Windmill Parts - Basic

Windmills are great inventions that have its part in our history. Early settlers used windmills for pumping water out of the ground and provide drink for their cattle’s over a century ago. Over the years, different designs and variations were made to make the windmill run more efficient. Although there have been hundreds of designs made, most of the windmill parts still stay unchanged.

In this article, let us learn some of the basic parts and functions shared by early windmills and modern wind turbines.

Blades – The blades are the most important part of the windmill. Early windmill use sails for blades and proved to be very efficient during their time, however; sails doesn’t measure up with today’s standard when it comes to efficiency. Modern windmills use wood, plastic or aluminum for blades. The material used for the blades depends on its application. Small scale windmills use either wood or plastic because they’re light weight and affordable. Aluminum are mostly used on commercial applications like wind farms. Aluminum is both durable and lightweight making it the perfect material for commercial grade windmills.

Shaft – The shaft is a rounded steel that act as an axis for the blades and allows them to rotate freely. One end of the shaft holds the blades, and the other end connects to either generator or transmission. There are two variations on how the shaft is positioned. Horizontal axis windmills are the most common setup among all windmill design due to its efficiency. Vertical axis windmills are less efficient and can only generate about half of the energy produced by horizontal axis windmills. Its only advantage is it can operate well at low altitude and even at ground level. It eliminates the need for setting up a tower which makes the design inexpensive.

Generator – The generator is the device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. It’s also what sets modern day windmills from its predecessor. There are various generator sizes available depending on its application. Small sized generator can only generate small amounts of electricity for home applications. Before buying any windmill, check the generators capacity first if it can meet your household’s energy needs.

Transmission - Transmissions are sets of gears than convert’s the rpm ratio. It adjusts the generators speed according to the wind speed so the windmill can maintain its efficiency. Transmissions are only used on commercial windmills and not for small scale applications.

Tower – The tower is a structure used on all horizontal axis windmills. A tower is necessary to achieve strong and steady wind speeds at high altitudes. The height of the tower varies depending on the location. Areas with lower wind speeds may require a taller tower. The tower is often made from steel or polyvinyl chloride. Steel is the material of choice because of its durability, however; constructing a tall tower using steel can be very expensive, so the second material of choice is polyvinyl chloride.

Base – The Base is a solid foundation made from cement. The base is necessary to keep the structure on the ground and prevent vibrations that could damage windmill parts.