Windmills for Electricity

Windmills have a long history of being used to run millstones for grinding grains and drawing up water for irrigation. Over the years, the windmill has undergone a sea change with the introduction of mechanical engineering in its methods and procedure of harnessing the wind energy to generate electricity. Windmills for electricity has now become the need of the hour, and a step towards a cleaner environment.

Use of Windmills to Generate Electricity

The basic structure of the windmill hasn't changed, it still has three large sails (blades) connected by a long vertical shaft. The sails are turned by the force of the wind. Presently wind turbines are used to harness the wind energy or power to turn large metal blades, which in turn spins the generator that produces electricity. Throughout the 1970s, the United States government worked with NASA and the private engineering sector to build windmills for electricity, by enabling the production and installation of large commercial turbines. This promoted the use of windmills to generate electricity on a large scale for both, domestic as well as commercial use. Denmark and Germany are known for harnessing the wind power to produce electricity on a large scale.

The generation of electricity through the windmill follows a very simple mechanic. A windmill has large blades which are connected to the shaft, which is connected to the generator. It is based on the basic principle of conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy. The wind energy moves the large blades, swirling or rotating them. The speed the blades move with is determined by the different air pressures created on their surface. Low and high pressures on the blade force the windmill blades to move.

As the blades rotate, operated by the wind turbine tilted at an angle, they produce mechanical energy, which is converted into electrical energy by the electrical generator. The wind turbines are fitted with brakes that can be applied to stop the blades, if the wind blowing is too hard. The turbines creates quite a bit of noise, probably the reason why the windmills are built nearly eight stories and above. For a windmill to generate electricity, it has to be located at a place where wind blows at a speed of 12 to 14 miles per hour. A ten storied windmill with three 50 feet blades can produce approximately between 50 to 300 kilowatts of electricity. A larger turbine has the capacity to generate up to 6MW of power. Windmills grouped together are known as wind farms.

As an efficient, inexpensive, renewable and alternative energy source, windmills for electricity is being advocated and promoted for a wide scale domestic use. Small wind turbines that have the capacity to produce about ten kilowatts of windmill electricity are usually enough for providing sufficient electric power for a house. However, before installing a windmill, one must investigate and satisfy legal requirements of the local ordinances, zoning and building codes. The electricity generated through wind power can be made available when the wind blows, and when it stops, the local electric connection can be used. The advantage of having a personal windmill would account for a lesser amount of electricity bill, and a deed for saving the Earth by using its pollution free and renewable energy source.