Small Wind Electric Systems: An Arizona Consumer's Guide

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8Small Wind Electric Systemsthe company's integrity and ask forreferences of past customers withinstallations similar to the one you areconsidering. Ask the system ownersabout performance, reliability, andmaintenance and repair requirements,and whether the system is meetingtheir expectations. Also, find out howlong the warranty lasts and what itincludes.Small windturbines like this10 kW BergeyXL.10 provideelectricity forhome, farm, andranch applications.Things to Consider WhenPurchasing a Wind TurbineOnce you determine you can install awind energy system in compliancewith local land use requirements, youcan begin pricing systems and components.Comparatively shop for a windsystem as you would any major purchase.Obtain and review the productliterature from several manufacturers.As mentioned earlier, lists of manufacturersare available from AWEA,(see For More Information), but notall small turbine manufacturers aremembers of AWEA. Check the yellowpages for wind energy system dealersin your area.Once you have narrowed the field,research a few companies to be surethey are recognized wind energybusinesses and that parts and servicewill be available when you needthem. You may wish to contact theBetter Business Bureau to check onWarren Gretz, NREL/PIX09615Where Can I FindInstallation andMaintenance Support?The manufacturer/dealer should beable to help you install your machine.Many people elect to install themachines themselves. Before attemptingto install your wind turbine, askyourself the following questions:• Can I pour a proper cementfoundation?• Do I have access to a lift or a way oferecting the tower safely?• Do I know the difference betweenAC and DC wiring?• Do I know enough about electricityto safely wire my turbine?• Do I know how to safely handleand install batteries?If you answered no to any of theabove questions, you should probablychoose to have your system installedby a system integrator or installer.Contact the manufacturer for helpor call your state energy office andlocal utility for a list of local systeminstallers. You can also check the yellowpages for wind energy systemservice providers. A credible installerwill provide many services such aspermitting. Find out if the installer isa licensed electrician. Ask for referencesand check them out. You mayalso want to check with the BetterBusiness Bureau.
Small Wind Electric Systems 9Although small wind turbines arevery sturdy machines, they do requiresome annual maintenance. Bolts andelectrical connections should bechecked and tightened if necessary.The machines should be checked forcorrosion and the guy wires forproper tension. In addition, youshould check for and replace anyworn leading edge tape on the blades,if appropriate. After 10 years, theblades or bearings may need to bereplaced, but with proper installationand maintenance, the machine shouldlast up to 20 years or longer.If you do not have the expertise tomaintain the machine, your installermay provide a service and maintenanceprogram.How Much Energy Will MySystem Generate?Most U.S. manufacturers rate theirturbines by the amount of power theycan safely produce at a particularwind speed, usually chosen between24 mph (10.5 m/s) and 36 mph(16 m/s). The following formulaillustrates factors that are importantto the performance of a wind turbine.Notice that the wind speed, V, has anexponent of 3 applied to it. Thismeans that even a small increase inwind speed results in a large increasein power. That is why a taller towerwill increase the productivity of anywind turbine by giving it access tohigher wind speeds as shown in theWind Speeds Increase with Heightgraph. The formula for calculatingthe power from a wind turbine is:Power = k C p 1/2 ρ AV 3Where:P = Power output, kilowattsC p = Maximum power coefficient,ranging from 0.25 to 0.45,dimension less (theoreticalmaximum = 0.59)ρ = Air density, lb/ft 3A = Rotor swept area, ft 2 orπ D 2 /4 (D is the rotordiameter in ft, π = 3.1416)V = Wind speed, mphk = 0.000133 A constant to yieldpower in kilowatts. (Multiplyingthe above kilowatt answer by1.340 converts it to horsepower.[i.e., 1 kW = 1.340horsepower]).8Relative Size of Small Wind Turbines40Rotor Diameter, m765437 m6 m5 m4 m3 mSwept area, m 230201001 2 3 4 5 6 7Rotor Diameter, m22 m101 mSource: Paul Gipe, Wind Energy Basics02979303m
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