One of the oldest existing methods of energy generation is the use of wind turbines. Although the basic principle behind wind generators has remained constant, wind turbine blades in particular have changed drastically over time, from the easily broken windmill blades of yore to the high-tech blades of today. Today’s smaller, quieter wind turbines, which are exponentially more efficient than early models, are a direct result of these improvements.
Early wind turbine blades were essentially just large mats made from reeds. This type of turbine blade, for all its usefulness, wasn’t very durable. If the winds got too high, these blades would often be damaged.
Cloth sails were the next stage in the evolution of wind turbine blades. This kind of blade was combined with a vertical axis design to create some of the early windmills, which used wind power in order to perform grain processing functions.
The next major kind of blade to be introduced was the wood blade, which was often used in conjunction with a horizontal axis configuration. These blades were directly inspired by airplane blades. Wooden blades were sturdier yet lighter than previous models, and therefore they could spin faster and provide greater power to the connected machinery.
Electricity was generated from wind turbines for the first time thanks to these designs. It wasn’t long before large scale wind turbines would be used to for commercial purposes.
In order to meet divergent requirements, the differences between horizontal axis turbine blade designs and vertical axis blade designs started to become even more distinct. In terms of horizontal axis blade design, the majority of the changes would take the form of adjustments in blade shape and pitch, materials, and the number of blades used per rotor.
In most cases, 3-blade designs came to be used for horizontal axis wind turbines, as they have the best balance of stability and rotor speed. Modern turbines feature composite blades, which are both lightweight and strong. Composite blades allow wind turbines to spin faster and produce more energy as well as pick up low-speed winds, making them exponentially more efficient.
Also, vertical axis wind turbines have seen a number of advancements which have made them appropriate for a wide variety of applications. The rotation for these units is generally provided by designs that take advantage of either the lift or drag of the wind.
The big advantage of vertical axis wind turbine designs is their capacity to generate power no matter what direction the wind is blowing. In this way, they afford a more constant supply of power than standard horizontal axis turbines. What’s more, as vertical axis turbines usually don’t require a tower, they’re often favored by residential users.
For info about the pros and cons of wind power, read Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Power.
For the best guide I have found for building your own wind turbines with step by step videos, go to Best DIY Solar and Wind Guides.
Here’s another guide to building your own wind turbine Homemade Wind Turbine.