Hubs to Build A Wind Generator
| |
Hubs to Build A Wind GeneratorWhen we first set out to build a wind generator of our own many years ago, we did not know the importance of a good hub to hold things together. This is the piece of metal, or in some cases wood, that holds the blades in place and is connected to the shaft of the DC motor or to a simple shaft that is mounted on bearings. All of the pressure of the unit is on this one point. It is like holding out a 6 foot piece of wood in your hand and having someone hit the end of it, you feel it right down to your shoulder, which in this case is the hub of the unit. As that energy passes through the blades, the wind energy in this case, which is transferred from a straight line force into the blades it becomes a circular force revolving around one point. You guessed it, the hub. 
The problem is that the wind is not always constant, it blows hard then lets up and then blows again. This puts even more stress on the hub as it not only spinning but also receiving forces from the side in a twisting manner. The best way to understand these forces is to watch the tops of trees for a while. At times they are bent way over and at times the leaves are barely moving. A tree bends with the wind but you don't want your wind generator to bend do you. There would be countless hours spent fixing it every time you had a storm.
A much better way to do it is to have a hub that is strong enough to withstand the strongest forces of the wind and still maintain its integrity and strength.
We have tried a lot of different materials from wood to metal and even plastic materials but nothing has come close to the strength and responsiveness of the new aluminum hubs we are now using. They are predrilled and ready to go, making the do it yourselfer much happier as he or she does not have to set them up and drill them. And they are light.
It used to be that it took 7 mph winds to get the wind generator up and going and producing power but now it only takes about 5 mph winds. The aluminum hub works great and even in gale force winds which we have had a few times it has held together making it the best choice right now for a hub to build a wind generator.
In most cases you might be tempted to use wood to build your first hub, and that is perfectly acceptable, especially if you have a handy source of wood like we do. But after replacing hubs several times over the years after many storms, and even just because they started to rot from normal outdoor usage we have switched our thinking to more durable materials for our wind generators.
Now we do our best to find materials that will last a long time and our testing is never ending it seems.
Aluminum hubs are the best we have found yet to build a wind generator, you will not be disappointed if you try them.
Go to the Build A Wind Generator- Homemade Wind Generator Plans Homepage
|
|
|
|
|
|
