October 9, 2009
Buying The Right Home Wind Turbine Isn’t Easy
They in general do not deliver their maximum rated output. Why ? Simply because surface and near-surface winds are generally neither strong nor consistent enough to rotate the propellers at their “best RPM range” all of the time. Raising the turbine to higher elevations often increases the average current output since wind strength ordinarily increases at higher elevations/altitudes even though wind directions still remain variable.
The same wind supply irregularity makes wind power unsuitable as a fixed, demand-driven source of energy unlike coal- or diesel-burning power plants that can be turned on or off according to consumer demand. This situation can change, however, if superconducting charge (or current) storage devices become more affordable. Very large-capacity battery banks, or very large batteries, or super capacitors could also be designed for the purpose of storing enormous amounts of electricity.
Small wind turbine generators have been available in the US since the 1920s. The Jacobs Wind Electric Company consistently sold 1- to 3-kW wind turbines to farmers in North America and around the world till the US rural electrification grid came fully online in the late 1940s, thus reducing the demand for independent energy supplies.
Because wind turbines are based on old technology they are incredibly reliable and pretty easy to keep running for anyone who is even a reasonably good mechanic. Even making your own unit won’t require to many expensive tools.
A Jacobs wind turbine unit was installed at the South Pole by members of Richard Byrd’s Antarctic expedition in 1933. Jacobs wind turbines are still available for purchase in the US today. Wind turbines probably can be a useful alternative sources of energy for household or commercial end-users. Denmark currently sources about 20% of its national electrical energy supply from offshore wind farms.
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