When choosing a home wind turbine, you have two basic options - a vertical axis turbine or a horizontal axis turbine. By and large the horizontal axis turbine is most popular. These are the giant windmills you see plastered on the foot hills of the Sierra Nevada.
However, the vertical axis windmill has some advantages that may be best for your property. The primary benefit of the vertical axis variety is that it does not “see” wind direction. The vertical windmill keeps the same orientation, no matter what the wind direction. So, if the wind shifts rapidly or is very “turbulent” then a vertical axis turbine may be the way to go. A vertical wind generator also has the generator box located closer to the ground, so it is easier to maintain.
One downside to vertical wind generator is that they tend to be noisier. Vertical wind generators are more subject to vibrations along the axis or the turbine. This is not the case with horizontal turbines.
The horizontal axis windmill tends to be more efficient than the vertical wind generator. However, a horizontal wind-mill needs a steady wind to be efficient. If the wind changes, directions, the horizontal wind mill needs some “recover time” to reorient itself into the wind.
One downside to the horizontal axis turbine is that it is hazardous to birds. The blades can be spinning fast enough to cut a bird in two. Vertical axis wind mills are safer for birds, because they cover a narrower area and have a lower rotational velocity.
Joseph Sawvel
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Sawvel
Tags: Green Power, horizontal wind turbine, vertical wind turbine, Wind Power
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