Selecting and Installing a Wind Turbine On Your Boat
For some time I have been exploring ways to generate energy without the assistance of my boat's genset. It doesn't take extremely long to use 100 hours of generator time, enough for one more oil change. First I installed a solar panel, and then was an inverter, and now, the most recent is a wind turbine.
Wind has been utilized for producing energy for centuries; initially in Persia (present-day Iran) as early as 200 B.C. However, the first acknowledged practical windmills were manufactured by the Dutch in 1300, by way of cloth sails stretched across wooden frames. In a number of styles these sails could be trimmed to take advantage of unpredictable wind speed. The large windmills of the Dutch model remained in operation all across Europe until the launch of the steam engine in the 1800s.
Wind is actually a type of solar energy. Winds are triggered by the uneven warming of the air by the sun, the differences of the earth's surface, and rotating of the earth. Wind current patterns are created by the earth's terrain, areas of water, man-made buildings and vegetation. We human beings can use this wind flow for a lot of reasons: sailing a boat, flying a kite, flying an airplane and even generating electrical power.
The phrase "wind power" describes the means by which the wind is used to create mechanical energy. This mechanical energy can then be utilized for precise mechanical tasks such as chopping grain or pumping water. Or as used on a boat, an alternator in a wind turbine can convert this mechanical power into electrical power. So how do wind turbines create electricity? Simply stated, a wind turbine operates the opposite of a fan. As an alternative to using electricity to make wind, like a fan, wind generators use wind to make electricity. The wind spins the blades, which rotate a shaft. The shaft attaches to an alternator and creates electricity. In our vessel's turbine, the alternator makes 220 volt 3-phase AC current. The controller, converter, then changes the AC power to 12 volt DC power to power the batteries.
Wind Availability
When evaluating whether or not a wind generator is economically sensible for your vessel depends on the quality of your wind resources. Normally, standard wind speeds of no less than 10 mph are required for a small wind generator to produce enough electricity to be cost-effective. Since we are on the Atlantic coast, we enjoy afternoon ocean breezes in the summer which normally generate 10-15 mph winds. If your vessel is inland, your winds will most likely be different.
The most significant element of evaluating your wind resource is an anemometer. Anemometers are wind measuring units, normally constructed with rotating cups placed on a vertical shaft. The anemometer will enable you to "read" the wind speeds.
If there is another boat owner with a wind turbine system in your locale, you might be able to obtain helpful information from its owners about the electrical productivity of the system and wind speed figures. Such information could be tremendously useful as an option to installing an anemometer.
Turbine Mounting
Deciding the location to install your wind generator takes some preparation. The turbine needs to be high enough to capture the wind, if at all possible away from arches, sails or masts that will block or change wind flow. There is also the concern of rotating blades. We want to make certain that they do not strike anything while spinning, especially a person's head while moving about the trawler.
I decided to use the factory constructed pole kit that was designed for our generator. It supplies a 3-point connection which also enables us to lay it down for service. It is powder coated anodized aluminum, with stainless steel, brackets, made to endure the harsh marine surroundings.
My wind generator is really a hybrid system I made utilizing both wind power and solar power.
Being A Good Neighbor
Many individuals feel fervently about the need to protect the scenery and peace and quiet of their marinas. Anticipate several questions from your neighboring boats. Appreciate your neighbors' natural concern of the new and be ready to reply to their considerations.
Several of the issues raised about wind turbines are not true. Wind turbines are not, as a lot of people believe, unsafe to birds. A shiny reflective window is more dangerous to birds than a small wind generator. Wind generators also have no potential to disturb radio and television signal.
Wind Turbine Noise
Your neighbors' worries relating wind generator racket are important. No matter what of the size of the wind generator, the likelihood for turbine noise to trouble other people always exists. Even if a wind turbine does not produce enough sound to break any sound regulations, the noise it creates might still be bothersome to other people. Older generators were without a doubt loud, but contemporary engineering has developed turbine blades that are virtually silent. Our turbine is roughly 3 feet in diameter and at 4 mph winds; the unit creates a light flutter. At 10 mph the unit makes no noise at all.
Wind Turbine Advantages
- Wind is free,
- Produces no waste or greenhouse gases.
- Does not usually hinder other boating activities
Wind Turbine Disadvantages
- The wind is not consistently predictable - a number of days we have no wind at all.
- A number of individuals believe that wind generators wreck the lines of a vessel; I felt that way as well in the beginning but have since changed my opinion.
- Some devices can be noisy. The small current wind turbines used on vessels hardly produce any noise at all.
How Much Power Do They Create
Generators can be bought that make several power outputs. The generator that I chose is a Sunforce 450 watt turbine. It has a cut-in pace of 4 mph and has a survival wind speed capacity of 157 mph.
The amps (power) created is:
- 6 mph winds - 8.3 amps
- 10 mp winds - 25 amps
- 14 mph winds - 58.3 amps
The machine has a built in brake that will go on without human intervention when the batteries are at full charge, or it can be manually set if preferred.
Mike Dickens, the author, is a live aboard boat owner and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts in Florida USA.
Paradise Yachts offers used quality yachts to customers worldwide.
National and international sales. We ship Used Trawlers, Motor Yachts and Cruisers worldwide. Located in Florida, USA. 904/556-9431
Interact with us at the Trawler Blog
Wind has been utilized for producing energy for centuries; initially in Persia (present-day Iran) as early as 200 B.C. However, the first acknowledged practical windmills were manufactured by the Dutch in 1300, by way of cloth sails stretched across wooden frames. In a number of styles these sails could be trimmed to take advantage of unpredictable wind speed. The large windmills of the Dutch model remained in operation all across Europe until the launch of the steam engine in the 1800s.
Wind is actually a type of solar energy. Winds are triggered by the uneven warming of the air by the sun, the differences of the earth's surface, and rotating of the earth. Wind current patterns are created by the earth's terrain, areas of water, man-made buildings and vegetation. We human beings can use this wind flow for a lot of reasons: sailing a boat, flying a kite, flying an airplane and even generating electrical power.
The phrase "wind power" describes the means by which the wind is used to create mechanical energy. This mechanical energy can then be utilized for precise mechanical tasks such as chopping grain or pumping water. Or as used on a boat, an alternator in a wind turbine can convert this mechanical power into electrical power. So how do wind turbines create electricity? Simply stated, a wind turbine operates the opposite of a fan. As an alternative to using electricity to make wind, like a fan, wind generators use wind to make electricity. The wind spins the blades, which rotate a shaft. The shaft attaches to an alternator and creates electricity. In our vessel's turbine, the alternator makes 220 volt 3-phase AC current. The controller, converter, then changes the AC power to 12 volt DC power to power the batteries.
Wind Availability
When evaluating whether or not a wind generator is economically sensible for your vessel depends on the quality of your wind resources. Normally, standard wind speeds of no less than 10 mph are required for a small wind generator to produce enough electricity to be cost-effective. Since we are on the Atlantic coast, we enjoy afternoon ocean breezes in the summer which normally generate 10-15 mph winds. If your vessel is inland, your winds will most likely be different.
The most significant element of evaluating your wind resource is an anemometer. Anemometers are wind measuring units, normally constructed with rotating cups placed on a vertical shaft. The anemometer will enable you to "read" the wind speeds.
If there is another boat owner with a wind turbine system in your locale, you might be able to obtain helpful information from its owners about the electrical productivity of the system and wind speed figures. Such information could be tremendously useful as an option to installing an anemometer.
Turbine Mounting
Deciding the location to install your wind generator takes some preparation. The turbine needs to be high enough to capture the wind, if at all possible away from arches, sails or masts that will block or change wind flow. There is also the concern of rotating blades. We want to make certain that they do not strike anything while spinning, especially a person's head while moving about the trawler.
I decided to use the factory constructed pole kit that was designed for our generator. It supplies a 3-point connection which also enables us to lay it down for service. It is powder coated anodized aluminum, with stainless steel, brackets, made to endure the harsh marine surroundings.
My wind generator is really a hybrid system I made utilizing both wind power and solar power.
Being A Good Neighbor
Many individuals feel fervently about the need to protect the scenery and peace and quiet of their marinas. Anticipate several questions from your neighboring boats. Appreciate your neighbors' natural concern of the new and be ready to reply to their considerations.
Several of the issues raised about wind turbines are not true. Wind turbines are not, as a lot of people believe, unsafe to birds. A shiny reflective window is more dangerous to birds than a small wind generator. Wind generators also have no potential to disturb radio and television signal.
Wind Turbine Noise
Your neighbors' worries relating wind generator racket are important. No matter what of the size of the wind generator, the likelihood for turbine noise to trouble other people always exists. Even if a wind turbine does not produce enough sound to break any sound regulations, the noise it creates might still be bothersome to other people. Older generators were without a doubt loud, but contemporary engineering has developed turbine blades that are virtually silent. Our turbine is roughly 3 feet in diameter and at 4 mph winds; the unit creates a light flutter. At 10 mph the unit makes no noise at all.
Wind Turbine Advantages
- Wind is free,
- Produces no waste or greenhouse gases.
- Does not usually hinder other boating activities
Wind Turbine Disadvantages
- The wind is not consistently predictable - a number of days we have no wind at all.
- A number of individuals believe that wind generators wreck the lines of a vessel; I felt that way as well in the beginning but have since changed my opinion.
- Some devices can be noisy. The small current wind turbines used on vessels hardly produce any noise at all.
How Much Power Do They Create
Generators can be bought that make several power outputs. The generator that I chose is a Sunforce 450 watt turbine. It has a cut-in pace of 4 mph and has a survival wind speed capacity of 157 mph.
The amps (power) created is:
- 6 mph winds - 8.3 amps
- 10 mp winds - 25 amps
- 14 mph winds - 58.3 amps
The machine has a built in brake that will go on without human intervention when the batteries are at full charge, or it can be manually set if preferred.
Mike Dickens, the author, is a live aboard boat owner and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts in Florida USA.
Paradise Yachts offers used quality yachts to customers worldwide.
National and international sales. We ship Used Trawlers, Motor Yachts and Cruisers worldwide. Located in Florida, USA. 904/556-9431
Interact with us at the Trawler Blog
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