Wind Turbine Blade Designs

One of the oldest known methods of energy generation is the use of wind turbines. Even now, the basic idea that underpins this type of device remains the same, but the designs of the blades used have undergone a series of changes since their introduction. Today, it’s possible to generate much more power from much less wind than ever before, and this is largely due to these advancements.

Mats made out of reeds were used as the blades for the first wind turbines. While they functioned reasonably well under the right conditions, they lacked durability. The short lifespan of this type of blade led inventors to consider other ways of making them.

The next step in the development of wind turbine blades was the cloth sail. This kind of blade was used in combination 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 stage in the evolution of wind turbines came with the introduction of wood blades and horizontal axis blade configurations. This development reflected those seen in the world of aviation, as improving rotors often shared these features as well. The key advantage of wooden blades over previous models was that they could be both lighter and stronger, and thus they were much more appropriate for generating energy in a wider variety of conditions.

This was the period in which wind turbines were first used as a means of generating electricity. It wasn’t long before large scale wind turbines were being used to in commerical settings.

From this point on, wind turbine blade development branched into two distinct paths: horizontal axis blades, and vertical axis blades. Subsequent horizontal axis blades would differ in terms of shape and pitch, materials, and the number of blades used per rotor.

Due to their strong balance of stability and rotor speed, 3-blade designs are the standard for horizontal axis wind turbines. Composite blades, which provide great strength and flexibility in addition to lightweight construction, are used for many modern turbines. Composite blades give wind turbines the ability to spin at higher speeds and produce more power as well as pick up low-speed winds, making them immeasurably more efficient.

Furthermore, vertical axis wind turbines have seen a number of developments which have opened them up to a wide variety of applications. Vertical axis wind turbines can also provide good power, as they are usually engineered to take advantage of either wind drag or wind lift.

The big advantage of vertical axis wind turbine designs is their ability to generate power regardless of wind direction. Thanks to this feature, vertical axis turbines produce the most consistent output of power of any type available right now. Their capacity to generate power at lower elevation makes them especially appropriate for use in residential settings.

For info about the benefits and drawbacks of wind power, go to Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Power.

For the best guide to building your own wind turbines, visit Best DIY Solar and Wind Guides.

Here's another guide to building your own wind turbine Homemade Wind Turbine.