Posts Tagged ‘energy’

A Basic Explanation Of Wind Turbines

August 18th, 2009

by Jim Samposzi

Since the spiral of the world’s ecological state, many ecologists and other people who are concerned have been looking day and night for a different source of power. A lot have found very promising types but a lot of these sources aren’t sufficient enough to wipe away other, more natural unfriendly ways of gathering electricity. Our nation still depends on generating power in ways that hurt our ozone layer, and our air quality.

Wind turbines are structures that harness the force of winds to turn thick blades. This structure, referred to as the rotor, pipes this energy through a shaft and into a gearbox, and the gearbox, sends it to a generator. This process takes place easily and efficiently, but is not capable of replacing other energy sources. Wind turbines typically power farms for automated grain machines and light industrial sights that need a generator to be on at all times. Wind turbines are common in the western parts of the country, primarily in Wyoming and areas in California. They are seen in the hundreds sometimes in fields of these areas.

The blades on wind turbines are beveled or pitched. This is so because if the blades were not pitched, they would be unable to turn unless hit by a substantial wind; this would lead to a waste of possible power. More specifically, these blades will not even start up with winds higher than 55 mph. The reason for this is because a high wind like this could damage the wind turbine. In addition, a brake is included on the wind turbine which stops the blades if the wind is too lofty. In addition, this component, does not operate in winds under eight mph because it would be pointless.

Wind turbines are simple in design but interesting in how they actually produce power. Wind turbines all come with two important components: a yaw drive and yaw motor. These pieces allow the rotor to position and re-position it when there is a shift in wind pattern. This function gives way to the best harnessing of power; if wind turbines did not have this, they would be sitting idol at the most insignificant shift in wind patterns.

Wind turbines have a few uses but are used mostly by individuals in rural areas. Though, these machines are rather loud and residents that live close to a collection of them have been reported to have complained about them. And, in in many situations these large fields of turbines have obsolete units that no longer serve any purpose. Many people are fighting to abolish them, while many have no idea where to put them.

Although they are capable of harvesting power, some turbines are obsolete; other people in the energy industry continue to conceive new and improved wind turbines that generate more power than the older ones. A Canadian man, for instance, has developed a wind turbine able to create 50 kilowatts of electricity! This is a huge milestone and it will be interesting to see if others like it get put to work on generating power.

Jim is a publicist with more than 12 years editorial experience. Jim is presently consulting as a technical writer with many well-known b2b portals and is considered the local authority on wind turbines. Take the time to visit our great web portal for more information on Wind Turbines and Wind Generator.

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Heat Your House Using A Wood Pellet Stove Next Winter

July 29th, 2009

by: Xavier Toolhausens

Warming your house can be rather expensive, especially when you live in a colder climate. Traditional electric-powered heaters and air systems can be very expensive to install and continue to cost a lot to run. However, there is an alternative way to get heat that is a substantial amount less and more ecologically sound at providing heat for homes. Pellet stoves are this alternative; they heat homes efficiently for little to no cost.

Pellet stoves use small pellets that are produced from recycled pieces of wood, or pellets. In addition, some types of stoves can use wood shavings and some of them, corn for burning. The pellets are placed into the stove, typically in the center, and are heated to produce a fire that can burn for more hours than most logs. Also, log capable pellet stoves are available to give the rustic look of natural burning wood.

Pellet stoves work like a fireplace wherein a fire is started to make heat that is then vented through the house. Some pellet stoves come standard consisting of a solid door to close the stove during incineration. But, there are also units that allow one to to look in at the fire. Typically, these types have a viewing glass in the stove to allow someone to look inside and see how many pellets are already burned. In addition, pellet stoves have a motor and mechanism for distributing the heat and clean the air before pumping it through the home.

Pellet stoves come in two kinds: top-fed and bottom fed. Prior to purchasing one, it is important to know the difference between them.

* Top-Fed Pellet Stoves – Top-fed pellet stoves take the pellets, or wood through the top of the container. This type of system has less of a chance of burning back though an increased of a chance of building up with ash and having clinkers (the chunks formed from cooking ash repeatedly). Top-fed stoves take better pellets to cut down on clinkers.

* Bottom-Fed Pellet Stoves – This form of pellet stove uses the pellets in the bottom drawer of the pellet stove. Because of this, consumers do not have to worry about clinkers and the stoves operate much cleaner. Also, bottom-fed pellet stoves do not take only premium pellets and generate heat with almost any grade or kind of wood. This type of stove has an ash pan that catches ash and provides easy removal.

Heating a home does not have to be costly. With the right pellet stove, you can begin the course of saving a fortune. Pellet stoves are said to pay for themselves after a short period of time. After the unit pays for itself, you as the consumer, can start to reap the rewards of having a less expensive and efficient mode of heating your home. Also, it is a wonderful feeling to know that you are using power from natural sources and saving our environment one home at a time.

Xavier is a columnist with over twenty years editorial experience. Xavier is presently engaged as a national correspondent for many well-known b2b portals and is considered the company guru on home heating ideas. Visit our great web portal for more information on Wood Pellet Stoves and Pellet Stoves.

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Posted in Alternative Energy, Home, Home Appliances, Home Improvement

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High Power Photovoltaic Solar Panels – The Next Generation

July 14th, 2009

by Mary Quintlett

A solar panel is basically a device that enables the collection of and conversion of solar energy into electrical energy or even heat.

The Concept of Solar Panels

Solar panels are also known as photovoltaic panels and the atoms that are present in these panels are excited by the action of the sun’s energy. These atoms are present in a silicon layer that lies between two panels known as protector panels.

A formation of electric current takes place as a result of the action of the electrons from the aforementioned, excited atoms, and these are then used by a myriad of external devices. The history of solar panels dates back by hundreds of years, when their sole purpose was to heat the water for use in homes. Many-a-times specially shaped mirror is used for the concentration of light onto a tube of oil. Due to this action, there is a heating up of oil and as these heated oil travels through a vat of water, it instantly results in the boiling of this water. The steam that is a resultant of this process of boiling is used to turn a turbine for the generation of electricity.

The History of Solar Panels

It was in the year 1839 that the photovoltaic effect was discovered by Antoine Cesar Becquerel, a French physicist. His experiment in this regard involved the placement of an electrolyte cell in an electrolyte solution; two metal electrodes made up the electrolyte cell.

When this device was exposed to sunlight, Becquerel found that the generation of electricity saw a marked increase. It was in 1883 that Charles Fritts coated sheets of selenium with a thin layer of gold and built the first genuine solar cell. Over a period of time many experiment were conducted and discoveries were made when it came to solar cells. Albert Einstein also published his thesis on the photoelectric effect, during this time and also won the Nobel Prize for his research.

It was space satellites that made large scale use of solar electrical energy for the first time. By 1980, the United States of America, produced a solar cell which provided an efficiency of nearly twenty percent, this efficiency was increased to around twenty four percent in the next two decades and currently there are a few companies that are manufacturing solar cells that offer efficiency levels of nearly twenty eight percent

The Working of Solar Panels

Pure silicon forms the basic element of all solar panels as its makes for an ideal platform that aids transmission of electrons. This material is used on the plates that form a solar panel. Solar panels are also created by combining silicon panels with other elements, with negative or positive charges.

The Silicon atoms are exposed to the bombardment of photons when negative plates of solar cells are faced towards the sunlight. Once all free electrons are drawn away from the plates, enough electricity is generated to power various electronic appliances that do not require too much electricity to power them.

Features and Types of Solar Panels

Basically there are three types of solar panels, namely mono-crystalline solar panels, polycrystalline solar panels, and amorphous solar panels. The life expectancy of solar panels depends on the type of solar panels selected by you; generally its around twenty years or so.

Solar panels do not require sustained maintenance for their upkeep although; if lead acid batteries are used then they must be checked every six months and topped up with distilled water if required. If you are looking for a solar panel for your needs and do not know what size to go for, then the best way would be to calculate your average consumption of electricity on a daily basis. This would give you a fair idea of what kind of solar panel to go for. In the long run, solar panels will reduce your electricity bill by a long way, and hence the option of using solar energy must be explored in a positive manner.

Mary Quintlett is considered an authority on Photovoltaic Solar Panels. She has written numerous editorial pieces for the Solar Energy industry.

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Taking A Really Intimate Look At Wind Turbines And Determining What You Should Opt For

July 14th, 2009

by Jacob Smithson

Many regions realize that the timing of these occurrences is quickly slipping from us; we recognise now that we are at the “we need to get it done now stage”. Sooner rather than later, the timing will quickly start to be; we had better get this done and then we wish we had gotten our energy use under control.

In most respects, the full problem can be intimidating and to a certain degree depressing. Fortuitously, there are solutions to the world’s power issues if they are simply applied and developed to their fullest and most efficient possibility. Solar power is starting to make excellent headway in technology and implementation as are other substitute energy solutions. One of these alternatives is wind turbine energy, a source of continuous clean energy that is actually making great strides in reducing coal power energy point source where it is being utilized.

What is a wind turbine? A wind turbine used for yielding electricity is not all that troublesome a thing to comprehend. It is almost exactly like the water wheels that centuries of people have used to make their flour. The only difference is that instead of using water to turn the water wheel wind is used. The wind makes the blades of the wheel turn which; with the help of some gears, magnets and resistance creates electricity which turns a motor to send the free energy along power lines. Unfortunately, at the moment the energy generated from the turbine cannot be stored in batteries so there is a need for back-up systems but, for the most part, it is a fairly efficient system.

Location, location, location This last point about not being able to store the generated power in batteries for subsequent use puts quite a bit of emphasis on where the turbines are placed. Since the electricity that is generated needs to be sent along the power lines and used right away, the turbines need to be located in a place where the wind is always blowing. One might think, well that should not be that difficult. Well yes and no. The turbine needs to be located where there is a consistent wind most of the time, but it also needs to be positioned in a place where quite a few turbines can be located. The current issue is that one turbine generates quite a bit of energy, but not enough energy to make it economically feasible. Several hundred turbines need to be in place to make this happen. There are many places around the world where this is possible, but the overall concept is regional in nature. In other words, the power made in Vegas, stays in Vegas. The energy generated in Idaho, stays there as well. This is not generally a bad thing since larger cities in places like Colorado are deriving a nice chunk of their power from the wind turbines which lessens the need to use coal power needed for other places like Los Angeles.

With a brand new focus on eco-friendly energy sources, we believe that Wind power is at the start of a huge surge. Think about wind energy for your home.

Jacob Smithson is a seasoned promoter of trade lead information for trade sites where you will uncover lots of trade leads for 5kw Wind Turbine and 2kw Wind Turbine Sellers.

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