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Where can I learn about the engineering of a wind turbine setup capable of producing 110V AC current?

Where can I learn about the engineering of a wind turbine setup capable of producing 110V AC current?

I am exploring the idea of building a wind turbine to generate household current. My goal is not to go “off grid”, but to find out if it would be cost effective to generate any portion of my electricity needs. I have already checked and I have no zoning restrictions from mounting a tower. I know that there are commercial products one can purchase but I started my educational career as an Electrical Engineering major 20 years ago and I would much rather try to learn about what it takes to actually do this than buy a packaged solution first. My plan is:
1. Learn about concepts
2. Design a solution
3. Research equipment
4. Perform cost/benefit analysis

I've been searching for a site and all I can find is sites that either sell stuff or have high school science experiment level stuff that can light up flashlight bulbs. I know that when you are talking about 110VAC/10A level power you are in a whole different world. I never got into the power classes before I switched majors but I think I can handle the concepts if I find a good source to read.

(BTW…I have access to 2 EE's I can ask questions of if I get stuck who will be reviewing my design. They don't know any sites, though both have offered their college textbooks “if that will help.” They've offered to teach me but I would rather do some of the leg work myself first.)

Thanks for any help provided.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 at 3:49 pm and is filed under Wind Power Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “Where can I learn about the engineering of a wind turbine setup capable of producing 110V AC current?”

  1. admin says:
    September 1, 2009 at 3:49 pm
    You need to ask yourself some major questions as the first step.

    1. what power level output do you want when the wind is blowing?
    2. what percent of the time do you have sufficient wind?
    3. Do you want a grid tie system so you can sell power back to the power company?
    4. How much storage do you want (batteries)?

    #3 is important as it controls the answers to #1 and #4. With a grid tie system you only need a small battery. Plus the system will take care of switching your house wiring between power company when there is no wind, and turbine output when there is wind.

    Or do you plan on a separate set of outlets through the house so you can unplug from mains power and plug into wind power? that seems expensive and complicated.

    #1 is important as it sets the size of the turbine as well as all of the associated electronics. If you are selling back to the power company, you want this number to be as big as it can be, as that makes more money for you.

    #2 also is important in setting sizes.

    .

  2. admin says:
    September 1, 2009 at 3:49 pm
    I think you will find that the electrical side is much less of a problem than the design and construction of the turbine. There is a good introduction to that side at
    http://www.clemson.edu/scies/wind/Poster…

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