Laserfiche WebLink
<br />- <br /> <br /> <br />T.... <br /> <br />Basic parts of a traditional, <br />Horizontal-Axis <br />Small Wind System <br /> <br /> <br />Vertical-Axis Turbine <br /> <br /> <br />Skystream 1.8kW turbine <br />aesthetic comparison <br />to lampposts <br /> <br />I NTROD U CTIO N <br /> <br />What Are Small Wind Turbines? <br /> <br />A small wind turbine is a device that <br />produces electricity from wind. Moving <br />air causes the turbine to rotate, which <br />generates clean, emissions-free energy <br />that can be used to power a home, <br />farm, school, or small business.1 <br />Though most small wind turbines look <br />like a miniaturized, "backyard" version <br />of the large, utility-scale, thre~-bladed <br />turbines, the industry encompasses over <br />200 different models and they can vary <br />widely in appearance. A small wind <br />turbine is'technologically advanced but <br />mechanically simple, with only two or <br />three moving parts. Most feature three <br />blades of 2-15 feet in length, a generator <br />located at the hub, and a tail. The turbine <br />is mounted on a steel tower 35-140 feet <br />high, which is designed as a freestanding <br />monopole (like a street light), a lattice <br />tower (like a radio tower), or a guyed <br />monopole (like a street light with <br /> <br />160' <br /> <br />support cables from mid-tower to <br />the ground). (See p. 10 for illustration) <br /> <br />Some models eliminate the traditional <br />propeller-shaped blade design and <br />instead feature a cylinder-like <br />component that revolves similarly to a <br />barbershop pole or corkscrew. Systems <br />of this configuration are known as <br />"vertical axis" turbines because' the <br />plane of rotation is perpendicular, or <br />vertical, to the ground. <br /> <br />The technology has advanced considerably <br />in the recent years, making small wind <br />turbines.quieter, more reliable, and better <br />able to blend in with surrounding aesthetics. <br />A forthcoming. (2009) program to certify <br />small wind turbines to a safety, performance, <br />sound, and reliability standard will further <br />promote high performance and increase <br />consumer confidence. 2 <br /> <br />140' <br /> <br />. Rotor sin and tower height ~o .not necessarily correspond as depicted. <br /> <br /> <br />1:20' <br /> <br />100' <br /> <br />80' <br /> <br />50' <br /> <br />40' <br /> <br />20' <br /> <br />turbine <br /> <br />1 "Small wind system,,'encompasses notoniy the turbine, <br />but the tower, foundation, and wiring equipment often <br />necessary for an instaliation. "Small wind turbine"and <br />"small wind system" are sometimes used interchangeably. <br /> <br />2 Tile Small Wind Certification Council (SWCC) is an <br />independent, third-party program that will, upon its <br />introduction in 2009, certify small wind <br />turbines tested <br /> <br />mmine <br /> <br />toa performance, safety, and reliability standard. <br />Proposed and enacted incentives for small-turbine <br />consu'mers at state and federal levels have aiready <br />. begun to account for this impending program by making <br />future certification a requisite for eligibility. Other states, <br />such as California and New York, have incorporated <br />their own criteria for eiigibility into their incentive <br />programs in order to grant incentives only to products <br />that meet certain performance and safety conditions. <br /> <br />