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The New Independent Home

     by Michael Potts
from chapter 3 :

Generators:
Turning Spin Into Flow

Generator.gif - 18180 Bytes      PV is magical, but most electricity is generated comparatively simply. Because electrons roam relatively freely in a conductor; large groups of them can be induced to flow by exposing them to the flux of a moving magnet. A generator is simply a magnet and a coil of wire, one held steady while the other is rotated, inducing electrons to flow through the coil. When the coil's output is connected to a circuit, electricity flows.
     Wind power is a perfect example of transforming a linear flow -- wind -- into rotational power using a rotor. Hydro power transforms linear stream flow into rotational power using a turbine. Dirtier techniques convert combustion directly or indirectly into rotation using a piston-crankshaft arrangement. Rotational power is then harnessed to a generator, which produces a flow of electrons.
     Wind power typically requires a "power wind" with minimum average speed of ten miles per hour (quite a windy site) to be economical. Wind and photovoltaic often make good partners, because wind frequently blows when the sun is not shining.

 

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The New Independent Home


People and Houses that Harvest
the Sun, Wind, and Water
a book by Michael Potts
paper   *     8x10   *     408 pages
8 page color section + 200 illustrations:
b&w photos, graphs, charts, and diagrams
ISBN 1-890132-14-4   *     $30.00

this book at Amazon.com

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Michael & Sienna Potts, websters updated 25 December 2002 : 14:35 Caspar (Pacific) time
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