Wind
generators or wind turbines act on the power of wind.
Their specially designed blades or rotors catch the wind
while it hits them and they start spinning at a high
speed. More or less like the hydroelectric phenomenon,
this spinning movement is transformed into electrical
energy produced by a electrical generator mechanically
coupled to the rotor. However, the quantum of power
transferred to a wind turbine remains directly
proportional to the area swept by the rotor, the cube of
the wind speed and the relative density of the
prevailing wind.
However,
to learn more about how does a wind
generator work, it might be prudent to strip a wind
generating unit to locate its various components and
their check functions. To be precise, a wind generator
capable of generating and supplying 120V AC current
consist of (a) Wind Turbine; (b) Battery bank; (c)
Charge Controller; (d) Converter-cum-transformer; ( e)
Electrical wires and (f) a tower or a housing to fix
unit on top of the tower or a housing for fixing it on a
rooftop.
The
wind turbine that converts wind energy to electricity
can be divided into three basic components. The rotor
component of the wind turbine includes the blades for
converting wind energy to low speed rotational energy
while the generator component which covers around 34% of
the total turbine cost includes the electrical
generator, the control electronics as also the gearbox
section that converts the low speed incoming rotation to
high speed rotation apt for generating electricity. The
structural support component of the wind turbine
includes the rotor pointing mechanism and the tower. As
the wind hits the blades, it starts spinning at a
pre-determined speed which is automatically increased
with help of the gearbox. As the electrical generator is
coupled to the rotor, it also starts rotating at a high
speed, generating electrical power in the process.
However, wind turbines are designed to make use of the
wind energy that is found at a location and so are not
much of any use at locations where wind energy is nil or
negligible. Nevertheless, aerodynamic modeling is
evident I the number shape and slant of the blades so
that any minor wind energy can be
utilized.
The
battery banks are used to store the electricity
generated by the turbine for use as and when needed. In
the absence of the batteries, the generated electricity
would have flown back to the turbine and ultimately
ruining its functionality.
The
charge controller incorporated within the system is
responsible for the safety of the battery bank. As soon
as the batteries are fully charged, the generated
electricity is transferred either to a dummy load or
direct to the grid. In fact, surplus electricity sent to
the grid earns dollar for the owner of the wind
turbine.
As
the generated electricity is of DC type, the
converter-cum-transformer makes it usable for the
consumer by turning it into 120V AC as otherwise the
generated power would have been of no use to the
consumer/owner of the turbine.
Unless
a tower is erected on which the turbine must be fixed,
the wind turbine will not be able to
function.
Learn
more about how
does a wind generator work in this manual and also
learn how to make your own personal wind power. This
manual gives you knowledge about wind power and also
teaches you where in your home you should install a
system, how to set it up and wire the system, and also
where to get the parts from cheaply. Plus you will also
know about the safety precautions. Investing in wind
power is a great idea because there are both ecological
as well as financial benefits.
