Wind Power for Home and Business
by Paul Gipe
A Real Goods Solar Living Book
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
How This Book is Organized
Nomenclature--What Are We Talking About?
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Wind Machines
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Power and Energy-There Is a Difference
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Watt's More
Why Equations--They're Informative
False Precision--How To Avoid It
Units--Yes, Metrics Too
2. Applications--How To Use The Wind
Supplying Stand--Alone Power at Remote Sites
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Hybrids
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Low-Power Applications
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Village Electrification
Interconnecting with the Utility
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How It Works
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Farming the Wind
Heating
Water Pumping
3. Measuring the Wind--Finding Out How Much Is There
Wind--What is It?
Wind Speed and Time
Power in the Wind
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Air Density
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Swept Area
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Wind Speed and Speed Distributions
Wind Speed, Power and Height
Sources of Wind Data
Surveying Your Site
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Estimating the Height of Obstructions
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Measuring Instruments
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Anemometer Towers
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Survey Duration
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Data Analysis
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Another Option--Install a Small Wind Turbine
4. Estimating Output--How Much To Expect
Swept Area Method
Power Curve Method
Performance Ratings
Efficiency
5. Economics--Does Wind Pay?
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Cost of Energy and Payback
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Economic Factors
Residential Economics
Farm and Business Economics
Risks
Cost-Effectiveness
6. Evaluating the Technology--What Works and What Doesn't
Orientation
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Horizontal Axis
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Upwind and Downwind
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Vertical Axis
Lift and Drag
Aerodynamics
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Apparent Wind and the Angle of Attack
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Taper and Twist
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Solidity
Self Starting
Blades
Hubs
Transmissions
Generators
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Alternators
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Variable- or Constant-Speed Operation
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Induction Generators
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Dual Generators
Rotor Controls
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Horizontal Furling
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Vertical Furling
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Changing Blade Pitch
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Aerodynamic Stall
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Mechanical Brakes
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Aerodynamic Brakes
Putting It All Together
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Small Turbines
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Medium-Sized Turbines
7. Towers
Height
Strength
Tower Types
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Free-Standing Towers
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Pole Towers
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Guyed Towers
Novel Towers
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Rooftop Mounting
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Farm Windmill Towers
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Wood Poles
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Steel Pipe
Other Considerations
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Space
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Maintenance
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Ease of Installation
Tower Selection
8. Cutting Costs--Not Corners
Building a Small Wind Machine
Used Wind Machine
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Contemporary Models
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Used Windchargers
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Further Considerations
Assembling a Kit
Cooperatives--the Danish Approach
9. Buying a Wind System
Choosing a Product
Evaluating Vendors
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Manufacturers
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Dealers
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What to Expect
Contracts and warranties
Case Studies
10. Interconnection with the Utility
PURPA
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Practical Application of PURPA
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Net Energy Billing
Power Quality and Safety
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Power Factor
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Voltage Flicker
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Harmonics
Dealing with the Utility
Sizing--What's Right for You
11. Stand-Alone Power Systems
Hybrids
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Reducing Demand
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AC and DC Systems
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Sizing
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Inverters
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Batteries
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Backup Generators
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Utility BackUp
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Typical Systems
Stand-Alone Economics
Other Stand-Alone Power Systems
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Telecommunications
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Village Electrification
12. Pumping Water
Mechanical Wind Pumps
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Pumping Head
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Estimating Farm Windmill Pumping Capacity
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New Technology for Mechanical Wind Pumps
Electrical Wind Pumps
Estimating Water Use
Storage
Irrigation
13. Siting
Physical Restrictions
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Exposure and Turbulence
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Power Cable Routing
Institutional Restrictions
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Zoning
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Building Permits
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Height Restrictions
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Safety
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Aesthetics
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Noise
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TV and Radio Interference
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Birds
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Perspective
14. Installation
Parts Control
Foundations and Anchors
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Anchors
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Working with Concrete
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Guyed Towers
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Free-Standing Towers
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Novel Foundations
Assembly and Erection of Guyed Towers
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Guy Cables
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Using a Crane or Gin Pole
Free-Standing Towers--Assembly and Erection
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Tapered Tube Towers
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Farm Windmill Towers
Hinged Towers--Assembly and Erection
Wiring
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Above Ground and Buried Wiring
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Conductors and Conductor Sizing
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Conduit Fill
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Surge Protection
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Additional Notes on Wiring
15. Operating and Maintaining a Small Wind System
Initial Startup
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Interconnected Wind Systems
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Stand-Alone Wind Systems
Measuring Performance
Maintenance
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Turbine and Tower
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Balance of Remote Systems
Troubleshooting
16. Safety
Tower Safety and Climbing Gear
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Work and Positioning Belts
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Sit Harnesses
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Lifelines and Lanyards
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Snap Hooks, Carabiners, and Slings
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Fall Protection Systems
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More Tower Tips
Electrical Safety
Rope and Cable
Pulleys
Winches and Hoists
Loss Prevention
17. Looking to the Future
Small Turbines at the End of the Line
Fair Price for a High-Value Product
18. Appendixes
A. Conversions
B. Air Density Corrections for Temperature
C. Rayleigh Wind Speed Distribution
D. U.S. Wind Atlas
E. Estimates of Annual Energy Output
F. Estimates of Water Pumping Capacity of Farm Windmills
G. Voltage Drop in Conductors
H. Further Sources of Information
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Institutions
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Government-Sponsored Laboratories
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Electronic Networks
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Small Wind Turbine Manufacturers
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Medium-Size Wind Turbine Manufacturers
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Mechanical Wind Pumps
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Remanufacturers/Dealers
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Towers
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Recording Anemometers
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Periodicals
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Anchors and Guying Hardware
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Tool and Work Belts
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Photovoltaics, DC Appliances, Generators, Tools
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Inverters
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Batteries
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Plans
I. Bibliography
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General Interest
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Wind Resources and Siting
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Designing, Building, or Installing Your Own
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Solar Photovoltaics
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Water Pumping
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