Do You Get Enough Wind for a Wind-Energy System?

Analyzing your wind resource (your site's average wind speed, measured in miles per hour) is one of the hardest jobs you face when selecting a wind-electric system; no single method gives you exact numbers. To come up with a good estimate of your site's average wind speed, combine as many of the following strategies as possible:



  • Put up a recording anemometer at the proposed wind generator height to measure your actual wind resource; you often need to do it over the course of a year or more.



  • Use a small test turbine with a watt-hour meter to give you some data while giving you a bit of energy; you can learn important lessons from the experience.



  • Consult wind maps and roses, which show generalized wind resource information for your area.



  • Sift through local weather data, which may be an excellent source of wind resource information.



  • Live on site with eyes and ears open to note seasonal variations in wind.



  • Climb something tall (like a tree that's on a high point on your property) and look at topography and obstructions; this can help you determine your optimum tower height.



  • Study vegetation, which may reflect how much wind you have; by reading the deformation of trees, you may be able to estimate your wind resource.



  • Talk with neighbors; they may give you valuable perspective on wind in your neighborhood, especially if your neighbors are wind-energy users.






dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/do-you-get-enough-wind-for-a-windenergy-system.html

No comments:

Post a Comment