be turned off at any moment. Homemade wind turbines have gained great popularity as a source of free energy today. A variety of models of such devices are offered on the market, and on the Internet you can see diagrams, drawings and videos that allow you to assemble them yourself.

It is worth noting that a homemade wind generator will be very useful even with its low power. The mere fact that in the midst of pitch darkness the cottage will be illuminated, and it will be possible to watch TV or charge a mobile device without any problems, will insure against troubles and raise prestige in front of neighbors.

Three little secrets

The first secret is at what height the homemade wind generator will be installed. It is clear that it is easier to mount it at a height of several meters from the ground, but then there will not be much sense from it. It should be borne in mind that the higher the wind generator, the stronger the wind, the faster its blades spin, and the more energy you can get from a do-it-yourself power plant.

The second secret is the choice of battery. On the Internet, it is advised not to be smart and install a car battery. Yes, it is easier and, at first glance, cheaper. But, you need to know that car batteries should be installed in a well-ventilated area, they require maintenance, and their service life does not exceed 3 years. It would be better to purchase a special battery. Although it costs more, it will justify itself.

The third secret is which wind generator is better suited for making your own hands - horizontal or vertical? Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. We will consider vertical type wind turbines, the principle of operation of which is shown in Fig. 2.

First, about the disadvantages: a vertical wind generator has a low efficiency compared to horizontal models, it takes more materials to assemble it, which, accordingly, leads to an increase in the cost of the structure. On the other hand, they can operate in weaker winds than their horizontal counterparts, which compensates for their low efficiency. They do not need to be lifted too high and are easier and cheaper to assemble and install, which negates the difference in material costs.

An important factor is the fact that a vertical wind generator is more reliable in case of sudden gusts of wind and hurricanes, since its stability increases with increasing rotation speed. In addition, vertical structures are almost silent, which allows them to be installed anywhere, up to the roof of a residential building. All of the above leads to the fact that these units are in growing demand and are available in various modifications, in relation to the required power and winds prevailing in certain regions, which, by the way, can be found in the video below.

The simplest design

It is not difficult to assemble a low-power vertical wind generator with your own hands from, without exaggeration, waste materials: a large plastic bottle or tin can, a steel axle and an old electric motor. It is enough to cut a jar or bottle in half and fix these halves on the axis of rotation associated with the generator (Fig. 3). It is easy to make such a vertical windmill collapsible and take it with you on a fishing or camping trip, where it will not only illuminate the place to sleep, but also allow you to recharge your phone or other mobile device.

Own power plant for a summer residence

But the manufacture of more will have to start with the purchase of a bucket and this is not a hoax. Yes, for starters, you have to buy an ordinary galvanized bucket. This, of course, in the event that such a leaky bucket was not lying around somewhere in the barn. We mark it into four parts and make cuts with scissors for metal, as shown in Fig. 4.

The bucket is attached to the bottom of the generator pulley. It should be fixed with four bolts, placing them strictly symmetrically and at the same distance from the axis of rotation, which will avoid imbalance.

So, almost everything is ready, it remains to perform the following steps:

1. Bend the metal on the slots to get the blades. If a strong wind prevails most often, it is enough to bend the sides slightly. If the wind is weak, you can bend it harder. In any case, the amount of bend can be adjusted later;
2. Connect all the necessary devices (except for the generator) as shown in Fig. 5;
3. Fix the generator with the wires coming from it on the mast;
4. Secure a mast;
5. Connect the wires coming from the generator to the controller.

Everything. A hand-made wind generator is ready to go.

Wiring diagram

Let's take a closer look at the electrical circuit. It is clear that the wind can stop at any moment. Therefore, wind turbines are not connected directly to household appliances, but first they charge batteries from them, to ensure the safety of which, a charge controller is used. Further, given that batteries provide low voltage direct current, while almost all household appliances consume 220 volt alternating current, a voltage converter or, as it is also called, an inverter is installed and only then all consumers are connected.

In order for the wind generator to ensure the operation of a personal computer, TV, alarm and several energy-saving lamps, it is enough to install a battery with a capacity of 75 ampere / hour, a voltage converter (inverter) with a power of 1.0 kW, plus a generator of the appropriate power. What else do you need when you are relaxing in the country?

Summing up

A vertical wind generator, which can be made according to the instructions above, can operate in fairly light winds and regardless of its direction. Its design is simplified due to the fact that it does not have a weather vane that turns the propeller of a horizontal wind generator downwind.

The main disadvantage of vertical axis wind turbines is low efficiency, but this is redeemed by a number of other advantages:

• Speed ​​and ease of assembly;
• Absence of ultrasonic vibration typical for horizontal wind generators;
• Undemanding to maintenance;
• Sufficiently quiet operation, allowing you to install a vertical windmill almost anywhere.

Of course, a self-made windmill may not be able to withstand an excessively strong wind, which will be able to break the bucket. But this is not a problem, you just have to buy a new one or save the old one that has served its time somewhere in the barn.

In the video below you can see how household appliances are powered in the country. True, the wind generator here is not made from a bucket, but also with their own hands.

In this article, we will analyze in detail how to make a wind turbine with your own hands. After all, the life of a modern person without electricity is hard to imagine. And even small interruptions in the supply of electricity sometimes become a “paralyzing moment” for a normal life in your own home. And such problems, we have to admit, for some suburban villages or settlements in the countryside - alas, are not uncommon. This means that you need to somehow protect yourself from troubles, acquire a backup source of energy. And if you take into account the ever-increasing tariffs, then having your own source, and even working almost “for free”, becomes the cherished dream of many homeowners.

One of the areas of development of "free energy" in our time is the use of wind energy. Many have probably seen impressive pictures of huge windmills successfully used in some European countries - in some places the share of wind-generated energy already reaches several tens of percent of the total. So the temptation arises - why not try to make a wind generator with my own hands in order to gain independence from the power grid once and for all?

The question is reasonable, but one should immediately cool the ardor of the "dreamer" somewhat. To create a really high-quality, productive installation for generating electricity, considerable knowledge in mechanics and electrical engineering is required. You need to be a very experienced jack-of-all-trades - there are a number of highly complex operations that require precise design and a skilled approach to execution. Due to the combination of these reasons, as can be judged from the discussions on the forums, quite a lot of “applicants” either did not receive the expected result, or even abandoned the planned project.

Therefore, this article will give an overview picture showing common problems and directions for their solution in the process of creating wind turbines. It will be possible to roughly estimate the scale of the work and soberly weigh your capabilities - whether it is worth taking on your own.

What is a wind generator? General arrangement of the system

There are several ways to obtain electrical energy - due to exposure to a stream of photons (light, for example, solar panels), due to certain chemical reactions (widely used in batteries), due to temperature differences. But the most widely used is the conversion of kinetic energy into electrical energy. This transformation takes place in special devices, which are called generators.

The principle of operation of the generator of the converter of kinetic energy into electrical energy was discovered and described in the 19th century by Faraday.

It lies in the fact that if a conducting loop is placed in a changing magnetic field, then an electromotive force will be induced in it, which, when the circuit is closed, will lead to the appearance of an electric current. And a change in the magnetic flux can be achieved by rotating this frame in a magnetic field, either created by permanent magnets, or appearing in the excitation windings. When the position of the frame changes, the magnitude of the magnetic flux crossing it changes. And the higher the rate of change, the greater the performance and induced EMF. Thus, the more revolutions are transmitted to the rotor (the rotating part of the generator), the greater the voltage can be achieved at the output.

The diagram is, of course, shown with great simplifications, just to clarify the principle.

The transmission of rotation to the generator rotor can be carried out in different ways. And one way to find a free source of energy that will set in motion the kinematic part of the device is to “catch” the force of the wind. That is, about the same as the creators of windmills once managed to do it.

Thus, the device of a wind generator implies the presence of a generating device and a mechanism for transmitting rotational motion to the stator, that is, a windmill. In addition, a design that ensures reliable installation of the system becomes a prerequisite, since it often has to be placed at a considerable height so that natural or artificial obstacles do not interfere with full-fledged “wind catching”. In some cases, a kinematic transmission is also used, designed to increase the number of revolutions of the rotor.

But this is not all. The presence and speed of wind are often extremely variable values. And to put the consumption of generated energy in dependence on the “whims of the weather” is an unreasonable business. Therefore, a wind generator usually works in conjunction with an energy storage system.

The generated current is rectified, stabilized and, through a special controller device, either goes directly to further consumption, or is redirected to charge the powerful batteries included in the circuit. From the batteries, through an inverter that converts direct current into alternating current of the required voltage and frequency, power is supplied to consumption points. Batteries become a kind of buffer link: if the current load is less than the current (very wind-dependent) power of the generator, or if consumption devices are not connected at all for some time, then the batteries are being charged. If the load becomes higher than the generated power, the batteries are discharged.

An interesting point - it is this feature of the wind power plant that allows you to plan the power of the generator itself, not based on peak load indicators (the inverter will be responsible for this to a greater extent), but based on the predicted energy consumption for a certain period (for example, a month).

Of course, simpler schemes can also be used in everyday life. For example, a wind turbine simply serves some low-voltage lighting equipment, etc.

For example, let's first look at the simplest design of a wind turbine, which even a middle school student can assemble. The practical application of such a "power plant" is not very wide, but just to expand your understanding and gain some skills - why not?

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.

The price of electricity is constantly growing and, of course, every owner tries to optimize the cost of paying for it. Here, all means are good - starting from savings, equipment with a low energy consumption index, energy-saving lamps, and ending with the use of multi-tariff electricity meters. Nevertheless, the prospect of obtaining electricity not from the state, but from nature will always remain tempting. One of the most effective devices of this kind is the wind generator, which is used in the West almost on a par, if not more widely, than classic thermal power plants or nuclear power plants.

Generator price and efficiency

Naturally, the most practical solution for generating electricity from wind energy will be a powerful device that can generate the necessary amount of energy to provide consumers throughout the house. Do-it-yourself wind turbines for 220V can be of different capacities, and we will consider the principles for manufacturing each possible device from what every diligent owner can have at hand.

But for starters, it is worth at least a preliminary calculation of the wind turbine and its profitability. For example, a Russian-assembled 800 kW household appliance will cost one and a half thousand US dollars per kilowatt. Expensive. Chinese products, which are not distinguished by reliability and accuracy of denominations, will cost $ 900 per 1 kW. Also expensive. Note that this is just the generator itself, no peripheral equipment. This is actually an unaffordable price for a private trader, so we will try to use everything that is at hand and make our own autonomous system.

How to determine the power of the windmill

Calculating the power of a wind generator is a complex and time-consuming process that is applicable to a specific source generator. The easiest option is to use a dynamo from a tractor or car. Such a device does not actually require modifications and can be used in the power supply system "as is". Of course, you can talk for a long time about devices based on neodymium magnets, only, for example, in the village of Arkhipovka, Oryol region, they have not been in life and never will be, and decommissioned tractors are darkness.

Vertical or rotary wind turbines?

Vane vertical generators are one of the most popular in the world, but for their construction it is necessary to accurately calculate the blade, its shape and dimensions. As the experience of creating such devices by enthusiasts shows, the most efficient blade generators are those with an adjustable blade angle. The average dimensions of each of the six blades are 650x120 mm, and the most effective angle of rotation relative to its axis is about 12 degrees, although experiments can be made in each particular case.

The rotary windmill for the house is made with a horizontal axis of the generator, on which the rotor is installed. It can be performed according to several schemes, which are presented below. The easiest option is to make a rotor from a cylindrical container. It can be like a plastic barrel, a gas cylinder, in the end, a pan. The container must be divided into four segments, each of which is attached to the hub. The hub is mounted on a metal frame, an approximate drawing of which is shown in the figure.

Parts and consumables, wiring diagram

A low-power windmill for the home can be assembled with a modest set of used devices and parts:

car battery, the fresher and the larger the capacity, the better,

300-700 W inverter,

car or tractor charging relay (depending on the generator voltage),

control device (voltmeter),

To switch the device with the mains, wires with a cross section of at least 4 mm² are used. The finished installation is connected according to the diagram shown in the photo through fuses 8, which is opened by switch 9 for maintenance and repair. The value of the resistor 1 is selected empirically, and the ammeter 5 can be installed at the output of the converter 5 as desired. Also, for ease of use of the design, a variable resistor 4 can be used to adjust the voltage. A more detailed diagram of the inverter is presented below.

In this way, it is possible to assemble a wind generator to ensure a minimum need for electricity. Spend and produce energy wisely, good luck to everyone!

Do-it-yourself wind turbines for 220V
Do-it-yourself wind turbines for 220V The price of electricity is constantly growing and, of course, each owner is trying to optimize the cost of paying for it. Here, all means are good - starting from

A wind generator or, in common people, a windmill is a simple device that provides its owner with considerable savings due to the generation of free electricity. Such an installation is the dream of any owner of a plot cut off from centralized networks or a summer resident who is dissatisfied with a newly received receipt for electricity consumption.

Having understood the design of the wind generator, the principle of its operation, having studied the drawings, you can independently make and install a windmill, providing your home with unlimited alternative energy.

Brief content of the article:

Is it legal to use wind?

Creating your own, albeit compact, but power plant is a serious thing, so it is logical that the question involuntarily arises: is their use legal? Yes, if the power of the wind-launched installation does not exceed 1 kW, which is quite enough to provide an average country house with electric current.

The fact is that it is with this indicator of power that the device is considered household and does not require mandatory registration, certification, approval, registration, and, moreover, is not subject to any tax.

However, before you make a wind turbine for your home, it is better to protect yourself and take into account a few points:

• Are there special restrictions on the use of alternative energy sources in the region of residence?
• What is the permissible height of the mast on the ground?
• Will the noise from the gearbox and blades exceed the established standards?
• Is it possible to provide protection against generated radio interference?
• Will the mast interfere with bird migration or cause other environmental problems?

If you think through all the nuances in advance, then neither the tax, nor the environmental services, nor the neighbors will be able to make claims and prevent the receipt of free electricity.

How does a windmill work?

In the photo, finished home-made wind turbines are represented by elongated metal structures on three or four supports, with blades moving from the wind. As a result, the kinetic energy received by the wind flow is converted into mechanical energy, which in turn starts the rotor and becomes an electric current.

This process is the result of the well-established work of several mandatory components of a wind power plant (WPP):

• A propeller with two or more blades
• turbine rotor,
• reducer,
• Controller,
• Electric generator axle and generator,
• inverter,
• Battery.

It is also necessary to provide for a brake block, gondola, mast, weather vane, low and high speed shaft. The device also determines the principle of operation of the wind generator: a rotating rotor produces a three-phase alternating current that passes through the controller system and charges the DC battery.

The final amps are converted by the inverter and sent through the connected wiring to output points: sockets, lighting, household appliances and electrical appliances.

How to do it yourself?

The most reliable and simple design is considered to be a rotary wind turbine, which is an installation with a vertical axis of rotation. A ready-made home-made generator of this type is able to fully ensure the energy consumption of the dacha, including equipping the living quarters, outbuildings and street lighting (though not too bright).

To make a wind generator, you will need construction details, consumables and tools. The first step is to find suitable windmill components, many of which can be found among old stocks:

• Alternator from a car with a power of about 12 V,
• 12 V battery,
• Pushbutton semi-hermetic switch,
• inventory,
• Car relay used to charge the battery.

You will also need consumables:

• Fasteners (bolts, nuts, insulating tape),
• Steel or aluminum container
• Wiring with a cross section of 4 square meters. mm (two meters) and 2.5 sq. mm (one meter),
• Mast, tripod and other elements to enhance stability,
• Strong rope.

It is advisable to find, study and print drawings of wind turbines with your own hands. You will also need tools, including a grinder, a meter, pliers, a drill, a sharp knife, an electric drill, screwdrivers (Phillips, minus, indicator) and wrenches.

Having prepared everything you need, you can start assembling, focusing on step-by-step instructions that tell you how to make a wind generator with your own hands:

• Cut out blades of the same size from a metal container, leaving an untouched strip of metal a few centimeters at the base.
• Symmetrically make holes with a drill for the existing bolts in the bottom of the base of the tank and the generator pulley.
• Bend the blades.
• Fix on the blade pulley.
• Install and secure the generator on the mast with clamps or a rope, stepping back from the top about ten centimeters.
• Establish wiring (to connect the battery, a meter-long core with a cross section of 4 sq. Mm is enough, for loading with lighting and electrical appliances - 2.5 sq. Mm).
• Mark the connection diagram, color and letter marking for future repairs.
• Install the transmitter with quarter wire.
• If necessary, decorate the structure with a weather vane and paint.
• Secure the wires by winding the installation mast.

Do-it-yourself wind generators for 220 volts are an opportunity to provide a summer house or a country house with free electricity in the shortest possible time. Even a beginner can set up such an installation, and most of the details for the structure have long been idle in the garage.

Online home assistant
How to use the wind for your own purposes and how a do-it-yourself wind generator works. How does a modern windmill work and how to make it yourself. Photos of the best and simplest models.

The principle of operation of a household wind farm is simple: the air flow rotates the rotor blades mounted on the generator shaft and creates an alternating current in its windings.

The inexhaustible energy that air masses carry with them has always attracted the attention of people. Our great-grandfathers learned how to harness the wind to the sails and wheels of windmills, after which for two centuries it rushed aimlessly across the boundless expanses of the Earth.

Today, a useful job has been found for him again. A wind generator for a private house from the category of technical innovations is becoming a real factor in our life.

Let's take a closer look at wind farms, evaluate the conditions for their cost-effective use and consider the existing varieties. Home craftsmen will receive in our article information for reflection on the topic of self-assembly of a windmill and the devices necessary for its effective operation.

What is a wind generator?

The principle of operation of a household wind farm is simple: the air flow rotates the rotor blades mounted on the generator shaft and creates an alternating current in its windings. The resulting electricity is stored in batteries and used as needed by household appliances. Of course, this is a simplified scheme for the operation of a home windmill. In practical terms, it is complemented by devices that convert electricity.

Immediately behind the generator in the energy chain is the controller. It converts three-phase alternating current into direct current and directs it to charge batteries. Most household appliances cannot work from “permanent”, so another device is placed behind the batteries - inverter.

It performs the reverse operation: converts direct current into household alternating voltage of 220 volts.

It is clear that these transformations do not pass without a trace and take a fairly decent part (15-20%) from the initial energy.

If a wind turbine is paired with a solar battery or another electricity generator (gasoline, diesel), then the circuit is supplemented by an automatic circuit breaker (ATS). When the main current source is turned off, it activates the backup.

To obtain maximum power, the wind generator must be located along the wind flow. In simple systems, the principle of a weather vane is implemented.

To do this, a vertical blade is fixed at the opposite end of the generator, turning it towards the wind.

In more powerful installations, there is a rotary electric motor controlled by a direction sensor.

The main types of wind turbines and their features

There are two types of wind generators:

1. With a horizontal arrangement of a rotor.
2. With vertical rotor.

The first type is the most common. It is characterized by high efficiency (40-50%), but has an increased level of noise and vibration. In addition, its installation requires a large free space (100 meters) or a high mast (from 6 meters).

Generators with a vertical rotor are less energy efficient (the efficiency is almost 3 times lower than that of horizontal ones).

Their advantages include simple installation and reliable design. Low noise level allows you to install vertical generators on the roofs of houses and even at ground level. These installations are not afraid of icing and hurricanes.

They are launched from a weak wind (from 1.0-2.0 m / s) while a horizontal windmill needs an air flow of medium strength (3.5 m / s and above). According to the shape of the impeller (rotor), vertical wind turbines are very diverse.

Due to the low rotor speed (up to 200 rpm), the mechanical resource of such installations significantly exceeds the performance of horizontal wind generators.

How to calculate and choose a wind generator?

Wind is not natural gas pumped through pipes, nor is it electric power flowing uninterruptedly through wires to our homes. He is capricious and fickle. Today a hurricane tears off roofs and breaks trees, and tomorrow it is replaced by complete calm.

Therefore, before buying or self-manufacturing a windmill, you need to assess the potential of air energy in your area. To do this, determine the average annual wind force. This value can be found on the Internet upon request.

Having received just such a table, we find the area of ​​\u200b\u200bour residence and look at the intensity of its color, comparing it with the rating scale. If the average annual wind speed is less than 4.0 meters per second, then there is no point in installing a wind turbine. It will not provide the required amount of energy.

If the wind strength is sufficient to install a wind farm, then you can proceed to the next step: selecting the generator power.

If we are talking about autonomous power supply at home, then the average statistical consumption of electricity by 1 family is taken into account. It is in the range from 100 to 300 kWh per month. In regions with low annual wind potential (5-8 m/sec), such an amount of electricity can be generated by a 2-3 kW windmill.

At the same time, it should be taken into account that Imoi average wind speed is higher, so energy production during this period will be greater than in summer.

Windmill with your own hands. Fun or real savings?

Let's say right away that it is not easy to make a wind generator with your own hands full-fledged and efficient. Proper calculation of the wind wheel, transmission mechanism, selection of a suitable generator in terms of power and speed is a separate issue. We will give only brief recommendations on the main stages of this process.

Generator

Automotive alternators and electric motors from direct drive washing machines are not suitable for this purpose. They are able to generate energy from the wind wheel, but it will be negligible. For efficient operation, autogenerators need very high speeds that a windmill cannot develop.

Washer motors have a different problem. There are ferrite magnets, and for a wind generator, more productive ones are needed - neodymium. The process of their self-assembly and winding of current-carrying windings requires patience and high accuracy.

The power of a do-it-yourself device, as a rule, does not exceed 100-200 watts.

Recently, motor-wheels for bicycles and scooters have been popular among home-made people.

From the standpoint of wind energy, these are powerful neodymium generators, optimally suited for working with vertical wind wheels and charging batteries. Up to 1 kW of wind energy can be removed from such a generator.

Screw

Sailing and rotary propellers are the easiest to make. The first consists of light, curved tubes mounted on a central plate. Blades made of durable fabric are pulled onto each tube. The large windage of the propeller requires hinged fastening of the blades so that during a hurricane they fold and do not deform.

The rotary design of the wind wheel is used for vertical generators. It is easy to manufacture and reliable in operation.

Wind turbines for home: types, DIY
The principle of operation of a household wind farm is simple: the air flow rotates the rotor blades mounted on the generator shaft and creates an alternating current in its windings.

One of the easiest ways to get cheap electricity is a wind turbine. It is not necessary to buy it, you can build it yourself, using correctly drawn up drawings and diagrams, parts and materials.

The principle of operation of a wind generator is simple: the wind drives the blades that rotate the turbine rotor, which converts wind energy into mechanical energy. Wind turbines are:

• with horizontal axis rotors;
• with vertical axis rotors.

The advantage of the latter is that they work regardless of the direction of the wind and its strength. The power generated by a homemade wind generator ranges from 100 to 6000 watts. The minimum speed at which the turbine can start generating electricity is 2.5-3 m / s, but to achieve the rated power, wind speeds of 10 m / s are required.

The rotor typically spins at 15-20 rpm, while a typical asynchronous generator generates electricity at over 1500 rpm. For a homemade windmill, a 12 volt car generator is suitable.

The principle of operation of the wind generator

How to make a wind generator with your own hands

The basis for creating a wind turbine is a well-made project and a prepared drawing. This is very important, because without a clear idea of ​​​​how the device should look like, it will be difficult to build it correctly without violating the installation order of all elements.

Drawings and diagrams

You need to start by drawing up a general sketch of the wind turbine, marking the key elements: the tower, the generator, the wooden base, the blades and the hub that connects them together. A self-drawn diagram may not be very detailed: this is not necessary. It should be used to give a general idea of ​​how the various parts of the wind turbine will be laid out and how the design will look in its final stages.

Wind generator assembly diagram

After preparing the circuit, you need to set the correct dimensions of the wind generator. These should include the height, length and width of the wooden base that connects the generator and tail fin to the tower. Also determine the dimensions for blades made of metal pipes or PVC pipes, depending on what material will be used. Separate measurements are needed for the tail fin: height, width and length, and diameter for the blades, which determine the size of the wind turbine.

After the drawing and rough sketch of the device with the set dimensions are ready, you can proceed to the preparation of materials and tools for work.

Necessary tools and materials

To make a homemade windmill, you will need the following parts:

• rotor with blades;
• gearbox to control the speed of rotation of the rotor;
• gel or alkaline battery for powering electrical appliances;
• inverter for current transformation;
• tail section;
• mast.

The rotor with blades can be made independently, while the rest of the elements will probably have to be bought or assembled from the necessary parts. In addition, to assemble a homemade windmill, you will need the following tools and materials:

• saw on wood;
• metal scissors;
• hot glue;
• soldering iron;
• drill.

Be sure to need screws and bolts to connect the blades to the hub and to fasten the metal pipe to the wood.

DIY wind turbine blades

When making the blades on your own, you should pay special attention to observing the shape of the products specified by the drawing. The blades can be winged or sail type. The second one is simpler to manufacture, but has a low efficiency, which makes it inefficient in home-made wind turbines, even of medium size.

For the manufacture of blades of a homemade wind generator, materials such as:

• plastic;
• wood;
• aluminum;
• fiberglass;
• polyvinyl chloride.

The device of the bladed part of the wind generator

If you choose polyvinyl chloride, then PVC pipes with a diameter of 160 mm or more are perfect for creating blades. Plastic and wood are less wear-resistant materials, which, under the influence of precipitation and strong winds, will become unusable in a few years. The best option is aluminum: it is durable and lightweight, resistant to tearing and creases, immune to moisture and elevated temperatures.

Step by step instructions for making

When all the drawings have been drawn up, and the materials and tools have been prepared, you can begin to assemble the wind generator with your own hands, guided by the following order:

1. Prepare concrete foundation. The depth of the pit and the volume of the concrete mixture is calculated based on the type of soil and climatic conditions. After pouring the foundation, it takes several weeks to gain the desired strength. Only after that it is possible to install a mast into it to a depth of 60-70 cm, securing it with braces.
2. Place the prepared blades into the pipe, fasten them with screws and nuts to the hub on which the engine will be installed.
3. Position the diode bridge next to the motor and secure it with self-tapping screws. Connect a wire from the motor to the positive diode bridge and the other wire to the negative bridge.
4. Fasten the motor shaft, put the bushing on it and tighten it tightly counterclockwise.
5. Balance the base of the tube with the motor and shaft attached to it and mark the balance point.
6. Fix the base of the device with screws.

A wind generator can last much longer if you paint not only the blades, but the base, shaft and engine cover. To turn on the unit, you will need a set of wires, a charger, an ammeter and a battery.

Car Alternator Preparation

In order to make a wind generator with your own hands from a car generator? you will need to install a power of 95A with a voltage of 12 V. At 125 rpm it produces 15.5 watts, and at 630 rpm this figure will be 85.7 watts. If we talk about a load of 630 rpm, then the voltmeter will show 31.2 volts, and the ammeter - 13.5 amperes. Thus, the generator power will be 421.2 watts. To achieve this indicator, it is necessary to use neodymium magnets, which are 7 times more effective than ferrite ones.

At the beginning of the preparation of the automobile generator, it is necessary to remove the rotor winding of the magnetic excitation and the electronic brushes with the collector. In place of the ring ferromagnets, you need to install neodymium magnets in the amount of 3 pieces, the size of each of them should be 85 x 35 x 15 millimeters. The disadvantage of using powerful magnets can be "sticking", which makes it difficult to move the shaft. To reduce it, the magnets should be placed at a slight angle relative to each other.

Before starting the generator, it must be tested on a lathe by spinning the shaft to 950–1000 rpm. If the device is working properly, the return will be at least 200 watts. In most cases, a classic vertical axis powerplant will do: it is characterized by low revs and noiselessness.

During the operation of the wind turbine, it is recommended to periodically check the reliability of the fasteners at the base of the mast, lubricate the bearings of the rotary device, and balance the tilt of the installation. Once every six months, it is recommended to check and change the electrical insulation, which is often damaged due to use in adverse conditions.

A homemade wind generator, assembled from a car generator and simple parts, is able to provide electricity to a small house and become an autonomous backup power source. Environmentally friendly and low maintenance, it will pay for itself within 2-4 years depending on and last for decades.