Wind Turbine Blade Designs
December 17, 2009 by Guest
Filed under Uncategorized
One of the oldest existing methods of power generation is the use of wind turbines. Since they were first introduced, designs for wind generators have steadily improved, particularly when it comes to how the blades that are responsible for turning the turbines’ rotors have been built. The basic benefit of modern blade design is that it gives wind turbines the ability to generate power more efficiently now than ever before, which in turn makes it possible to use smaller and quieter turbines.
Mats made out of reeds were used as the blades for the initial wind turbines. This style of turbine blade, for all its usefulness, wasn’t very durable. The short lifespan of this type of blade led inventors to seek out other options.
The next stage in the evolution of wind turbine blades was the cloth sail. This type of blade was combined with a vertical axis design to create some of the early windmills, which used wind power in order to perform grain processing functions.
The next major kind of blade to be introduced was the wood blade, which was usually combined with a horizontal axis configuration. The inispiration for the new style of turbine was the design of airplane blades, which had recently made important breakthroughs. Although much lighter, wooden blades were nevertheless able to provide much more power than previous turbine blades.
Electricity was produced for the first time from wind turbines thanks to these designs. Large scale turbines were soon introduced to take advantage of these improvements, generating energy in commercial settings.
From this period on, the development of wind turbine blades diverged into two distinct paths: horizontal axis blades, and vertical axis blades. In terms of horizontal axis blade design, most of the changes would manifest themselves as adjustments in blade shape and pitch, materials, and the number of blades used per rotor.
3-blade designs have become the standard for horizontal axis wind turbines, as they generally provide a good balance of stability and rotor speed. In many current turbines, composite blades are used, which are extremely strong and flexible as well as being lightweight, making them perfect for both residential and industrial uses. Unlike previous turbines, these new turbines can both spin faster and pick up winds of lower velocity.
Some of the most interesting and effective designs available today can be found on vertical axis wind turbines. The rotation for these units is generally provided by aspects that take advantage of wind drag or wind lift.
Vertical axis turbines are able to harness the power of the wind regardless of its direction. Horizontal axis turbines don’t provide quite the same consistency of power generation. Residential users will find vertical axis turbines particularly attractive, as they usually don’t require a tower or an open landscape in order to work their best.
To know about the pros and cons of solar energy, check out Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Power.
For the best guide to building your own wind turbines, visit Best DIY Solar and Wind Guides.
Here’s another guide to building your own wind turbine Homemade Wind Turbine.
