The windmill started producing electricity lately; it used to be a popular method for pumping water and towing boats.

photo credit: Roomic Cube

In the current situation of extreme energy crisis across the globe, it only makes sense that we look for alternate power solutions. The windmill proves to be an economical option, especially in farms and in the countryside. A windmill may not be the optimum solution in a highly-populated area.

What are the prerequisites for setting up a windmill or build wind generator?

There are two important pre-requisites for a windmill:

• The place where the solution is to be implemented should have an area of at least one acre. It is not advisable to set up a windmill in a smaller area as the windmill blades will not be able to capture enough wind power for the windmill to work.
• The average speed of wind in the area should approximately be 11 miles per hour. It is not advisable to employ the windmill at a site where factors like high-rise buildings and tall towers block the wind. You also need to make sure that the wind speed is consistent at your site.

What are the components of a windmill?

You will need the following components to make windmill power:

• Blades: These blades are responsible for making use of the wind energy. Blades are typically made of wood or plastic.
• Tower: The tower is the pillar that holds the system high enough to be able to use the wind. They are made up of hard material such as poly-vinyl chloride.
• Shaft: The shaft is used to join the blades to the tower, at the same time allowing them to rotate smoothly.
• Base: The base of the windmill is what holds the tower and the blades.

How is a windmill set up?

You will find ready-to-install windmill kits in the market. Consult an expert to choose the one that best suits your place and needs. If you would like to choose the components personally and set the windmill on your own, make sure you seek professional help; a mismatch of size in the components will make your windmill useless.

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You could say that a windmill is device that converts wind energy into mechanical energy which is later converted into electrical energy. A windmill typically consists of the following parts:

• The blades – A windmill can consist of any number of blades from four to 20. Some special wind mills have higher number of blades.
• The tower – The tower holds the rotating blades high up in the air so that the winds rotate them.
• The shaft – The shaft is responsible for joining the blades with the tower and for the smooth rotation of blades.
• The generator – The generator is what generates electricity from the mechanical energy. It also stores power for future use.
• The base: The base of the windmill keeps it grounded to the earth.

photo credit: earlycj5

What factors affect windmill design?

There are many factors that affect the design of a windmill. Let’s understand the major ones:

1. Wind speed: The wind speed can be accurately measured with the help of an anemometer. It is not possible to determine the right kind of wind mill without knowing the accurate wind speed.
2. Wind direction: For designing a windmill, it is also important to know the direction from which the wind flows most of the time.
3. Change in wind speed: Apart from the constant speed of mind, it is required that you know how the wind changes its speed.
4. Change of wind direction: The direction of wind will not be constant, so it important to note the way it changes its direction.
5. Obstructions on the site: It is best t install a windmill at a place without many obstructions. Look out for existing and potential structures that may affect the performance of your windmill.
6. Wind turbulence: The movement of wind is not always predictable. However, it is a good idea to understand the patter of wind turbulence in your site.
7. Distance of wind activity from the ground: The height of the tower is dependent on the height at which the wind is active.

What are the possible designs of windmills?

Aerodynamics determines the design of a windmill based on the factors mentioned in the section above. The designs of windmills vary in the following measures and of most importance when you build wind generator:

• Number of blades
• Shape of the blades
• Height of the tower
• Kind of generators
• Distance of the installation spot from the ground
• Distance between the tower and the generator

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Most of us considering the use of wind power naturally think about paying a couple of thousand for a complete windmill system. There are a lot of advantages in doing that if you can afford it. You could be up and running with green energy in literally hours.

If you think you don’t can afford a ready made system you could consider the build a windmill yourself. There are several diy courses and some of them are really good. The success with these kits or courses will of course depend a bit on your own possibilities and tools.

As we get more money conscious we are trying to use more cost effective methods to produce electricity. Wind and solar power are the two main renewable energy sources that we easily could build systems for our self. These are always there for us all and we can start producing power from them by installing our own systems in our own backyard.

Have you, or do you know about anyone who have built their own windmill?