Although there was an ebbing point in the use of wind turbine through the years, its structure and design continued to evolve. In the earlier times, the making of wind turbines was solely the job of the manufacturing companies. Today, due to the pricey cost of commercial wind turbines, average households can choose to make their own. But they don’t just assemble ready-made components; usually they make wind turbine components themselves. Building home made blades is an example.
Contrary to what some people believe, a do-it-yourself blade project is not at all complicated. It helps that design plans are now increasingly becoming available online and are written in a detailed and easy-to-follow manner. Because of these plans, professional help is usually not necessary.
The common question about making a DIY wind turbine blade is which material is best to use. This, in fact, is a matter of personal preference. Some use wood as wind turbine blade. Marcellus Jacobs, the first to make energy-generating wind turbine, used wood, specifically spruce, for his early models. And although the same type of wood is still considered useful today, others try their hand on other wood like pine and cedar tree. With the use of saw, drill, and other tools, wood is carved to make a propeller-like blade.
Wooden blades, for some, are easier to work on, not to mention inexpensive, stronger, easier to maintain, and long-lasting. Some, on the other hand, prefer to use PVC pipes, reasoning that building wooden blades is time-consuming; wooden blades, in fact, take around eight hours to build. On the contrary, PVC blades are relatively easier to make. Individual blades are cut in a certain angle or size, usually three feet tall, and are bolted together to a hub. PVC blades are also affordable and are more flexible to catch the wind. However, PVC blades have the tendency to get brittle after a while, which may eventually cause damage. The truth is, if left standing during a storm, PVC blades are more likely to break as opposed to wooden blades.
Both materials have their set of advantages and disadvantages, but whatever material is used, it is important to make sure that the blades can stand the most rigid weather conditions and can tolerate any kind of stress. The blades are the most battered and exposed parts of the wind turbine, so they must be especially sturdy and durable.
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