Selecting the Best Location for Your Turbine
General Rules for Locating a Home Wind Turbine
Before you decide on a location for your home wind turbine, it helps to understand the basic components of the turbine and how they affect energy output. A wind turbine is made up of three separate components. The rotors include the blades, and make up the body of the wind turbine. The generator includes the controls for the wind turbine as well as the gearbox. It is in the generator that the rotational energy is converted to electricity. The third part of the wind turbine is the structural support, which is the support mechanism for the rotor.
To obtain the best energy savings from a home energy turbine, the turbine should be located in a spot that allows it to receive an unhindered flow of air. There are some general rules to follow when determining the best location for your home wind turbine.
Hilltop locations are best. Air moves up a hill quicker than air moves down a hill. Take advantage of this by placing the pole mounted wind turbine at the crest of the highest hill in your location.
Buildings and trees are major obstructions to the wind. If you are in an urban setting, or otherwise cannot place your wind turbine in an area that is clear from buildings and trees, there may not be enough wind speed available to receive good results from a small wind turbine.
Take advantage of prevailing winds. If you have your choice of several locations, none of them ideal, consider the location that is the most unobstructed on the prevailing wind side. The prevailing, or upwind, side should be as clear of obstructions as possible.
Home versus Pole Mounted Turbines
When you take into account the best method to install a small wind turbine, it becomes apparent that pole installation is vastly superior to home installation. In fact, many home wind turbine manufacturers do not recommend home installation at all.
The best location for a wind turbine is in the open, at least 10 metres above and 76 metres from, any obstructions. This will preclude most home installations. The vibrations that are generated in the tower while the wind turbine runs would be noticeable inside the home. In addition, the air flow that is low to the ground, such as roof level, is slower moving than the air higher up and more turbulent, which decreases the output of power your turbine will generate.
The Affect of Prevailing Winds
When you are determining the placement of small wind turbine, you should take into consideration the direction of the prevailing winds. By placing your home wind turbine to best utilize the prevailing winds, you will receive the best output of electricity. To determine the direction of the prevailing winds in your area watch the trees or shrubs. Even on days when it does not seem as if there is much wind, you can watch the direction that the leaves rustle to determine the direction of the prevailing winds. You can also wait for a storm, as most storm activity will be blown in from the same direction as the prevailing winds.
Factors That Determine Output
Even if you find the absolute perfect location for your wind turbine, your energy savings may be lost by other factors that determine electricity output. To truly use wind turbines as a renewable energy source, you should take care to guard against energy loss after it is converted by your turbine.
When you are determining the best location for a domestic wind turbine, it is important to take into account the wind direction and any obstacles, but there are other factors that determine the amount of energy produced by your home wind turbine.
The swept area is the term used for the square metres of area that the turbine blades cover during a single rotation. The greater the swept area, the greater the energy output. While it may seem, then, that a turbine with the longest blades makes the most economical sense, there are other factors to consider. The longer blades increase the stress on the wind turbine. This increases in stress increases the likelihood of mechanical failure.
Another factor in the amount of electricity produced is the distance between the wind turbine and the battery. The longer the wires connecting the two, the greater the loss of electricity. In addition, the heavier the wiring used, the more energy loss along the lines.