Wind Energy: How To Use It At Home To Your Advantage
Mike Walden
June 28, 2009
In the present day world, wind energy is, arguably, one of the most important sources of energy. When the surface of the earth gets heated up by sunrays, the atmospheric air starts moving. This motion of the air is called wind. However, all parts of the earth´s surface do not absorb heat equally. Indeed, the hills, sea bodies and plain land areas absorb varying amounts of heat. Moreover, the air over the earth´s landmass gets heated up quicker than that above oceans during the day. Hence, the former rises, in an expanded form. The resultant vacuum soon gets occupied by cooler air (that is more heavy too). Varying types of air currents are released by the other portions of the earth surface.
Even in earlier times, wind had been in use, for the sail of ships that would travel in the high seas. In the range of 40degrees(S) and 50degrees(S) latitudes, the winds of the Roaring Forties famously had a large hand in creating a route for all ships that were traveling between Australia and England (the Clipper Route). This route helped to speed up journeys across the Indian Ocean. Other types of trade winds also blew, helping sailors venture into unexplored parts of seas.
Over the past few years, the levels of Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have gone up significantly. Fossil fuel reserves are also being depleted. Hence, renewable energy sources are being sought for, and wind fits this requirement perfectly. There have been feuds among the countries that export oil (in the Middle East), adversely affecting the stocks of petroleum products. In view of these situations that have made the global petroleum scenario all the more grave, wind energy is often being used to generate electricity. Wind would always flow as long as the rays of the sun reach the surface of the earth. Hence, wind energy is renewable too.
American dwellers, from the early times, used windmills for cutting wood, pumping water and even for corn-grinding purposes. Taking a leaf from their books, modern engineers also create windmills (of a much more sophisticated type), which would be able to produce at least as much electricity as their predecessors. These windmills, however, do not at all look like the ones that were used earlier. Among the states of America, electricity-production via the usage of instruments driven by wind is maximum at California. This state uses the highest amount of wind energy as well (more than double of that in any other American state). A suitable region in the coastal parts of Cape Cod, Massachusetts has been chosen as the venue of the introductory Wind Park located offshore. Here, different varieties of wind-driven machines and windmills would be used for test purposes.
The windmills (or, wind-driven equipments) in America can be broadly divided into two types Vertical-axis equipments and Horizontal-axis equipments. However, most of the windmills that are currently in use are of the Horizontal-type varieties. The blades of these windmills resemble the propellers of airplanes. These wind machines measure 200´ (across), with three blades, and have a length like that of a 20-floor building. Unlikely as it might seem, the blades of the largest wind machine are larger than a football ground. These blades can capture the highest amounts of wind energy.
A number of wind-driven machines are located in the wind plants, or, as they are more popularly known, wind power plants. These wind machines, when put together, can produce electricity on a large scale. The Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center at Texas (which, incidentally, is the largest Wind Farm of the world) has 421 wind turbines. This Wind Farm can produce amounts of electric power that can serve the needs of more than 220,000 houses annually. These Wind Power plants are, however owned and managed, not by companies that serve public utility purposes, but by individuals. Known as Independent Power Producers, these owners generally sell off the electricity that they produce.
The velocity of wind flows is different at different places, and also varies across seasons. This varying wind speeds affect the efficiency with which the wind turbines work. All over the US, this factor is mostly favorable. For example, in the summer season, the Mojave Desert gets heated up to a large extent. As a result, warmer air moves up, being replaced by the air that is much more dense (from the Pacific Ocean) which fills up the vacuum. Thus, wind flow in California remains strong from April to October. Thus, availability of electric power is high, and usage of air conditioning units is common in California. Again, in Montana, many houses or other buildings can use central heating. This is because, large amounts of electricity are produced in these regions in the months of winter.
Electric current produced from wind energy that generates electricity is environment-friendly. In fact, in this regard, wind energy comes second only to the electricity generated by solar power. Totally pollution-free and environmentally sustaining, wind energy is freely available to all, and that too, all round the year. However, regular maintenance of shafts that rotate (regarding their shapes and other features) is required. Such maintenance is not necessary in cases where solar energy is used. A solar panel does not have any mobile components, making such maintenance issues redundant.
The amounts needed to be coughed up for consuming power can be cut down on by installing a wind power unit in your house. In addition, you can ensure the cleanliness and the lack of pollution in the air by doing so. However, certain issues need to be cleared up before such a system is set up. These factors are:
a) The ideal spot where a wind energy unit should be set up in the house,
b) The procedures of installations of such systems,
c) The entire wiring patterns of these units, and how they should be made complete,
d) The places where the required batteries and other components of the system are available, and
e) The relevant safety measures.
This article is based on the book, "Earth 4 Electricity- Renewable Energy Made Easy " by Jim Martin. Jim Martin is a researcher, inventor and home energy consultant who written dozens of home energy related articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide.
To Learn More about Jim Martinīs Unique Step By Step Solar and Wind Power System Visit: Earth 4 Electricity.
For further information visit: How to Build a Wind Generator
Even in earlier times, wind had been in use, for the sail of ships that would travel in the high seas. In the range of 40degrees(S) and 50degrees(S) latitudes, the winds of the Roaring Forties famously had a large hand in creating a route for all ships that were traveling between Australia and England (the Clipper Route). This route helped to speed up journeys across the Indian Ocean. Other types of trade winds also blew, helping sailors venture into unexplored parts of seas.
Over the past few years, the levels of Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have gone up significantly. Fossil fuel reserves are also being depleted. Hence, renewable energy sources are being sought for, and wind fits this requirement perfectly. There have been feuds among the countries that export oil (in the Middle East), adversely affecting the stocks of petroleum products. In view of these situations that have made the global petroleum scenario all the more grave, wind energy is often being used to generate electricity. Wind would always flow as long as the rays of the sun reach the surface of the earth. Hence, wind energy is renewable too.
American dwellers, from the early times, used windmills for cutting wood, pumping water and even for corn-grinding purposes. Taking a leaf from their books, modern engineers also create windmills (of a much more sophisticated type), which would be able to produce at least as much electricity as their predecessors. These windmills, however, do not at all look like the ones that were used earlier. Among the states of America, electricity-production via the usage of instruments driven by wind is maximum at California. This state uses the highest amount of wind energy as well (more than double of that in any other American state). A suitable region in the coastal parts of Cape Cod, Massachusetts has been chosen as the venue of the introductory Wind Park located offshore. Here, different varieties of wind-driven machines and windmills would be used for test purposes.
The windmills (or, wind-driven equipments) in America can be broadly divided into two types Vertical-axis equipments and Horizontal-axis equipments. However, most of the windmills that are currently in use are of the Horizontal-type varieties. The blades of these windmills resemble the propellers of airplanes. These wind machines measure 200´ (across), with three blades, and have a length like that of a 20-floor building. Unlikely as it might seem, the blades of the largest wind machine are larger than a football ground. These blades can capture the highest amounts of wind energy.
A number of wind-driven machines are located in the wind plants, or, as they are more popularly known, wind power plants. These wind machines, when put together, can produce electricity on a large scale. The Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center at Texas (which, incidentally, is the largest Wind Farm of the world) has 421 wind turbines. This Wind Farm can produce amounts of electric power that can serve the needs of more than 220,000 houses annually. These Wind Power plants are, however owned and managed, not by companies that serve public utility purposes, but by individuals. Known as Independent Power Producers, these owners generally sell off the electricity that they produce.
The velocity of wind flows is different at different places, and also varies across seasons. This varying wind speeds affect the efficiency with which the wind turbines work. All over the US, this factor is mostly favorable. For example, in the summer season, the Mojave Desert gets heated up to a large extent. As a result, warmer air moves up, being replaced by the air that is much more dense (from the Pacific Ocean) which fills up the vacuum. Thus, wind flow in California remains strong from April to October. Thus, availability of electric power is high, and usage of air conditioning units is common in California. Again, in Montana, many houses or other buildings can use central heating. This is because, large amounts of electricity are produced in these regions in the months of winter.
Electric current produced from wind energy that generates electricity is environment-friendly. In fact, in this regard, wind energy comes second only to the electricity generated by solar power. Totally pollution-free and environmentally sustaining, wind energy is freely available to all, and that too, all round the year. However, regular maintenance of shafts that rotate (regarding their shapes and other features) is required. Such maintenance is not necessary in cases where solar energy is used. A solar panel does not have any mobile components, making such maintenance issues redundant.
The amounts needed to be coughed up for consuming power can be cut down on by installing a wind power unit in your house. In addition, you can ensure the cleanliness and the lack of pollution in the air by doing so. However, certain issues need to be cleared up before such a system is set up. These factors are:
a) The ideal spot where a wind energy unit should be set up in the house,
b) The procedures of installations of such systems,
c) The entire wiring patterns of these units, and how they should be made complete,
d) The places where the required batteries and other components of the system are available, and
e) The relevant safety measures.
This article is based on the book, "Earth 4 Electricity- Renewable Energy Made Easy " by Jim Martin. Jim Martin is a researcher, inventor and home energy consultant who written dozens of home energy related articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide.
To Learn More about Jim Martinīs Unique Step By Step Solar and Wind Power System Visit: Earth 4 Electricity.
For further information visit: How to Build a Wind Generator