Proper Design For Wind Turbine Blades
Wood is most often used for homemade wind turbine blades and sometimes metal or fiberglass are used. Sometimes, turbine blades are also cut from pieces of PVC pipe. The giant commercial wind turbines in production today mostly use fiberglas blades because it is long lasting and very light and not subject to stress fatigue.
Learn more about Wind Turbine Blades at diyhomepowergrid.com
Lighter than metal and easier to work with than both metal and fiberglass, wood is the logical choice for home DIY turbine blades. The most common design has 3 working blades, although there are also one and 2 blade designs.
This configuration is considered best bacause with three blades, the rotor will turn at higher speeds in lower winds. Another consideration is that three blade turbines are quieter and easier to balance than are one and 2 blade turbines.
Design theory is mainly the same for all horizontal axis wind turbine blades. Much like the wings on an airplane, wind turbine blades are airfoil shaped to create lift and help maximize efficiency. Since the blades move slower in the middle and faster at the outer ends, they usually have a twist to their shape. This twist optimizes angle of attack along the blade. To further improve aerodynamic performance, the blades are also tapered.
Although wind turbine blade design is fairly consistent from one turbine to the next, several dimensional factors must be tailored to the overall machine design and location. To optimize aerodynamic efficiency in light winds, the speed and torque at which the turbine rotates must be controlled.
The hub can only turn so fast before it reaches the alternator’s maximum capacity for current generation and then it must be slowed. Therefore, the generator must be kept within its speed and torque limits and be prevented from spinning faster than its maximum capacity. Blade size, weight and diameter all play a part. If the blades are too small or too large for the alternator the turbine won’t work properly, if at all. Likewise, if the tail assembly isn’t the correct size and weight, the turbine won’t furl to a slower speed or turn into the wind when it is supposed to.
For all these reasons, it makes the most sense to get a set of plans for the entire turbine where the given blade specifications are consistent with the other parts.
Our site includes reviews of our favorite diy project guides that include the proper wind turbine blade specifications. Wind Turbine Blades
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