Small wind turbine

Wind generators are usually industrially produced small wind turbines for generating electrical energy and are often used for sustainable energy in remote areas or for self-supply.

General

The demarcation of larger wind turbines ( WT ) is fluid. Distinguishing features are mainly:

• Mostly no connection to the public grid, as with small wind turbines caused only in isolated operation, ie in competition about the operation of diesel generators, economic power is to be generated, and even at sites with network connection to set up the network connection, additional costs,
• Therefore, often at low voltage or on-board networks, eg 12 V,
• And often in combination with energy storage such as batteries, hot water tanks, water tanks high;
• Smaller size (a few meters in diameter, a few kilowatts )
• Hub height above the near flow obstructions, but rarely more than 20 meters,
• Relatively simple structure ( eliminating complex control engineering )
• With horizontal axis mostly a wind vane for yaw control.

With wind generators, there are also more frequent wind turbines different construction types with more blades (down by lower tip speed ratio ) or other basic principles, such as vertical rotors.

With regard to security of supply wind generators can also be coupled with other energy sources such as photovoltaic or diesel generators. Using special inverter The power generated can be fed into the public grid, however, the EEG does not provide for increased rate of remuneration for electricity from small-scale systems. Wind turbines up to an installed capacity of 50 kW but get over the whole compensation period (20 years), the increased initial rate of currently 9.41 ct / kWh.

Also on sailing yachts come occasionally small wind generators are used to provide electrical power for lights, radio equipment and other electrical equipment available on board.

Also on board the airship LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" put a wind generator on the car electric power for the radio ready, because electrical lines from the engine nacelles would have been risky ( hydrogen). A similar use is also available for jet airplanes which have, over one openable emergency generator ( Ram Air Turbine ) which is driven by the wind.

AC and DC generators

Basically, two types of generators for small - or micro wind turbines are represented on the market. Alternators are mostly maintenance free, against which the brushes are in DC generators periodically replaced. This three-phase generators have the further advantage of being able to easily control the wind turbine in addition, eg for maintenance ticks brakes. Inverters with integrated Energiemangmentsytem for control of energy production, energy distribution and control one or more wind generators.