Archive for June, 2009
Simple Instructions To Build A Windmill For The Handyman In You
With oil prices moving higher and higher, power costs tend to follow the same trend. Given that our daily life depends very much on the consumption of electricity, getting your power from alternate sources is an attractive option.
The sun, water, and even wind are viable sources of energy. What’s more, they are renewable sources of energy as they are continuously present in our environment. More and more people now want to set-up their own windmill at their homes. With the many instructions to build a windmill available out there, it is up to you to find the one that is easy to comprehend.
Here are some helpful instructions to build a windmill:
Basically, there are several distinct types of windmills, based on the direction their blades spin:
1. The Horizontal upwind, where the shaft stands horizontally and the wind hits the blade before the tower;
2. The Horizontal downwind where the wind hits the tower prior to the blade; and
3. The Vertical Axis, mounted on short towers and its blades are pointing upwards.
Essentially, a windmill has four componants that must be given extra attention:
- base
- tower
- blades
- nacelle
In constructing this structure, the main objective is to maximize the conversion of the wind’s energy into electricity. Therefore, it should be high enough to take advantage of the wind’s energy in obstructed terrains – a customary tower usually stands at 5 feet.
The base must be strong and heavy compared with other parts, to assure a durable structure because it is the main foundation. It is advisable to use materials like sandbags or concrete, and in the case of a five-foot windmill, the base must be at least 18 inches square thick and 20 pounds heavy.
The tower supports the blade in capturing wind energy. There are many approaches when constructing it. You can either use guyed lattice or steel and pipe tubings or make them using a jin pole or crane.
The nacelle connects the blade to the tower and contains copper wires and magnets that run the blade and help convert the wind’s energy to electricity.
The blade is the propeller used to capture the wind’s energy, so it is necessary that the blades are able to gather the flow of the wind easily, turning with the least potential resistance.
Materials to be used for these parts must be lightweight, so you can make them from plastic or PVC pipes. Note that in strong winds and storms, the blades can pose a danger if separated from the structure, so be sure to lock in the blades tightly, keeping safety precautions in mind.
Considering that a simple windmill could cost at least $40,000, constructing one for personal use can be quite expensive, but utilizing what is around you can help you save some expenses.
It is therefore recommended to recycle parts in order to cut your expenses. Following these simple instructions to build a windmill will enable you to create one from scratch.
Windmills are just the beginning. To learn more about solar and wind power, go to Solar and Wind Power For Residential Homes or if you are looking for a simple way of building your own residential wind generator, see our Energy4Green Review.
Solar Pool Heaters – What they are
Solar Pool heaters can greatly reduce your energy costs. They’re more cost effective than either gas or heat-pump swimming pool heaters. You’ll be able to save on annual operating costs once a solar pool heater system is installed. Best of all, a solar swimming pool heater can be used in most climates.
The typical solar pool heater system consists of a solar collector, a filter, a pump, and a flow-control valve.
- The solar collector is the device which the pool water passes through, to be heated by the sun.
- The filter removes the dirt and debris before the water is pumped into the solar collector.
- The pump is the what circulates the water through the filter and solar collector, and brings it back into the swimming pool.
- And finally, there’s the flow-control valve. It is either an automatic or a manual device, which redirects the water through the solar collector.
A solar pool heater system works in the following manner:
The water from the pool is pumped through the filter and then enters the solar collector, where it is again heated before it returns to the pool. In hot climates, the solar collector can also be utilized to cool the pool. It does this by circulating the water at night.
Some solar pool collectors use sensors and a valve, which redirects water through the solar collector when the collector temperature is greater than the pool water temperature. When both temperatures are the same, the filtered pool water will not return to the collector but will simply return to the pool.
There are different types of solar pool heating systems. They differ in the types of materials they are made out of. You will need to find out which type is best for your region’s climate, and how to use it.
There are glazed and unglazed solar collectors. If the temperature in your area reaches above freezing, then you’ll probably just need an unglazed solar collector. This is made out of heavy-duty rubber or plastic, treated with a UV light inhibitor. Unglazed solar collectors are cheaper than their glazed counterparts, because the parts are inexpensive, and their design is simple.
Glazed solar collectors are typically made from copper tubing and aluminum plates, with iron-tempered glass covers. These are quite expensive, but in colder weather, this type of system is more efficient in heating pool water than unglazed collectors are. Glazed solar collector systems can also be used as domestic hot water heaters. Both types of solar pool heating systems need to have freeze protection when used in harsh cold weathers.
As you can see, solar pool heater systems can be a good investment. You’ll save a lot of money in terms of energy costs, in the long run.
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For more information on solar pool heaters, and how to choose the solar pool heating system which is right for you, visit Solar Pool Heating or DIY Solar Pool Heaters.
Anna Williams is the webmaster of a website on Solar Energy.

