Build Your Own Small Wind Power System | Build Your Own

Build Your Own Small Wind Power System

Authors: Kevin Shea and Brian Clark Howard

Published: November 2011

eISBN: 9780071761581 0071761586 | ISBN: 9780071761574

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1 First Wind: Introduction to Small Wind Power

A Brief History of Wind Energy

A Brief History of Commercial-Scale Wind Energy

Recent Growth of the Global Wind Market

Wind Energy System Components

Turbine

Tower

Transmission Wires

Balance of System (BOS)

Direct Drivers for Wind Energy

Economic Benefits of Small Wind Power

Free Fuel

Return on Investment (ROI)

Financial Hedge Against Rising Energy Prices

Access to Financial Incentives for Developers and Consumers

Becoming Competitive with Conventional Technologies

Job Creation and Regional Economic Development

Values and Small Wind

Environmental Benefits

Independence

Image Enhancement

Consumer Choice

Self-Reliance

Do-It-Yourself

High Visibility

The Joy and Satisfaction of It

Practicality

Diversity and Reliability of Electricity Supply

Political Security

Natural Synergism with Solar Technology

Diversity of Applications, Including Remote and Off-Grid

Resiliency

Summary

2 Second Wind: Challenges and Impacts of Small Wind Energy

Energy Storage and Transmission

Environmental Impacts

Noise

Perception and Annoyance

Flicker Effect

Visual Influence

Property Value

Electromagnetic Transmissions

Radar

Ice Throwing

Ecological Impacts of Small Wind Turbines

Embodied Energy

Site Preparation

Potential Impacts on Birds

Impacts on Bats

Summary

3 Electricity, Energy, and Wind Science

Basics of Electricity

Electrical Charge (Voltage)

Current (Amperes)

Ampere-Hours (Amp-Hours)

Resistance (Ohms)

All Together Now: Ohm’s Law

Power (Watts)

Energy (Watt-Hours)

Wind Energy Principles

Understanding Wind Speed Terminology

The Basic Wind Energy Formula

Air Density (D)

Super Power vs. Super Energy: Annual Energy Output (AEO)

Powering Down: Losing 40 Percent of the Betz

Summary

4 Personal Assessment: Is Wind Power Right for You?

Nothing Personal: Your Motivations

Determining Your Relationship to the Grid

How Energy-Efficient Is Your Home or Business?

Calculating Average Annual Consumption

Auditing Your Energy Consumption

Boosting Your Building’s Energy Efficiency

Adjust That Thermostat

Use Cold Water

Use Electricity When the Rate Is Lower

Plug the Leaks

Install Ceiling Fans

Install Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs (or LEDs)

Install a Tankless Water Heater

Boost Insulation

Install Storm Windows

Get an Energy-Saving Refrigerator

Additional Energy Savers

Give Your HVAC Equipment an Annual Tune-Up

Change Filters Regularly

Put Up Window Plastic

Do it Now, While Incentives Last

Summary

5 Site Assessment: Will Wind Power Work at Your Location?

Get Prepared

How to Save Time on This Chapter

Site Location Guidelines

Basic Principles of Wind Resource Evaluation

Know Your (Wind) Class

Maps Are Not Gospel

Wind Shear

Ways of the Wind: Assessing Average Annual Wind Speed

Not for Your Eyes Only

Beaufort Wind Force Scale

Griggs-Putnam Index of Deformity

Data-Driven Pyramid of Wind Assessment

Global Wind Maps

Regional Wind Maps

Climatic and Meteorological Data

Wind Energy Roses

Professional Wind Analysis Services

Anemometers

Bringing It All Together

Tower Types and Site Evaluation

Tilt-Up Towers

Fixed Guyed Towers

Freestanding Towers

Consider Maintenance

Siting for Roof-Mount Micro-Turbines

Social Friction Factor

Summary

6 How to Finance Small Wind Power

Cost Breakdowns for a Small Wind System

Electricity Costs Last a Lifetime

What Is It Worth to You?

Factors That Affect Final Cost

Average Wind Speed

Cost of Electricity Offset

Government/Utility Incentives and Net-Metering Policies

Rising Cost of Real Prices of Electricity

Application

Cost of Equipment

Monitoring and Maintenance

Installation Cost

Insurance

Source of Money

Permitting Costs

Zoning Jurisdiction

Energy Usage Tax

Raw Materials

Financial Incentives

Capital Subsidies

Tax Incentives

Low-Interest Loans

Does Small Wind Pay?

Does a Small Wind System Have to Pay for Itself?

Initial Cost

The Concepts of Payback and ROI

Residential Economics: Homer Hank

Farm and Business Economics: Energy Demand

Insurance: Protecting Your Investment

Property Insurance

Liability Insurance

Companies Offering Insurance for Renewable Energy

Warranties

In-House Management

Third-Party Warranties

Financial Resource Checklist

Handy Cost Calculators

Summary

7 Navigating Permits and Zoning

Getting Started on Permits

Step 1: Contact Your Municipality

Step 2: Read the Code

Step 3: Complete Applications

Step 4: The Hearing

Utility Approval

Step 5: Engineering Verifications and Inspections

Brief Checklist

Summary

8 Wind Turbines Demystified

Drag vs. Lift Turbines

Anatomy of a Wind Turbine

Rotor

Alternator (Generator)

Gearbox (Optional)

Tail

Yaw System

Slip Rings

Tower

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

A Typical VAWT Pitch

Brief History of VAWTs

Purported Benefits (and Disadvantages) of VAWTs

Convenience

Energy Output and Efficiency of VAWTS

Reliability and Fatigue

Wind Speed, Direction, and Turbulence

Cost

Sound, Vibrations, and Flicker

Effects on Birds and Bats

Aesthetics

WePOWER Shows Momentum

Quietrevolution’s High-Tech VAWTs

From Jellyfish to Helixes: Alternative VAWTs

VAWT vs. HAWT: The Final Conclusion

Standards and Certifications

Independent Certification

Summary

9 How to Choose the Right Wind Turbine for the Job

Important Questions to Ask When Shopping For a Small Wind Turbine

What to Look For When Buying a Wind Turbine

Swept Area (Rotor Diameter)

Durability

Predicted Annual Energy Output (AEO)

Cost

Speed (RPM and TSR)

Shutdown Mechanism

Sound

Time to Select Your Wind Turbine

The Variables

Summary

10 Balance of System: Batteries, Inverters, Controllers, and More

Inverters

Grid-Tied Inverters

Off-Grid Inverters

Grid-Tied with Battery Backup

Batteries

Types of Batteries

Basic Battery Chemistry

Battery Ratings: Amp-Hours

Cost of Batteries

Energy Loss from Internal Resistance

Battery Longevity

Sizing Your Battery Bank

Organization of Battery Banks

Charge Controllers

Will Solar Charge Controllers Work for Wind Systems?

AC and DC Controllers

The Effects of Temperature Changes

Protecting Your Batteries: Proper Charging and Equalization

Building a Charge Controller from Scratch

How to Connect or Unhook a Controller

Voltage Clamp

Disconnects

Breaker Panels

The Wire

Grounding

Surge Arrestors

Utility Interconnection Equipment

System Meters

Backup Generator

Summary

11 Installation, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting

Installing a Tower

Safety First

Installing a Small Wind System

The Foundation and Anchors

Lifting the Tower (and Turbine)

Safe Climbing

Making the Connections

Maintenance

Tower and Turbine Maintenance Checklist

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting for a Small Wind System

Summary

12 Future Developments in Wind Power

Architectural Wind: Can Buildings Improve Wind Conditions?

Building Integrated Wind Turbines

Biomimicry: Wind Systems Inspired by Animals

Let’s Go Fly a Wind Turbine

Ultra-Micro Wind Turbines

The Hip HYmini

Tiny Piezoelectric Wind Turbines

The Windbelt

Traffic Turbines

Alternative Turbine Designs

RidgeBlade

The Honeywell/WindTronics “Blade Tip Power System” Turbine

Optimizing Existing Designs

Ducted Rotors

Multirotor Turbines

Counter-Rotating Dual Turbines

Telescopic Blades

Laser-Guided Turbines

Advanced Active Controls

Summary

Glossary

Electrical Terms

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

V

W

Wind Energy–Related Terms

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

V

W

Y

Conversions, Abbreviations, and Acronyms

Notes

Index