Wind farm for the home with their own hands. Vertical wind generator for summer cottages. Production of a protective sleeve for the engine

Throughout the entire time of its development, mankind has made both insignificant and colossal discoveries that literally change the cognitive and objective reality and ideas, based on the widest range of existing laws on planet Earth. All of them in one way or another were determined by certain factors and were the fruits of the needs and the need to improve something, create, change, adjust for themselves. Based on this, today we have literally come to the conclusion that there are strictly individual needs for the use of already modern and efficient devices and mechanisms that allow you to get the most out of everything that surrounds you. We will talk about such a device as a wind turbine (popularly - a wind blower, wind blower), as well as how to make it with your own hands, spending a minimum of energy and money, and getting the maximum result.

What is a wind generator

An excellent example for the presentation of a wind generator and its action can be the famous computer game Minecraft, where wind generators are revealed in all their qualities. The average mini-generator is arranged in a certain way.

All wind turbines in their essence are differentiated into the following main types:

One of the most common are rotary (vertical) wind turbines, operating on the basis of vertical axial rotation, carried out with the help of a rotor and blades.
Winged wind generators are a horizontal mechanism of axial rotation, carried out with the help of a so-called wheel and usually having a propeller in its system.
Less often, you can also stumble upon drum wind turbines, which are, in essence, a subspecies of rotary wind turbines and operate on the same principles, but in a horizontal plane.

Of course, the first pictures that come to mind when the image of a wind generator arises are rotating blades, a screw, a tail, a turbine, or, as it is also called, a wind turbine, the so-called rotor.

The key link in all activities is a generator, a mast, batteries, an inverter connected to the power grid, a multiplier (reducer, if necessary) and a weather vane.

How to make a windmill with your own hands

Vertical wind turbines are the most efficient and easy to manufacture and operate, which leads to their sufficient prevalence, whether it is a spiral or direct mechanism.

Of great importance is both the purpose of creating a wind turbine and the area on which it will be installed, which should be taken into account when planning.

There are key points that require mandatory attention when creating a wind turbine. The first thing to be determined is, of course, the engine of all progress, the heart of the entire system - a generator that can be both purchased and made by yourself, which, in essence, requires some skill and skills, however, with due desire, a beginner can also handle it. . Depending on your goal, you want a serious machine at 10kW, 5kW (5kW) or less powerful at 12V, or a smaller and simpler bicycle-type wind turbine used as an electrical installation on the balcony of an apartment.

The wind turbine can be equipped with almost any generator:

Whether it is a well-known rural tractor generator;
Detail from an old computer or computer;
Or maybe it's a low-noise car engine;
An element of the engine of a washing machine, only its performance matters.

Next, we decide on the blades - the very spinning objects that resemble the blades of a mill. The blades can also be made from a large number of materials, the most promising and common of which are, for example, plywood, plastic, sometimes tin (barrel edges, for example), PVC material, and so on. When manufacturing, all significant factors should be taken into account - both the influence of centrifugal force and the size of the blades, the wind flow on the ground and others. It is most rational to create a winged character, by virtue of increasing efficiency, by influencing the distribution of the wind flow.

The next step is the manufacture of a device for determining the speed and direction of the wind - a weather vane. It is something like a metal flag that changes its position in accordance with the wind currents. Almost any relatively strong, but light layer of metal can be used as a weather vane.

Mast - a wide range of improvised means can also be used in its role, for example, a strong water pipe. It is quite possible to make a home-made wind apparatus (home-made) yourself, as already described, from the maximum available means, and the strength of the windmill depends on the materials used and the reasonableness of use in specific conditions. The simplest representative of such devices is quite capable of creating electricity for lighting a room, charging devices, and, if desired, even to meet the basic needs of a relatively small country house.

Selection of a generator for a windmill

The generator is the most important element of the entire installation, without which it is impossible to create a single volt of electricity. It is quite realistic to make a low-speed generator on your own from improvised means, but you should select all the elements for specific purposes, because if we are talking about a powerful installation, then quite serious details are needed here.

The generator includes:

The rotor is a movable element in the mechanism that performs a reverse function, and also on which a device is placed that receives energy from a source (body).
The stator is a closely interconnected element with a rotor, which is stationary, assembled, in the case of a generator, from metal sheets attached to each other, and on which an inductor (metal winding) is placed.
Neodymium magnets that perform an inductive function.

At the same time, to perform the function of a generator, depending on the purpose, you can use almost any workable mechanism, whether it be the remains of a tractor engine or an electric motor from a printer or a fan starter.

It is important how the copper electrical wire is selected.

If we are talking about making a generator from scratch, then elements are needed here. The hub is the middle part of the wheel, the metal base for the future motor. Neodymium magnets in a certain quantity and size. Metal discs are needed, on which magnets will be attached, polyester resin or another capable of fixing and gluing the magnetic layer, a thick layer of paper, plywood.

Making wind turbines with your own hands at 220V

It is quite possible to make a 220-volt wind generator yourself, and even this is far from the limit of possibilities, with due desire and the availability of the necessary materials.

Distinctive features of generators with relatively significant power to small ones with low power are:

Of course, a more powerful power plant requires more reliable, durable parts and components, as well as stronger wind.
Also, when creating and maintaining wind turbines with a capacity sufficient to maintain at least one large electrical household appliance, a battery used to store excess energy on it is an obligatory element.
It should be borne in mind that for more energy, a more serious control system is required, which leads to the integration of a control unit, including voltage stabilizers in its system, into such windmills.
For more serious and non-compact systems, an appropriate stable installation is required.

From the latter follows the need for a foundation, at least in the form of small prepared and filled holes in order to install a model in them. Also, axial generators are devoid of the sticking property, or, as they say, the starting point, due to which even the slightest wind can budge blades of such a device.

Otherwise, 220 V wind turbines (including their manufacture) practically do not differ from other representatives and obey the general rules outlined above.

The most common wind generator is based on an axial wind turbine system based on the use of neodymium magnets in it, which have won their high place in the market due to quality, durability and affordability.

Stages of building windmills for the house with your own hands

If we talk about a suburban area of \u200b\u200bdacha or a manor, but it should be understood that the greater the need, the greater the cost. Especially if we keep in mind the purpose of heating or the constant maintenance of all household appliances, the laboriousness and maintenance of such a device, even if it is one of the most profitable.

A wind turbine, as already mentioned above, may well serve as the main source of electricity even for a whole house.

When compared with close analogues, for example, a solar source is in many ways inferior to windmills, because the sun does not come every day, but an electric generator is even more unlike a wind generator in terms of economic and environmental components.

The main components of a wind turbine for the home (to Of course, when talking about a wind turbine for a home, it should be understood that all the basic elements are needed

Stator, rotor, inductor, which are the main components of the generator;
Batteries for energy storage;
Wind catcher, if we are talking about low wind area.

In addition, in the manufacture it is also possible to use the principles of the inventions of the APU by Sklyarov, Biryukov or Tretyakov, which will significantly increase the rationality and benefits of using the system and, for comfort, reduce noise effects.

Instructions: how to make a wind generator with your own hands

The wind turbine manufacturing process is creative and how it will be arranged depends only on the master. There is no universal instruction, since each design is a combination of various details and other factors of each particular case.

Everything is done with the help of basic tools - a screwdriver, a hammer, a grinder and other similar ones.

The first thing to do in the manufacture of a wind turbine is to determine the purpose and make basic calculations, drawings, determine the location, and so on. Next, you should assemble and fix the blades, the tail to the battery (connect to the generator).

The main and most optimal, tested and detailed instructions for making a wind generator with your own hands:

To make a generator from pre-prepared parts - 2 prepared metal pancakes with neodymium magnets are fastened against each other, between which a stator is inserted with a copper winding already on it.
A support (bracket) is installed on the mast (pipe), and a hub is installed above it.
Next, a generator should be installed on the hub, after which the stator should be connected to the support.
A wind turbine is installed on the other side.

Concrete and build the base of the structure in order to stabilize it in strong winds, calculating the main parameters, because for a significant installation of a step distance may not be enough.

Advantages of a homemade wind generator

In conclusion, it should be noted that a homemade wind generator is an excellent, modern and more and more affordable source of energy every day, spreading at an incredible speed. The main advantages of a wind generator, which cannot be assigned to electric generators based on a gas generator, are high efficiency, availability, efficiency, ease of installation and operation, modernity, most are low-noise, environmentally friendly.

Wind turbines today are a promising and increasingly efficient and growing means of generating electricity, while being relatively economical and quite affordable, even in order to make such a device with your own hands.

DIY wind generator: 4 kW (video)

Homemade wind turbines are a great way to learn new things, try new things, and make an affordable and easy way to provide electricity to the house in the simplest home conditions.

Electricity is steadily rising in price. To feel comfortable outside the city in hot summer weather and a frosty winter day, you need to either spend a lot of money or look for alternative energy sources. Russia is a huge country with large flat areas. Although slow winds prevail in most of our regions, strong and violent air currents blow over the sparsely populated area. Therefore, the presence of a wind generator in the farm of the owner of suburban real estate is most often justified. The appropriate model is chosen based on the area of application and the actual purpose of use.

Wind turbine #1 - rotary type design

You can make a simple rotary windmill with your own hands. Of course, he is unlikely to be able to supply electricity to a large cottage, but it is quite possible to provide electricity to a modest garden house. With it, you can supply light in the evening to outbuildings, illuminate garden paths and the local area.

You can read more about other types of alternative energy sources in this article:

So, or almost so, a do-it-yourself rotary wind generator looks like. As you can see, there is nothing super complicated in the design of this equipment.

Preparation of parts and consumables

To assemble a wind generator, the power of which will not exceed 1.5 kW, we will need:

generator from car 12 V;
acid or gel battery 12 V;
converter 12V - 220V to 700 W - 1500 W;
a large container made of aluminum or stainless steel: a bucket or a voluminous pan;
automotive battery charging relay and charge control lamp;
semi-hermetic "button" switch for 12 V;
voltmeter from any unnecessary measuring device, you can automobile;
bolts with washers and nuts;
wires with a cross section of 2.5 mm 2 and 4 mm 2;
two clamps with which the generator will be attached to the mast.

To complete the work, we will need metal scissors or a grinder, a tape measure, a marker or a construction pencil, a screwdriver, keys, a drill, a drill, wire cutters.

Most owners of private houses do not recognize the use of geothermal heating, but such a system has promise. You can read more about the advantages and disadvantages of this complex in the following material:

Progress of design work

We are going to make a rotor and remake the alternator pulley. To get started, we need a metal container of a cylindrical shape. Most often, a pot or bucket is adapted for these purposes. Take a tape measure and a marker or construction pencil and divide the container into four equal parts. If we cut metal with scissors, then in order to insert them, you must first make holes. You can also use a grinder if the bucket is not made of painted tin or galvanized steel. In these cases, the metal will inevitably overheat. Cut out the blades without cutting through them to the end.

In order not to be mistaken with the dimensions of the blades that we cut in the tank, it is necessary to make careful measurements and carefully recalculate everything.

In the bottom and in the pulley we mark and drill holes for the bolts. At this stage, it is important to take your time and arrange the holes symmetrically to avoid imbalance during rotation. The blades should be bent, but not too much. When performing this part of the work, we take into account the direction of rotation of the generator. It usually rotates in a clockwise direction. Depending on the angle of the bend, the area of influence of wind flows increases, and, therefore, the speed of rotation.

This is another option for blades. In this case, each part exists separately, and not as part of the container from which it was cut.

Since each of the windmill blades exists separately, you need to screw each one. The advantage of this design is its increased maintainability

The bucket with finished blades should be fixed to the pulley using bolts. We install the generator on the mast using clamps, then we connect the wires and assemble the circuit. It is better to rewrite the diagram, wire colors and contact markings in advance. The wires also need to be fixed on the mast.

To connect the battery, we use wires 4 mm 2, the length of which should not be more than 1 meter. We connect the load (electrical appliances and lighting) using wires with a cross section of 2.5 mm 2. Do not forget to put the converter (inverter). It is connected to the network to contacts 7.8 with a 4 mm 2 wire.

The design of the wind turbine consists of a resistor (1), a generator starter winding (2), a generator rotor (3), a voltage regulator (4), a reverse current relay (5), an ammeter (6), a battery (7), a fuse (8) , switch (9)

Advantages and disadvantages of such a model

If everything is done correctly, this wind generator will work without creating problems for you. With a 75A battery and a 1000 W converter, it can power street lighting, video surveillance devices, etc.

The scheme of the installation clearly demonstrates exactly how wind energy is converted into electricity and how it is used for its intended purpose.

The advantages of such a model are obvious: it is a very economical product, easy to repair, does not require special conditions for its operation, works reliably and does not violate your acoustic comfort. The disadvantages include low productivity and a significant dependence on strong gusts of wind: the blades can be torn off by air currents.

Windmill #2 - axial design with magnets

Until recently, axial windmills with iron-free stators on neodymium magnets have not been made in Russia due to the inaccessibility of the latter. But now they are in our country, and they are cheaper than originally. Therefore, our craftsmen began to manufacture wind turbines of this type.

Over time, when the capabilities of a rotary wind generator will no longer provide all the needs of the economy, you can make an axial model on neodymium magnets

What needs to be prepared?

For the basis of the axial generator, you need to take the hub from the car with brake discs. If this part was in operation, it must be disassembled, the bearings checked and lubricated, rust cleaned off. The finished generator will be painted.

To qualitatively clean the hub from rust, use a metal brush that can be mounted on an electric drill. The hub will look great again

Distribution and fixation of magnets

We have to stick magnets on the rotor discs. In this case, 20 magnets with a size of 25x8mm are used. If you decide to make a different number of poles, then use the rule: in a single-phase generator there must be as many poles as there are magnets, and in a three-phase generator, the ratio of 4/3 or 2/3 poles to coils must be observed. Magnets should be placed by alternating poles. To ensure that their location is correct, use a template with sectors printed on paper or on the disc itself.

If possible, it is better to use rectangular magnets rather than round ones, because round ones have a magnetic field concentrated in the center, and rectangular ones along their length. The opposing magnets must have different poles. In order not to confuse anything, use a marker to put “+” or “-” on their surface. To determine the pole, take one magnet and bring others to it. Put plus on attracting surfaces, and minus on repulsive ones. On the disks, the poles must alternate.

The magnets are correctly placed. Before fixing them with epoxy resin, it is necessary to make plasticine sides so that the adhesive mass can harden, and not glass on the table or floor

To fix the magnets, you need to use a strong glue, after which the bonding strength is further enhanced with epoxy resin. It is filled with magnets. To prevent the resin from spreading, you can make plasticine borders or simply wrap the disc with tape.

Three-phase and single-phase generators

A single-phase stator is worse than a three-phase one, because it vibrates when loaded. This is due to the difference in the amplitude of the current, which occurs due to its non-constant return for a moment in time. The three-phase model does not suffer from this disadvantage. The power in it is always constant, because the phases compensate for each other: if the current drops in one, it increases in the other.

In a dispute between single-phase and three-phase options, the latter comes out the winner, because additional vibration does not extend the life of the equipment and irritates the ear.

As a result, the output of a three-phase model is 50% higher than that of a single-phase one. Another advantage of the absence of unnecessary vibration is the acoustic comfort when working under load: the generator does not hum during its operation. In addition, vibration always puts the wind generator out of action before the expiration of its service life.

Coil winding process

Any specialist will tell you that before winding the coils, you need to make a careful calculation. And any practitioner will do everything intuitively. Our generator will not be too fast. We want the 12 volt battery to start charging at 100-150 rpm. With such initial data, the total number of turns in all coils should be 1000-1200 pieces. It remains to divide this figure by the number of coils and find out how many turns there will be in each.

To make the wind generator more powerful at low speeds, you need to increase the number of poles. In this case, the frequency of current oscillations in the coils will increase. For winding coils, it is better to use a thick wire. This will reduce the resistance, which means that the current will increase. It should be noted that at high voltage, the current may be "eaten" by the resistance of the winding. A simple homemade machine will help you quickly and accurately wind high-quality coils.

The stator is marked, the coils are laid in their places. For their fixation, epoxy resin is used, the runoff of which is again resisted by plasticine bumpers.

Due to the number and thickness of the magnets located on the disks, generators can vary considerably in performance. To find out what power to expect as a result, you can wind one coil and scroll it in the generator. To determine future power, you should measure the voltage at certain speeds without load.

For example, at 200 rpm, 30 volts is obtained with a resistance of 3 ohms. We subtract from 30 volts the battery voltage of 12 volts, and divide the resulting 18 volts by 3 ohms. The result is 6 amps. This is the volume that will go to the battery. Although in practice, of course, it turns out less due to losses in the diode bridge and in the wires.

Most often, the coils are made round, but it is better to stretch them a little. At the same time, there is more copper in the sector, and the turns of the coils are straighter. The diameter of the inner hole of the coil should match the size of the magnet or be slightly larger than it.

Preliminary tests of the resulting equipment are carried out, which confirm its excellent performance. Over time, this model can be improved.

When making the stator, keep in mind that its thickness must match the thickness of the magnets. If the number of turns in the coils is increased and the stator is made thicker, the interdisk space will increase and the magnetic flux will decrease. As a result, the same voltage can be generated, but less current due to the increased resistance of the coils.

Plywood is used as a form for the stator, but you can mark sectors for coils on paper, and make borders from plasticine. The strength of the product will increase the fiberglass placed on the bottom of the mold and on top of the coils. The epoxy must not stick to the mold. To do this, it is lubricated with wax or petroleum jelly. For the same purpose, you can use a film or tape. The coils are fixed to each other motionlessly, the ends of the phases are brought out. Then all six wires are connected by a triangle or a star.

The generator assembly is tested using hand rotation. The resulting voltage is 40 volts, while the current strength is approximately 10 amperes.

Final stage - mast and propeller

The actual height of the finished mast was 6 meters, but it would be better to make it 10-12 meters. The base for it needs to be concreted. It is necessary to make such a fastening so that the pipe can be raised and lowered using a hand winch. A screw is attached to the top of the pipe.

PVC pipe is a reliable and fairly light material, using which you can make a windmill propeller with a predetermined bend

For the manufacture of the screw, a PVC pipe is needed, the diameter of which is 160 mm. A six-blade two-meter screw is to be cut out of it. It makes sense to experiment with the shape of the blades in order to increase the torque at low revs. From a strong wind, the screw must be removed. This function is performed using a folding tail. The generated energy is stored in batteries.

The mast must be raised and lowered with a hand winch. Additional structural stability can be given using tension cables.

Your attention is given to two options for wind turbines, which are most often used by summer residents and owners of suburban real estate. Each of them is effective in its own way. Especially the result of using such equipment is manifested in areas with strong winds. In any case, such an assistant in the household will never hurt.

The activity of both individuals and all of today's humanity is practically impossible without electricity. Unfortunately, the rapidly increasing consumption of oil and gas, coal and peat leads to a decrease in the reserves of these resources on the planet. What can be done while earthlings still have all this? According to the conclusions of experts, it is the development of energy complexes that can solve the problems of world economic and financial crises. Therefore, the most relevant are the search and use of fuel-free energy sources.

Renewable, ecological, green

Perhaps it is not worth reminding that everything new is a well-forgotten old. People have learned to use the strength of the river flow and the speed of the wind to obtain mechanical energy for a very long time. The sun heats water for us and moves cars, feeds spaceships. Wheels, installed in the beds of streams and small rivers, supplied water to the fields as early as the Middle Ages. One could provide flour to several surrounding villages.

At the moment, we are interested in a simple question: how to provide your home with cheap light and heat, how to make a windmill with your own hands? 5 kW power or a little less, the main thing is that you can supply your home with current for the operation of electrical appliances.

It is interesting that in the world there is a classification of buildings according to the level of resource efficiency:

conventional, built before 1980-1995;
with low and ultra-low energy consumption - up to 45-90 kWh per 1 kV/m;
passive and non-volatile, receiving current from renewable sources (for example, by installing a rotary wind generator (5 kW) with your own hands or a system of solar panels, you can solve this problem);
energy-active buildings that generate more electricity than they need, receive money by giving it through the network to other consumers.

It turns out that our own, home mini-stations installed on rooftops and in yards can eventually compete with large electricity suppliers. And the governments of different countries in every possible way encourage the creation and active use

How to determine the profitability of your own power plant

Researchers have proven that the reserve capacity of the winds is much greater than all the accumulated centuries-old fuel reserves. Among the ways to obtain energy from renewable sources, windmills have a special place, since their manufacture is simpler than the creation of solar panels. In fact, a 5 kW wind generator can be assembled with your own hands, having the necessary components, including magnets, copper wire, plywood and metal for the blades.

Connoisseurs argue that not only a structure of the correct shape, but also built in the right place can become productive and, accordingly, profitable. This means that it is necessary to take into account the presence, constancy and even the speed of air flows in each individual case and even in a particular region. If calm, calm and calm days periodically come in the area, the installation of a mast with a generator will not bring any benefit.

Before you start making a windmill with your own hands (5 kW), you need to consider its model and appearance. Do not expect a large energy output from a weak design. Conversely, when you only need to power a couple of light bulbs in the country, it makes no sense to build a huge windmill with your own hands. 5 kW is enough power to provide electricity to almost the entire lighting system and home appliances. There will be constant wind - there will be light.

How to make a wind generator with your own hands: a sequence of actions

At the place chosen for the high mast, the windmill itself is strengthened with a generator attached to it. The generated energy goes through the wires to the desired room. It is believed that the higher the mast design, the larger the diameter of the wind wheel and the stronger the air flow, the higher the efficiency of the entire device. In fact, everything is not quite like this:

for example, a strong hurricane can easily break the blades;
some models can be installed on the roof of an ordinary house;
A properly selected turbine starts easily and performs well even in very low wind speeds.

The main types of windmills

Designs with a horizontal axis of rotation of the rotor are considered classic. Usually they have 2-3 blades and are installed at a great height from the ground. The greatest efficiency of such an installation is manifested at a constant direction and its speed of 10 m/s. A significant disadvantage of this bladed design is the failure of the rotation of the blades with frequently changing, impetuous. This leads either to unproductive work or to the destruction of the entire installation. To start such a generator after stopping, a forced initial spin-up of the blades is necessary. In addition, with active rotation, the blades emit specific sounds that are unpleasant to the human ear.

The vertical wind generator ("Volchok" 5 kW or other) has a different placement of the rotor. H-shaped or barrel-shaped turbines capture wind from any direction. These designs are smaller, run even at the weakest air flows (at 1.5-3 m/s), do not require high masts, they can be used even in urban environments. In addition, do-it-yourself (5 kW - this is real) assembled windmills reach their rated power with a wind of 3-4 m / s.

Sails are not on ships, but on land

One of the most popular trends in wind energy today is the creation of a horizontal generator with soft blades. The main difference is both the material of manufacture and the shape itself: do-it-yourself windmills (5 kW, sail type) have 4-6 triangular fabric blades. Moreover, unlike traditional structures, their cross section increases in the direction from the center to the periphery. This feature allows not only to "catch" a weak wind, but also to avoid losses during a hurricane air flow.

The advantages of sailboats include the following indicators:

high power at slow rotation;
self-orientation and adjustment to any wind;
high vane and low inertia;
no need for forced spinning of the wheel;
completely silent rotation even at high speeds;
absence of vibrations and sound disturbances;
relative cheapness of construction.

DIY windmills

5 kW of required electricity can be obtained in several ways:

build a simple rotary structure;
to assemble a complex of several successively located on the same axis of the sailing wheels;
use an axial construction with neodymium magnets.

It is important to remember that the power of the wind wheel is proportional to the product of the cubic value of the wind speed and the swept area of the turbine. So, how to make a 5 kW wind generator? Instructions below.

As a basis, you can take a car hub and brake discs. 32 magnets (25 by 8 mm) are placed in parallel in a circle on the future disks of the rotor (moving part of the generator) for each disk, 16 pieces, moreover, the pluses necessarily alternate with the minuses. Opposite magnets must have different pole values. After marking and placement, everything on the circle is poured with epoxy.

Coils of copper wire are placed on the stator. Their number should be less than the number of magnets, that is, 12. First, all the wires are brought out and connected to each other with a star or triangle, then they are also filled with epoxy glue. It is recommended to insert pieces of plasticine into the coils before pouring. After the resin has hardened and removed, holes will remain that are needed for ventilation and cooling of the stator.

How it all works

The rotor disks, rotating relative to the stator, form a magnetic field, and an electric current appears in the coils. And the windmill, connected by means of a system of pulleys, is needed in order to move these parts of the working structure. How to make a wind generator with your own hands? Some start building their own power plant by assembling a generator. Others - from the creation of a bladed rotating part.

The shaft from the windmill is coupled with a sliding joint to one of the rotor discs. A lower, second disk with magnets is placed on a strong bearing. The stator is located in the middle. All parts are attached to the plywood circle with long bolts and fixed with nuts. Between all the "pancakes" be sure to leave minimal gaps for free rotation of the rotor discs. The result is a 3-phase generator.

"Barrel"

It remains to make windmills. With your own hands, a 5 kW rotating structure can be made from 3 circles of plywood and a sheet of the thinnest and lightest duralumin. Metal rectangular wings are attached to plywood with bolts and corners. Preliminarily, wave-shaped guide grooves are hollowed out in each plane of the circle, into which the sheets are inserted. The resulting two-story rotor has 4 wavy blades attached to each other at right angles. That is, between each two hubs fastened with plywood pancakes, there are 2 duralumin blades curved in the shape of a wave.

This design is mounted in the center on a steel stud, which will transmit torque to the generator. Do-it-yourself (5 kW) windmills of this design weigh approximately 16-18 kg with a height of 160-170 cm and a base diameter of 80-90 cm.

What to Consider

A windmill-“barrel” can be installed even on the roof of a building, although a tower 3-4 meters high is quite enough. However, it is imperative to protect the generator housing from natural precipitation. It is also recommended to install an energy storage battery.

To obtain an alternating current from a direct 3-phase current, a converter must also be included in the circuit.

With a sufficient number of windy days in the region, a self-assembled windmill (5 kW) can provide current not only to a TV and light bulbs, but also to a video surveillance system, air conditioning, refrigerator and other electrical equipment.

I started with a Google search. There was a huge variety of designs, diagrams, drawings, videos of vertical and rotary models. Everyone had a common principle, which I used in my windmill.

All schemes had five common features:

1. Generator
2. Blades
3. Installation of a plant that turns wind into energy
4. Tower to raise the rig and catch the wind
5. Batteries and electronic control system

I reduced the creation project to just five small steps. If only one of the points is considered at a time, the project does not seem too difficult. But about everything in order.

Generator

First of all, I started choosing a generator. My Internet research showed that many people assembled windmills on their own. As I understood from their stories, it seemed to them very difficult, at least the first attempt. Others preferred a circuit with DC magnets. This solution seemed easier. Therefore, I began to look for engines that are best suited for this task.

Many, it turned out, used old tape-driven computer motors to build their windmill (a rarity in the days when computers had large reel-to-reel tape drives). The best, apparently, models of such an engine were from Ametek. The most suitable, in my opinion, of them is a 99 volt DC motor. It works great as a small power plant generator. Unfortunately, they are now almost impossible to find. Although there are many similar analogues that can still be found, for example, on Ebay. There is also a description about the advantages and disadvantages of various Ametek engines (description in English: https://www.tlgwindpower.com/ametek.htm).

As you may have guessed, there are quite a few other suitable models available. These DC magnets can work decently, but they weren't designed for wind turbines in the first place. Motors have to spin up much faster than their rated speed to produce anything close to their rated voltage.

I was looking for a model designed for high DC voltage, low RPM and high current refraining from low voltage and high RPM. What was needed was an engine that would output over 12 volts at fairly low RPMs.

So, for example, an engine rated at 325 rpm 30 volts can be expected to produce 12+ volts at reasonably low rpm. On the other hand, a 7200 rpm 24 volt motor is unlikely to produce 12 volts as long as it is spinning at several thousand rpm. This is too fast for a wind turbine.

I was able to get one of the matching Ametek 30 volt motors on Ebay for only $26. They are cheap, because most hunt for the more powerful ones. You can find other manufacturers as well, so don't worry about the price of Ameteks. In any case, my purchased motor was in good condition and worked perfectly. Even with a simple push with his hands, he gained enough speed to light a 12 volt lamp brightly enough. I gave him a real test on the drilling machine, connecting to the appropriate load. I made sure that if I could attach good blades, it would produce a large amount of energy.

blades

Regular online research showed that many carved blades from wood. It seemed to me an outrageous amount of work. Also found that other home crafters used PVC pipes. This option looked simpler.

I followed the description I found. The first step was to determine the required length.

For example, if you need blades 50 cm long, then the pipe should have a diameter of 10 cm. Four pieces will be obtained from one segment.

For mine, I used a black pipe that I could find in a local store, 15 cm in diameter, 60 cm long. First, I cut it lengthwise into four equal parts. Then I cut out one blade, removing a square of about 5 cm at the base, where it will be attached. Trim off the excess diagonally. Before cutting the square, drill a hole in the corner where you want to make the cut. This will help not to break the material and cut further than required.

The cut wing served as a template for the following. In total, I got four pieces (3 for my installation, plus one spare).

Then I smoothed the edges a little on a grinder and a little emery. I don’t know how much this will improve the performance of the windmill, but it looks good.

Mounting

Satisfied with the result, I proceeded to assemble the power plant from the parts received.

After digging around in his workshop, I found a toothed pulley for mounting the engine shaft. But it turned out to be too small in diameter to secure the blades with bolts. Among my scrap metal I also found an aluminum disk 13 cm in diameter - of sufficient size, but there is no way to attach it to the motor shaft. The simplest solution was, of course, to fasten the two pieces together. To do this, I drilled the required holes in the disks.

Bolted the blades and discs.

Found this screw cap at a local store.

Immediately thought about adding a counter. This design already really looked like a professionally made wind farm. I can hardly convince even my friends that I built it from improvised means found among the rubbish in my workshop and plumbing parts. Then I found a site that claimed that such meters disrupt air circulation and reduce the efficiency of the blades. Who knows how such a statement is justified, but decided to abandon the counter, at least for now.

Now you need to install the turbine. I decided to put it on a wooden stand. The size of the board was calculated by the highest scientific method and by choosing the most suitable piece from the available trash.

I cut off a piece of plastic pipe with a diameter of 10 cm to make a shield for the engine, protecting it from rain. For the tail section, which turns the screws in the direction of the wind, I simply used a piece of heavy aluminum sheet. I was worried that the tail was not large enough, but in practice it turned out to work very well. The tail turns the wind turbine directly into the wind every time it changes direction.

For those who are interested in exact drawings and diagrams, I indicated the main dimensions of the tail section in the photo. Although I think it is unlikely that any of these dimensions are critical.

Installation tower

The creation process approached the installation on the tower. The tower will allow you to freely rotate towards the wind. After some thought and storming local stores, finally came up with a solution that seems to work well.

The 2.5 cm iron pipe gives good sliding inside the 3 cm steel EMT electrical conduit. It would be possible to take a long piece of piping as a tower and 2.5 cm pipe fittings at both ends. I connected a 2.5 cm iron flange to the main device in the center, 19 cm from the end of the generator, screwed the end of the iron pipe. The wires will run through a hole in the center of the pipe and then exit at the base of the tower.

For the base, I cut out a disc with a diameter of 60 cm from plywood. I made a U-shaped assembly from 2.5 cm of pipe fittings. In the middle I put a 3.5 cm tee. Now it can rotate freely, and also allows you to raise and lower the tower. I drilled holes in the wooden disk for steel inserts to fix it to the ground.

In the photo - the upper part with the base fastening. I think you have already guessed how they will fit together. Imagine a three-meter pipe connecting both parts.

Since I was building a wind generator at home, and I was going to use it in a mountain house, I decided to postpone the purchase of a three-meter support pipe until I arrived at the place. This meant that the structure would only be partially assembled, and therefore it would not be possible to conduct a proper test before installation on site. Of course, such a turn worried me a little, because until the last moment I could not be sure before the start of the tests whether all my calculations would really be confirmed and the system would work properly.

Then I covered all the wood parts with a few coats of white paint left over from the renovation to protect the wood from rain and rot. I screwed on the wings, added a counterweight to the tail section to balance the system.

I was curious as to how it would still work. To test the system, going outside on a windy day, I simply raised it higher above my head. The blades spun in seconds (without being connected to a generator). I held in my hands the spinning top of death, not knowing how to lower it so that the blades would not quarter me. Fortunately, at some point the gust of wind died down and I managed to stop this colossus. It is unlikely that I will ever repeat this mistake.

Batteries and electronic control system

Now that all the mechanical parts are ready, it's time to move on to the fifth point of my plan - the electronic system.

The wind farm consists of wind turbine; one or more energy storage batteries produced by the generator; blocking diode to prevent motor rotation from stored battery power and excess power ballast load when the batteries are fully charged; charge controller to start the whole system.

There are many controllers for solar and wind farms. Anyplace provides mechanisms for alternative energy systems that are sold on Ebay. I decided to try to make a controller with my own hands. Googling a bit, I found a lot of information, including some complete controller schematics. They did not seem complicated, so it was quite easy to assemble my block.

Since I have been fond of electronics since early childhood, I already had a lot of components. Therefore, it remains to buy just a little to complete the system. Slightly changed the circuit in accordance with the available stock, in order to use the already existing components. But still, I had to buy a relay.

My controller circuit

As I said above, I had to change the found scheme for myself in order to use the parts that I have. It is not necessary to duplicate everything exactly. Most resistor values are not critical. If you have the relevant knowledge, you can choose your best options. Don't be afraid to experiment.

Whether you decide to buy a ready-made controller, or make your own, it is a must for a wind turbine, as it must monitor the voltage of the battery, either direct energy there for recharging, or ballast excess energy when the battery is fully charged (to prevent overcharging and battery failure) .

This is what my controller looks like, which I made myself. On initial testing, I simply bolted it to the plywood. Subsequently, I will close the case protected from the weather.

Finally, all the elements are ready. It remains to take them to my house in the mountains and install them. I carefully packed all the parts of the device, collected the necessary tools, prepared for the trip with the hope this time to get electricity for my remote house.

Final assembly of the plant

After arriving at the site, my first task was to create and then attach the windmill carrier tower. In the nearest store I bought a pipe three meters long, 35 mm thick to make a riser. Assembly went quickly. I used nylon ropes and wooden stakes to secure the riser on four sides.

The disc of the base of the tower lies directly on the ground. The wire will come out through the hole to connect the turbine to the controller. To stretch the wire through the pipe, I used a hard wire - I screwed the wire with one end of the wire, inserted the wire into the pipe and pulled the wire.

Earned! Although the breeze was very light this afternoon, the blades accelerated perfectly.

Photos of other devices: controller, battery, electronics. A 120 volt inverter is connected to the battery, as well as a multimeter to monitor the battery voltage and the output voltage from the wind turbine. In addition, a charger is connected to the inverter, which converts 120 volts of alternating current.

Close up of used electronics. According to the multimeter, the windmill generates 13.32 volts. The shaver and charger are test devices that load the system through an AC inverter.

Of course, leaving all the electronics like this on a plywood board in the open is quite dangerous. With such a high voltage, and a lot of wire connections, the danger of a short circuit is too high. After the first test, I will select a good extension cord and move the devices to a protected place.

Finally, the installation of my homemade windmill is finished! I have electricity! Now I can charge my phone, camera, connect a laptop and other household appliances. And no longer depend on traditional food sources, at least as long as the wind blows.

Do-it-yourself vertical wind generator, drawings, photos, videos of a windmill with a vertical axis.

Wind generators are divided according to the type of placement of the rotating axis (rotor) into vertical and horizontal. We considered the design of a wind turbine with a horizontal rotor in the last article, now let's talk about a wind generator with a vertical rotor.

Scheme of an axial generator for a wind generator.

Wind turbine manufacturing.

The wind wheel (turbine) of a vertical wind generator consists of two supports, upper and lower, as well as blades.

The wind wheel is made from sheets of aluminum or stainless steel, and the wind wheel can also be cut from a thin-walled barrel. The height of the wind wheel must be at least 1 meter.

In this wind wheel, the angle of the blades bend sets the speed of rotation of the rotor, the greater the bend, the greater the speed of rotation.

The wind wheel is bolted directly to the generator pulley.

To install a vertical wind generator, you can use any mast, the manufacture of the mast is described in detail in this.

Scheme of connection of the vetogenerator.

The generator is connected to the controller, which in turn is connected to the battery. It is more practical to use a car battery as an energy storage device. Since household appliances run on AC, we will need an inverter to convert DC 12V to AC 220V.

For connection, a copper wire with a cross section of up to 2.5 squares is used. The connection diagram is described in detail.

Video showing a wind generator in operation.

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