Lets talk generators

Up do now I have explained how to determine the power in the wind and the different ways to capture this power. Once the power has been capture it needs to be converted into electricity. This is done using a generator.

Before I get into how a generator works, you need to understand that all generators are not equal. Some are made to produce high power at low speeds and others can only produce high power at high speeds. And then you get all the combinations in between.

These differences have to do with the relationship between the magnets and the coil windings that induce the current. I will get into more detail about that in a later blog.

What is important is that, if we eliminate minor inefficiencies, a specific generator will produce twice the power if you double the speed. It is linear. As the rev's per minute increase so does the power output. This is very important, because if you remember the power in the wind is a cubic so in the next blog I will explain how these to equations fit together.