Solar water heating Wind power?
Solar water heating Wind power?
I think solar water heating is quite easy. but has anyone successfully used wind power to supplement electricity?
Any info that can be give would be appreciated.
Thanks jkm
Any info that can be give would be appreciated.
Thanks jkm
Not personally used wind power but have done a little exploration as to its feasibility in the UK. It would seem you are talking about an investment of around £4.000 for a generator that will produce a reasonable amount of power. On top of that you will have the cost of building a tower for it and hooking it up to your existing wiring. The other factor you might want to consider is noise and how many days a year you have enough wind to power the thing. Lots more info on the net.
Grouser
wind power to supplement electricity the electric company are popping them up all over the place..lots of wind..but for personal use they are expensive to set up..and I doubt if you will find a company that do it in Spain...if you DIY (you can find plans on line) most of the equipment would have to be imported.
No muerdes la mano que te da de comer.
Sounds very reasonable if their facts and figures are correct and they are talking about an average household with all the normal domestic appliances. Do bear in mind the point about noise, particularly if it is attached to your house. Also what happens to the power generated when you are not using it? If you go ahead let us know how it works out.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Grouser
Silver it says on the leaflet will save up to a third on the average UK household electricity bill specification below.
WS1000 PRODUCT SPECIFICATION
AC Input (Mains): 230 Volts (nominal) ac, @ 50Hz
Power Input (Mains): 6 Watts (Note 2)
Rated Power Output: 1kW @ rated wind speed (Note 3)
Rated Wind Speed: 12.5 m/s (Note
Cut-in Wind Speed: 3.5 to 5 m/s @ hub height (Note
Cut-out Wind Speed: 14 m/s @ hub height (Note
Reference Extreme Wind Speed: 35 m/s @ hub height
Operating Temperature Range, Generator: -15C through +40C (Note 4)
Weight, Generator System: 25kgs (Note 5)
Weight, Plug ‘n’ SaveTM: 11kgs
Dimensions, Generator Assembly: 320mm long x 150mm wide x 110mm deep support shaft
Swept Area, Blade Assembly: 2.4m2
Swept Diameter, Blade Assembly: 1.75m
Dimensions, Plug ‘n’ SaveTM: 535mm long x 315mm wide, 130mm deep
Noise, Generator System: LAeq=52 dBA 5m behind turbine @ 7m/s gusting
LAeq=33 dBA 5m behind turbine @ 5m/s gusting
Operating Speed Range of Blades: 100 – 1050 rpm (Note 6)
Degree of Protection, Generator Assembly: IP54
Degree of Protection, Plug ‘n’ SaveTM: IP30
Expected Safe Life: 10 years (Note 7)
General references above relate to BS EN 61400 part 2
Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.
NOTES:
1. Values are nominal only, as slight variations will be
present from unit to unit.
2. Power consumption of the Plug ‘n’ SaveTM unit in
‘stand by’ mode
3. Typically 12.5 m/s wind speed at the Propeller Blade
Assembly is equivalent to an output of 1kW from the
Plug ‘n’ SaveTM unit.
4. At altitudes < 1000m above sea level.
5. Excludes Support Pole & Brackets.
6. Useful power output range.
7. This is the expected safe life of the product, however
the actual life will depend on the conditions the system
has been subjected to. (e.g. Continual exposure to
heavy salt water conditions will reduce life expectancy.)
It should also be noted that the Expected Safe Life
period is NOT the stated warranty period of the
product.
8. Wind speed figures assume a steady value, as gusts to
this figure will not always produce maximum output.
Hope this helps Regards jkm
WS1000 PRODUCT SPECIFICATION
AC Input (Mains): 230 Volts (nominal) ac, @ 50Hz
Power Input (Mains): 6 Watts (Note 2)
Rated Power Output: 1kW @ rated wind speed (Note 3)
Rated Wind Speed: 12.5 m/s (Note
Cut-in Wind Speed: 3.5 to 5 m/s @ hub height (Note
Cut-out Wind Speed: 14 m/s @ hub height (Note
Reference Extreme Wind Speed: 35 m/s @ hub height
Operating Temperature Range, Generator: -15C through +40C (Note 4)
Weight, Generator System: 25kgs (Note 5)
Weight, Plug ‘n’ SaveTM: 11kgs
Dimensions, Generator Assembly: 320mm long x 150mm wide x 110mm deep support shaft
Swept Area, Blade Assembly: 2.4m2
Swept Diameter, Blade Assembly: 1.75m
Dimensions, Plug ‘n’ SaveTM: 535mm long x 315mm wide, 130mm deep
Noise, Generator System: LAeq=52 dBA 5m behind turbine @ 7m/s gusting
LAeq=33 dBA 5m behind turbine @ 5m/s gusting
Operating Speed Range of Blades: 100 – 1050 rpm (Note 6)
Degree of Protection, Generator Assembly: IP54
Degree of Protection, Plug ‘n’ SaveTM: IP30
Expected Safe Life: 10 years (Note 7)
General references above relate to BS EN 61400 part 2
Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.
NOTES:
1. Values are nominal only, as slight variations will be
present from unit to unit.
2. Power consumption of the Plug ‘n’ SaveTM unit in
‘stand by’ mode
3. Typically 12.5 m/s wind speed at the Propeller Blade
Assembly is equivalent to an output of 1kW from the
Plug ‘n’ SaveTM unit.
4. At altitudes < 1000m above sea level.
5. Excludes Support Pole & Brackets.
6. Useful power output range.
7. This is the expected safe life of the product, however
the actual life will depend on the conditions the system
has been subjected to. (e.g. Continual exposure to
heavy salt water conditions will reduce life expectancy.)
It should also be noted that the Expected Safe Life
period is NOT the stated warranty period of the
product.
8. Wind speed figures assume a steady value, as gusts to
this figure will not always produce maximum output.
Hope this helps Regards jkm
Here is a link to the page on wind generators and also solar panels if anyone wants more details.
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.j ... s&zone=all
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.j ... s&zone=all
Grouser
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- Andalucia.com Amigo
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IMHO - I would think they are being a bit ambitious with 12.5 m/s when giving the output figure! We are on top of a hill in Scotland, the wind capital of Europe apparently, but the average windspeed here is 7.0 m/s.
To make matters worse the calculation is one of those wierd ones from school maths that I can't remember the name of, whereby every extra 1 m/s multiplies the output by a vast degree so it's probaly an awful lot less than 1kw.
To make matters worse the calculation is one of those wierd ones from school maths that I can't remember the name of, whereby every extra 1 m/s multiplies the output by a vast degree so it's probaly an awful lot less than 1kw.
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There is some information on the plug'n'save feature on this website:
http://www.wellieboot.co.uk/wind_information.html
I reckon that if the unit is rated 1 Kw at 27 mph (12 m/s) wind, you would probably only get about 150 to 200 watts output as a continuous yearly average. Obviously it depends on how windy your location is and where you mount the generator relative to other things such as trees, adjacent buildings etc.
I don't think most local councils (UK) would actually allow you to fit one of these. David Cameron has obtained permission from his local council but even then they want to measure the noise output after 6 months use and I think he has to foot the fairly hefty bill for this test.
http://www.wellieboot.co.uk/wind_information.html
I reckon that if the unit is rated 1 Kw at 27 mph (12 m/s) wind, you would probably only get about 150 to 200 watts output as a continuous yearly average. Obviously it depends on how windy your location is and where you mount the generator relative to other things such as trees, adjacent buildings etc.
I don't think most local councils (UK) would actually allow you to fit one of these. David Cameron has obtained permission from his local council but even then they want to measure the noise output after 6 months use and I think he has to foot the fairly hefty bill for this test.
I believe that in the windier parts of the UK, a 'personal' wind generator might just about break even over a long period (more than 10 years though). However a major factor in the the calculation is that in the UK, the National Grid is required to buy surplus electricity from you, so during a windy night your meter runs backwards. (That was poetic licence - I don't really know what the mechanism is for buying electricity from you!) Anyway, I would be surprised if Sevillana-Endesa would be interested in your extra watts and that would probably tip the equation over the point where there is any hope of recouping the capital investment.
BTW, Tom - exponential was the word you were looking for!
McT
BTW, Tom - exponential was the word you were looking for!
McT
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- Resident
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Mon Nov 07, 2005 12:04 pm
- Location: Liverpool and Valencia Region
Yes - you are talking about a grid tie system where you sell excess electricity back to the utility company. Trouble is they charge you about 9 pence a unit in the UK but only pay you about 1.5 pence a unit for your surplus!!
Let's face it - Electricity companies serve their boards of directors and shareholders and they want to sell more electricity to you, not less.
Let's face it - Electricity companies serve their boards of directors and shareholders and they want to sell more electricity to you, not less.
I have just discovered some more info on the cheap wind generator. Apparently it makes about 40 decibels of noise in use. this was described as the equivalent of a couple of people walking past your house having a conversation. Don't think I'd be too happy about that 24/7. B&Q estimate it would pay for itself in seven to eight years. Another and probably slightly more objective estimate is twenty eight years. As the thing has a life expectancy of about ten years a better course would be to buy energy saving bulbs, stop leaving things on standby and switch everything off you're not using. You will probably save about as much energy. Go for solar water heating and wait for photo voltaics and wind generation technology to improve.
Grouser
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