Wind power generation

We can use wind for power production since wind is plentiful, inexhaustible, renewable and non-polluting. Automatic operation of wind turbines possible and there is no requirement of any fuel. Technology employed here is very simple and maintenance cost is very less. The unsteady and unreliable nature of wind may cause some damage. During high winds, we require an additional storage system. During low winds, a diesel generator set required to act as back-up system. The main disadvantage here is the high initial setting-up cost. The main components of a wind power generator are storage batteries, wind tower, blade propeller system and rectifiers. There exist two types of windmills-horizontal axis windmill and vertical axis windmill. Horizontal axis windmill is also known as wind axis machine where the axis of rotation is parallel to the direction of the wind. Vertical axis windmill is also known as cross wind axis machine where the axis of rotation is perpendicular to the direction of the wind. The vertical type is economical and lighter compared to horizontal windmill.