Types of Wind Turbines - Build One With Less Than $200

There are two major types of wind turbines there is, a horizontal axis and a vertical axis turbine. A wind turbine is basically a machine which converts kinetic energy to electrical energy through its three main components. First, the blades which catch the wind which makes it rotate. The blade is then attached to a shaft which would spin when the blades rotate. The shaft is then connected to a generator which turns the mechanical energy to electrical energy. With that in mind, there are two ways to do this.

First, as mentioned, the horizontal axis turbine. This is the more commonly used design for a wind turbine, where the main rotor shaft and generator are at the top of the tower. Smaller turbines are held by a simple wind vane, but larger turbines use a wind sensor coupled with a servo motor. A horizontal axis turbine must be pointer towards the wind to be effective, and because the tower creates turbulence behind it, the turbine is usually point upwind.

The other type of wind turbine is called the vertical axis turbine. This design has the main rotor shaft arranged vertically in its axis. The main advantage of this design is that you wouldn't need to use a servo motor because it can catch the win from any direction. This is best used in areas with varying winds. Another advantage of this design is that the generator is placed on the ground, making maintenance easier. However, this design creates a lot of torque, meaning that it produces less electricity than a same sized horizontal axis turbine.