How to Build a Wind Turbine

A wind turbine is essentially a device that has large vaned wheels that rotate to generate electricity. The wind energy (i.e. kinetic energy) is converted into mechanical energy in the form of rotation of the turbine blades.

This mechanical energy can then be converted into electrical energy with the help of a generator. The use of wind energy to run simple machines saves energy.

The design of a residential wind turbine is easy and the following steps are intended to offer the necessary guidance:

Essentials:

• Wood, for frame construction
• Bearings
• Magnets
• Copper wire for winding
• Rods
• Nuts and bolts
• Inverter
• Battery

Use wood planks of desired dimensions to design the blades. A thickness of 25mm is most suitable, at the end. With a hammer and chisel, you can give the blades the required finishing touches. Power tools designed for home use can help make the task less cumbersome.

You need to chart the dimensions of each blade and work along the planks to achieve the desired measurements and flatness. The blades then need to be set flat on a rotor and for this you could use double-sided tape. Little chiseled stumps support the under side of each blade, as you plan the rotors.

To start with, two magnet rotors need to be designed. For this you need to coil the winding wire between two magnet discs. To make the magnetic discs, a dozen magnets may be used on each disk. Prior to drilling holes for the magnets, you need to consider the dimensions of the milling cutter.

The magnets can then be held in place on the disc with a strong resin. You could choose between MDF (medium density fiberboard), iron, stainless steel, and wood to make the rotor discs. The magnet rotor then needs to be drilled to accommodate a 6004 bearing. Once the two rotors are ready, they may or may not be lacquered.

However, the use of a lacquer finesse does offer aesthetic appeal. The support bearings should be placed on either side of the shaft. The magnet rotor should be sketched and designed to hold at least 12 magnets. The magnetic poles on either rotor needs to attract the magnets on the opposite one.

Alternating pairs of opposites poles while setting the magnets helps a lot and saves time later. The hole in the center of the two rotors secures the stator. You need to ensure that the weight of the rotors is efficiently carried by the bolts, for proper balancing.

In order to make the stator, you need to work on a number of copper wire turns to charge the chosen battery strength, which should ideally be a 12V. A series of coils in parallel groups could be considered. Winding the coils takes little or no effort and is more fun than project work. However, you should target uniformity for at least 200 turns, each coil.

The stator then needs to be screwed down onto a board, while positioning the coils. The joints need to be secured in place with resin for the components to function smoothly. Set the renewable energy generating design on the testing stick and watch the battery and inverter harness wind energy every time the turbine swings into action.

The wind turbines can be used for a single home or building, or can be used to distribute electricity to a wide area. They are a clean, cost-effective, and reliable source of energy, and can be installed with proper knowledge about its working.