Efficient wind generator: reviews from owners, use of Chinese devices, rumors and misconceptions

Is it profitable?

Before spending significant financial resources on purchasing a wind turbine, anyone wants to make sure whether it is profitable.

To get started you need:

Decide what source of power supply the wind generator will serve as.

It could be:

1. The main source of electrical energy. In this case, all consumers are connected to the installed device and their power supply is completely dependent on the operation of the wind generator.
2. Additional source.

In this case, there may be two options:

1. When power is supplied to consumers from traditional power supply networks, part of the power is connected to the wind turbine or it is turned on for a certain time. When used in this way, a reduction in the cost of paying bills for consumed electrical energy from energy supply organizations is achieved;
2. When using other alternative sources of electrical energy (solar panels, hydraulic turbines, etc.), wind turbines are part of the electrical supply system.

• Study the advantages and disadvantages of wind generators, which are:

The advantages of using such devices include:

1. Wind energy is an inexhaustible and renewable source of energy;
2. Cost-effective installations. After the initial costs of purchase and installation, you do not subsequently have to pay for the consumed electrical energy;
3. Wind energy is an environmentally “clean” source of energy;
4. The simple design of the units allows you to independently perform installation and carry out maintenance in the future.

Disadvantages of use include:

1. Dependence of installation performance on weather conditions and the presence of wind flows in the region where the units are located;
2. Creation of noise and various interference (radio, communications, television) during the operation of installations;
3. Removal of land plots on which generators are installed from active use.

• Study the wind potential of the region where the construction of a wind generator is planned. To do this, you can contact the regional weather service or use information on the Internet.
• Select the type, brand and manufacturer of equipment.

When choosing devices, the main criteria will be:

1. Efficiency of installations;
2. Cost of a set of equipment.

When the necessary calculations have been made, the power supply option has been selected, the wind potential and the range of equipment offered have been studied, each individual makes a conclusion whether it is profitable to use a wind turbine or not.

Reviews about vertical structures

The owners of vertical wind turbines are mainly their manufacturers. Self-manufacturing of installations results in a certain pride in one’s creation, so the general mood of the reviews is quite optimistic and positive. Let's look at some of them:

• I assembled a windmill from carousel-type metal barrels on the site. Car generator, slightly modified. I’m quite happy, I now have my own lighting, I’ve connected some equipment at home.
• I immediately chose a vertical system, since I didn’t want to build a high mast, and it wasn’t advisable to climb on it. I used an orthogonal type design and improved it a little according to my own understanding. It spins and generates current. I'm going to build another, more powerful one for a complete transition to my own energy.
• I decided to tinker with the windmill at my leisure, for fun. Little by little things started to work out, and today I provide 80% of my home with my own energy. There are benefits, the main thing is to put your hands to it.

The opinions of the owners are quite positive , which gives reason to consider wind energy as the most successful solution at the household level, as a way to autonomously provide energy to one’s home. In the conditions of Russia, a country with colossal hydropower capacities, such a solution looks the most reasonable and does not destroy the overall structure of the state’s energy supply.

How much does a wind generator cost for a private home?

The cost of a wind generator is influenced by the following parameters:

1. Installation power;
2. Type of wind generator (horizontal or vertical axis of rotation);
3. Manufacturer of the installation.

The installed power of electrical energy consumers in a small private house ranges from 3.0 to 10.0 kW.

Accordingly, the cost of units in this price range is as follows:

• Russian-made wind turbines:

1. With a horizontal axis of rotation - from 68,000.00 to 650,000.00 rubles (EnergyWind company (EnergyWind series));
2. With a vertical axis of rotation - from 250,000.00 to 450,000.00 rubles (produces wind generators of the OM series with a power of up to 5.0 kW).

• Wind turbines from foreign manufacturers:

1. With a horizontal axis of rotation - from 140,000.00 to 260,000.00 rubles (Zonhan Windpower Co, Ltd (China) produces units of the “Exmork” series with a power of up to 5.0 kW);
2. With a vertical axis of rotation - from 120,000.00 to 450,000.00 rubles (Bekar Europe GmbH (Germany)).

What power do you need?

In order to determine how much power a wind generator needs, it is necessary to decide what source of electrical energy it will serve as (main or additional).

If this is the main source, then it is necessary to calculate the installed power of the consumers (loads) connected to it. After this, the resulting power should be increased by at least 10%, this will be the safety factor of the installation, when increasing capacity in the future, as well as to improve the operation of the units at times of peak loads. If you have financial capabilities, you can add up to 30% to the safety factor.

If this is an additional source, then in this case, the power of the connected devices (load) to this element of the power supply system is determined.

Higher, faster, more powerful

The key direction in the development of modern wind turbines is their growth upward. The average wind turbine in 1999 was only 40 meters high with a blade span of 24 meters. The average wind turbine built in 2016 reached a height of 128 meters with a blade span of 109 meters. An increase in the span of the blades by 4.5 times led to an increase in the area they swept by 20 times, and the power jumped 57 times. But it should be understood that average figures hide from us the results of the most advanced designs.

©Wikimedia Commons

Today, Haliade-X from General Energy is recognized as one of these wind turbines. The span of its blades is 220 meters, the total height is 260 meters, that is, 40 meters remain from the lower edge of the lower blade to the ground. The power reaches 13 megawatts, and the utilization factor is 60-64% (in North Sea conditions). Therefore, the annual output is equal to what the windmill can produce when operating at full power 60-64% of the time. For conventional offshore wind turbines, the outstanding result is 45%; Haliade-X surpasses them due to its much greater height and spread, stabilizing production. The wind at high altitude is more stable, which makes such a significant difference.

It may seem that all this gigantomania is unnecessary and even harmful. Blades longer than 100 meters are extremely difficult to transport. Building a tower as tall as the Cheops pyramid is also not the easiest thing. Why not create more wind turbines of much lower power?

How to choose

When choosing a wind generator, you should take into account the requirements that will be placed on the installation during operation, its technical characteristics, installation and maintenance conditions.

In order to avoid mistakes when purchasing a complex and quite expensive unit, such as a wind turbine, you should pay attention to the mistakes that can be made when choosing a device:

• The choice of a generator must be approached with special care, studying its technical characteristics, comparing models from different manufacturers, becoming familiar with the operation and operation features of each individual model;
• You should not save on the cost of equipment and installation. If you buy a cheap unit, you may not get the desired result or even waste your money. By saving on installation, you can even lose a good model of the device.
• It is worth purchasing equipment from trusted sellers or representatives of generator manufacturing companies.

Batteries for wind turbines

Large industrial wind turbines can transmit energy directly to the grid, bypassing any batteries.

But you won’t be able to do without them. Without a battery, neither the TV nor the refrigerator will work. Even the lighting will shine in fits and starts, depending on gusts of wind.

Moreover, over 12-15 years of operation of the generator, you will be required to change 3-4 sets of batteries, thereby doubling your initial costs. Moreover, we take almost the ideal option, when the batteries will be discharged no more than half of their capacity.

Of course, you can buy cheap battery models, but this will not reduce your costs. Just going to the store for new batteries will be done not 4 times, but 8 times.

Popular brands and models

Currently, the wind turbine market offers products from domestic and foreign companies.

Among the installations produced in Russia, wind generators from the EnergyWind company (EnergyWind series), which has its own production in the Smolensk region and offices in Moscow (central) and St. Petersburg, are popular among consumers. The product line includes wind turbines with a horizontal axis of rotation with a power from 1.0 to 10.0 kW.

Among imported analogues, wind generators made in China by Zonhan Windpower Co, Ltd. are popular. The company produces wind turbines with a horizontal axis of rotation (Exmork series), with a power from 0.3 to 5.0 kW.

Where can I buy

The most correct option for purchasing complex technical devices is through representative offices of manufacturing companies. In this case, the consumer will be given advice on the installation and operation of the units, provided with technical and information support during operation, as well as warranty and post-warranty repairs, if necessary.

You can also purchase wind turbines from specialized companies that sell such devices. They can also provide assistance and assistance both at the installation stage and during further operation of the equipment. Buying complex machinery and equipment from unverified sellers and over the Internet is not worth it, it is dangerous in terms of financial expenses and wasted time.