Do-it-yourself alternative electricity for the home. Sources of alternative energy with their own hands. Solar collectors are a great kind of alternative

The issue of electricity production has not lost its relevance over the years. It seemed to scientists that with the advent of nuclear power plants, humanity would receive an unlimited amount of energy and would never again ask this question. But everything turned out to be somewhat different - the reserves of U 235 uranium necessary for nuclear power plants are not endless, and already now in many countries, even in the USA, its shortage is felt. There are methods for obtaining other necessary fuel, for example, plutonium P 239, by artificial methods, but this is far from enough. It comes to the point that it is necessary to use previously created nuclear weapons to extract the embedded nuclear charge from them in order to use them at stations.

To solve the energy issue completely, many developers have turned their attention to alternative sources of electricity.

These traditionally include the following:

• solar panels;
• wind generators;
• the warmth of the earth;
• biogas generator;
• the power of the ebb and flow, some others.

Consider the use of these alternative sources of electricity in more detail.

By means of solar rays, approximately 1000 kW of power is transferred to the Earth annually, which is equal to the energy that is released during the combustion of 100 liters of diesel fuel. This is a fairly large number, and its development occupies the minds of many modern researchers. The best option today for using solar radiation are solar panels, often combined into large blocks of several dozen, so-called panels. The principle of operation of such products is simple - photons from the rays of the sun, passing through the batteries, create a potential difference on the semiconductor material, which causes the movement of current in the electrical circuit.

A typical battery of this kind, having a surface area of ​​60-80 cm 2, in good sunny weather, can provide a current of about 1 A, which is enough to charge a mobile phone, listen to the radio and other simple tasks. If you build a large panel of 40–50 such elements, then you can get, respectively, an energy source for 40–50 A of current and 20–25 V of voltage. Such power will be enough already for more serious tasks: lighting a room, charging a car battery. To cover the needs of a private house in electricity, the entire surface of its roof is covered with such solar panels.

Solar alternative power generation is a good option for generating electricity, but the method has several drawbacks, the main among which are the high cost of organizing your own power plant, as well as complete dependence on weather conditions: in case of cloudy weather, the generated power will be very small.

Wind turbines

Windmills are widely used in many developed countries of the world: Holland, Denmark, Japan, USA and others. Their use is especially effective in mountainous areas or on sea coasts, where strong winds. The power of a modern power plant from wind generators is enough to cover the needs of large agricultural facilities remote from civilization, or the infrastructure of small cities.

The design of the windmill is as follows: it has blades of a certain shape, which are rigidly connected to the rotor of the generator installed inside. As the blades move, the rotor rotates and the generator generates electricity. The larger the blades, the more they create rotation, the larger and the more often the wind occurs in a given area, the more the electric generator will produce electrical energy. It is estimated that the minimum wind speed at which a wind generator can operate is about 2 m/s. If the constant wind speed is more than 8-10 m / s, then the generated electricity will be enough to power the power grid of a private house.

The disadvantage of this method is that the battery included in the system fails rather quickly (due to too frequent charge-discharge cycles), and its cost is a significant part of the entire wind turbine. Structural parts can be damaged from the wind, which will require regular repairs.

Increasingly, you can see how people equip windmills for the home. Despite some difficulties, they are able to work with goals and bring many benefits to the owner.

geothermal springs

Deepening into the bowels of the Earth showed: under the layers of the surface - a high temperature. This can be seen in such phenomena as, for example, geysers - fountains hot water, beating from the ground. The heat of the earth also belongs to alternative energy sources - it is very convenient to use it with a heat pump. True, it is worth noting that the operation of the pump also requires the supply of a certain amount of current, but, as practice shows, the ratio of the power spent on the operation of the pump in relation to the heat received from the bowels of the earth is approximately 1: 4–1: 6, which completely covers the costs and makes this method very advantageous.

The principle of implementing this method is also quite simple - a well is drilled to the zone of elevated temperature in the ground, where a heat pump is then installed. It serves to cool hot underground water, and as a result of this, additional energy is released, which is sent to the consumer through special communications.

The benefits of using this method of generating electricity are obvious, but there is also a significant disadvantage - for a house with an area of ​​​​150 m 2 you will have to spend on necessary work and equipment about 20-30 thousand dollars.

Biogas plants

Considerable popularity in last years gained use of biomass. Its essence lies in the fact that from various biomass (bard, bird droppings, manure and other similar substances) during fermentation, a special gas is released called cellulosic ethanol. Here, alternative electricity can be obtained by simply burning the gas thus obtained.

To realize such an idea, scientists have developed special biogas plants, which are now sold for quite a few affordable prices. It is most beneficial to use them for various farms, where biological waste is an integral part of the production cycle. Once spent on a biogas construction, a farmer can get an excellent source of gas close to natural, which in the end is easily converted into both heat and electricity.

Another interesting alternative energy source that is widely used in maritime countries. Due to natural ebb and flow, the water is constantly moving. If water turbines are installed at a certain depth, they, using this movement of water masses, will generate quite a lot of power. It is noteworthy that even considering the low speed of water from the ebb and flow, water turbines can show high efficiency. This can be seen in the world's largest tidal power plant, located in France and capable of delivering as much as 240 MW of power.

In conclusion, it should be said that this is not all possible ways receiving current. They are constantly being improved and developed, but the greatest practical result was achieved precisely by these methods. They are already able to make a worthy alternative to traditional options for generating electricity, and in some cases completely replace them.

Tariffs for "classic" energy carriers (gas, coal, gasoline, oil) are steadily increasing day by day. And this is understandable. After all, mankind has traditionally used non-renewable energy sources for a long time. And there are many of them in nature, but still a limited number. There will come a time when they run out. And you have to switch, at least on a private level, to something else. Make alternative energy sources for your home with your own hands - the best way for a private trader, the owner of a small building or a compact production that does not require huge energy costs.

Forecasts of economists and scientists

Some scientists warn: the natural resources used by mankind may not be enough for the representatives of the living generations, not to mention the descendants! It has been estimated that in modern conditions an ordinary family spends up to 40 percent of its budget on paying for electricity, heating, gasoline for a car. And according to modest forecasts of economists, this share can grow up to 70%! Therefore, for many representatives of the so-called middle class (and not only), do-it-yourself alternative energy sources for the home are an excellent and very economical way out of the current situation.

Most Popular

In fact, almost any natural factor can be converted into energy. For example, wind, sun, water power, heat earth's interior, biomass decomposition. The most popular use of alternative energy sources of the sun and wind. However, this issue has not been worked out sufficiently at the legislative level. Theoretically, all resources belong to the state. Therefore, using such types of alternative energy sources as wind power or solar radiation, most likely, you will have to pay a tax.

Wind

This kind has been used for a long time (a vivid example is windmills that existed in ancient times). About forty years ago, they actively began to build wind farms. Do-it-yourself alternative energy sources for the home (mini-wind generators), as a rule, consist of special blades for capturing the wind, connected to the generator directly or through a gearbox. It must be borne in mind that such a device is effective only in areas where there are constant winds (for example, on the coast of the sea). You also need to remember that windmills will be effective only with a mast height of fifteen meters or more (which is quite problematic in the private sector).

Varieties

There are slow windmills. They are designed for wind speeds up to six meters per second and are characterized by the presence of many blades (sometimes up to thirty). Such devices are low-noise, they start even with a slight wind, but they have a low efficiency with a rather large windage. High-speed windmills use wind up to fifteen meters per second. They have three or four blades, are quite noisy and have high efficiency. Of all the species, they are the most common in the world. Rotary wind generators have the form of a barrel with a vertical arrangement of blades. They do not require orientation to the wind, but they have the lowest efficiency.

How to use

Installing windmills as alternative energy sources with your own hands is quite easy. First, you need to mark out a place for the mast in the yard or in a convenient place on the site where the wind is constantly blowing (having analyzed the location in advance). It is required to lay a solid foundation so that a high (better - more than 15 meters) mast is firmly held on the ground. A windmill (or several devices) should be chosen fast. You can buy it in a store, and for those whose hands have "grown properly" - make it yourself according to the corresponding drawings. There is now quite a lot of such information in the media and specialized literature.

Choose the option that, according to user reviews, seems the most reliable and feasible to use. At the time of connecting the machine, as experience shows, it is better to call a professional electrician. He will probably tell you how your windmill is connected correctly, even if there is a tutorial and instructions. And one more thing: in order to power several light bulbs and appliances (for example, a TV or a computer) from this energy, it will be necessary to install several windmills at once. So think about how much you can afford it. Do not forget about the main condition - the presence of a constantly blowing wind. After all, installing a wind turbine in a dense forest, as they say, is a waste of time and money. But in general, it is quite possible to make and install windmills as alternative sources of energy in a private house both financially and physically.

The sun

His energy is truly inexhaustible. And besides, quite promising in use. We all saw on TV the European versions of the "smart home", where heating, lighting, and water heating are produced through the use of solar energy. It is interesting that in one year so much solar radiation falls on the surface of soil and water that it (if fully used for energy production) would be enough for all mankind for many thousands of years! It remains, as usual, only to take what is "rolling" underfoot. And this is not so easy. The snag lies in the rather low efficiency of photoelectric converters and solar plants invented by mankind. But scientists are constantly working in this direction.

solar plants

It is certainly possible (and even necessary) to make such high-tech devices as solar alternative energy sources for the home with your own hands. Just get ready for the fact that it will most likely not be so easy to do this, and you cannot do without certain skills or the help of a specialist!

For water heating

The most expedient and simple use of devices is for heating water. Separate direct and indirect heating. Direct includes a variety of greenhouses, tanks for heating water in the sun, greenhouses, glazed loggias, verandas, for example. This type of heating allows you to use free solar energy to generate heat in any convenient place: on the roof, in any open space. Non-freezing liquids (antifreeze) are used as a heat carrier, and the subsequent one takes place in storage heat exchangers. From them, water is also taken for heating and domestic needs.

By the way, there is a children's designer "Alternative Energy Sources" ("Expert"), which allows you to collect up to 130 projects. Children over the age of five can also join the creation of windmills, use mechanical, water, solar energy to generate electricity.

Solar panels

Development has led to the creation of solar cells as the most effective way use of solar radiation. This kind of panel is a system of semiconductors that converts solar energy into electricity. Such systems provide uninterrupted and reliable, cost-effective supply of electricity to a private house. They are especially effective in hard-to-reach areas. For example, in the mountains, where there are many sunny days a year, and the "official" supply of electricity is absent or suffers from irregularity. Or in an area where there are frequent interruptions in the supply of electricity from the main source.

Installation Benefits

Such an installation has the following advantages:

• does not require laying a cable to the supports, which significantly reduces the cost of production;
• battery installation and maintenance costs are minimized;
• environmental cleanliness of produced energy;
• light weight of solar panels;
• complete noiselessness during operation;
• quite a long period of use.

disadvantages

The challenges of alternative energy sources such as solar panels are:

• in the laborious assembly process;
• that they take up a lot of space;
• sensitive to mechanical damage and pollution;
• do not function at night;
• their effectiveness is highly dependent on sunny or cloudy weather.

Mounting

Alternative energy sources - solar panels - are mounted quite easily with certain skills. First you need to select necessary materials for construction. We will need high-quality solar cells (from mono- or polycrystalline silicon). It is better to take those whose work is effective even in cloudy weather - polycrystals, readily available in a set. We buy cells from the same manufacturer so that everything is compatible and interchangeable. You will also need conductors connecting the photocells. The case is made of its dimensions are determined by the number of cells. For an external covering - plexiglas. For mounting on the roof of the house we use self-tapping screws. For soldering wires - an ordinary soldering iron. In general, nothing "military". With the help of a good instruction, as a rule, attached to the kit, you can figure it out yourself. In extreme cases, invite a neighbor in the country as an assistant.

In an environment where energy prices are constantly rising, the owners of private houses are more likely to think about alternative energy sources. Some homeowners do not have the ability to connect to the mains at all due to the high cost installation work. Engineers, and along with them craftsmen, paid attention to what nature itself gives humanity and created a number of devices that can be used to renew energy resources. The video will show the best practices in action.

Biogas is an environmentally friendly type of fuel. It is used in the same way as natural gas. The production technology is based on the vital activity of anaerobic bacteria. Waste is placed in a container, in the process of decomposition of biological materials, gases are released: methane and hydrogen sulfide with an admixture of carbon dioxide.

This technology is actively used in China and on livestock farms in America. In order to continuously receive biogas at home, you need to have farming or access to a free manure source.

biowaste generator

For the construction of such an installation, you will need a sealed container with a built-in auger for mixing, a gas outlet, a neck for loading waste and a fitting for unloading waste. The design must be perfectly sealed. If the gas will not be taken constantly, then you will need to install safety valve to relieve excess pressure so that the “roof” does not break off the tank. The procedure is the following.

1. We choose a place for arranging the container. Select the size based on the amount of waste available. For effective work it is advisable to fill it by two thirds. The tank can be metal or reinforced concrete. A large amount of biogas cannot be obtained from a small tank. 100 cubic meters of gas will come out of a ton of waste.
2. To speed up the process of bacteria, heating of the contents will be required. It can be done in several ways: place a coil connected to the heating system under the tank or install heating elements.
3. Anaerobic microorganisms are found in the raw material itself, at a certain temperature they become active. Automatic device in water-heating boilers, it will turn on the heating when a new batch arrives and turn it off when the waste warms up to the set temperature.
   The resulting gas can be converted into electricity through a gas power generator.

Advice. Waste waste is used as compost fertilizer for garden beds.

Energy from the wind

Our ancestors have long learned to use wind energy for their needs. In principle, since then the design has not changed much. Only the millstone was replaced by a generator drive that converts the energy of the rotating blades into electricity.

To make a generator, you will need the following parts:

• generator. Some use the motor from the washing machine, slightly transforming the rotor;
• multiplier;
• battery and its charge controller;
• voltage transformer.

wind generator

There are many schemes for homemade wind turbines. All of them are completed on the same principle.

1. The frame is being assembled.
2. The swivel is installed. Blades and a generator are mounted behind it.
3. Mount a side shovel with a spring coupler.
4. The generator with a propeller is attached to the frame, then it is mounted on the frame.
5. Connect and connect to the swivel assembly.
6. Install the current collector. Connect it to a generator. The wires lead to the battery.

Advice. The number of blades will depend on the diameter of the propeller, as well as the amount of electricity generated.

Heat pump

To get energy from the depths of the earth, it will be necessary to build a fairly complex device that will allow you to receive alternative energy from ground water, the soil itself or from the air. Most often, such devices are used for space heating. In fact, the unit is a large refrigerating chamber, which, when cooled, environment converts energy and releases it in the form of heat with high potential. Components of the system:

1. External and internal contour with freon.
2. Evaporator.
3. Compressor.
4. Capacitor.

Heat pump operation diagram

The collector can be installed vertically if the area of ​​​​the site does not allow a horizontal installation. Several deep wells are drilled and a contour is lowered into them. Horizontally it is placed in the ground to a depth of one and a half meters. If the house is located on the shore of a reservoir, the heat exchanger is laid in the water.
The compressor can be taken from the air conditioner. The condenser is made from a 120 l tank. A copper coil is inserted into the tank, freon will circulate through it, and water from heating system will start to warm up.

The evaporator is made from plastic barrel over 130 liters. Another coil is inserted into this tank, its combination with the previous one will be carried out through the compressor. The evaporator pipe is made from trim sewer pipe. Through the branch pipe, the flow of water from the reservoir is regulated.

The evaporator is lowered into the reservoir. Water, flowing around it, induces the evaporation of freon. The gas rises into the condenser and gives off heat to the water that surrounds the coil. The coolant circulates in the heating system, heating the room.

Advice. The temperature of the water of the reservoir does not matter, only its constant presence is important.

Solar energy into electricity

Solar panels were first made for spacecraft. The device is based on the ability of photons to create electricity. There are a lot of variations in the design of solar panels and every year they are improved. There are two ways to make a solar battery yourself:

Method number 1. Buy ready-made photocells, assemble a chain from them and cover the structure with a transparent material. You need to work with extreme caution, all elements are very fragile. Each photocell is marked in Volt-Amps. Calculating the required number of cells to collect the battery of the required power will not be very difficult. The sequence of work is as follows:

• for the manufacture of the case you need a sheet of plywood. Nailed around the perimeter wooden slats;
• ventilation holes are drilled in the plywood sheet;
• a fiberboard sheet with a soldered chain of photocells is placed inside;
• performance is checked;
• plexiglass is screwed onto the rails.

Solar panels

Method number 2 requires knowledge of electrical engineering. The electrical circuit is assembled from D223B diodes. Solder them in rows sequentially. Placed in a case covered with a transparent material.

Photocells are of two types:

1. Monocrystalline plates have an efficiency of 13% and will last a quarter of a century. They work flawlessly only in sunny weather.
2. Polycrystalline ones have a lower efficiency, their service life is only 10 years, but the power does not drop when it is cloudy. Panel area 10 sq. m. is capable of producing 1 kW of energy. When placed on the roof, it is worth considering the total weight of the structure.

Ready batteries are placed on the sunniest side. The panel must be equipped with the ability to adjust the inclination of the angle with respect to the Sun. The vertical position is set during snowfalls so that the battery does not fail.

The solar panel can be used with or without a battery. consume energy during the day solar battery, and at night - the battery. Or enjoy the day solar energy, and at night - from the central power supply network.

Homemade hydroelectric power plant

If there is a stream or reservoir with a dam on the site, an additional source of alternative electricity will be a self-made hydroelectric power station. The device is based on a water wheel, and the power will depend on the speed of the water flow. Materials for the manufacture of a generator and a wheel can be taken from a car, and scraps of a corner and metal can be found in any household. In addition, you need a piece copper wire, plywood, polystyrene resin and neodymium magnets. Sequence of work:

1. The wheel is made from 11 inch wheels. From steel pipe blades are made (we cut the pipe lengthwise into 4 parts). You will need 16 blades. The discs are pulled together with bolts, the gap between them is 10 inches. Blades are welded.
2. The nozzle is made according to the width of the wheel. It is made from scrap metal, bent to size and joined by welding. The nozzle is adjusted in height. This will regulate the water flow.
3. The axle is welded.
4. The wheel is mounted on the axle.
5. The winding is made, the coils are poured with resin - the stator is ready. We collect the generator. A template is made from plywood. Install magnets.
6. The generator is protected by a metal wing from water splashes.
7. The wheel, axle and fasteners with a nozzle are coated with paint to protect the metal from corrosion and aesthetic pleasure.
8. Adjusting the nozzle achieves the greatest power.

Homemade devices do not require large capital investments and produce energy for free. If you combine several types of alternative sources, then such a step will significantly reduce energy costs. To assemble the unit, you only need skillful hands and a clear head.

Alternative energy is energy, the source of which is different from those that we are used to using (coal, gas, nuclear fuel, oil, etc.); more commonly used in the context of the limited availability of fossil fuels and their emissions of harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Alternative energy - a relatively new industry (because there was no need to look for something less efficient, but cleaner than coal, for example) does not find a wide number of supporters, but the transition to it is inevitable. When we find ways to prey a large number electricity (rather, its storage), the use of hydrogen and other elements, efficient solar or thermonuclear energy to replace conventional sources, the world will change beyond recognition.

The cost of producing energy from so-called renewable sources, such as wind and sunlight, is slowly but surely declining every year. However, one of the shortcomings of such production still remains unresolved - what to do with the excess energy produced, how to store it? Let's say that in windy weather, windmills produce enough energy to power the power grid. But as soon as the wind stops, there is no energy. Various companies around the world are trying to solve this problem. For example, a company

Consumption ecology. Manor: Today we will talk about alternative energy sources. Electricity tariffs are rising day by day. And in some areas, there are practically no opportunities to connect to backbone networks at all, since the cost of wiring and installation is prohibitively high.

When technological progress does not help, humanity begins to think about the natural sources of the necessary energy, thanks to which you can heat and light your home. Here are the main ones:

• biowaste,
• wind energy,
• heat pumps,
• solar energy.

Consider the idea of ​​creating a generator from biowaste. Its action will be similar to natural gas: the waste is placed in a closed container, as a result of their decomposition, methane and hydrogen sulfide with carbon dioxide are released. Such energy sources are used on livestock farms, and those who wish to learn from the experience need to either have their own farm or regularly receive its waste and store it somewhere. Many people who have private houses (for example, they keep chickens) are engaged in the economy, so it’s quite possible to try.

To create a generator, you need a container that will be hermetically sealed. A special auger must be mounted in it in order to mix the waste. Also, in addition to the opening for loading the biomaterial, a gas outlet pipe and a fitting for excavating waste waste are needed. By the way, they can be used to fertilize the land and get good harvest. I repeat that the tightness of the container is extremely necessary, otherwise it will not be possible to create any energy. If the container will not be used constantly, then it will also need a pressure relief valve.

So, choose the size of the container depending on how much biomaterial you plan to use. Choose a place to install the structure. Keep in mind that 1 ton of waste gives approximately 100 cubic meters of gas. In order for the process to develop more dynamically, it is necessary to organize the heating of the container. To do this, you will need either a coil or a heating element installation. Bacteria contained in waste become active when heated.

When the container is heated to the desired temperature, the heating should turn off automatically. The resulting gas is converted into electricity through a gas generator.

To use wind energy, you will also need a generator, a battery with a controller to measure the charge level, and a voltage converter. All wind generator circuits operate on the same principle. A swivel assembly, blades and a generator on the bed are attached to the assembled frame. Then a shovel with a spring coupler is mounted. The generator is connected to the rotary assembly and a current collector is installed. Next, the wires lead to the battery. When choosing a propeller, pay attention to its diameter: this value determines how many blades will be optimal for your wind generator, and in fact - how much energy it can generate.

As you can see, there is nothing complicated in the installation and installation of power generators. Certain skill is necessary, of course, but what can not be done in order to save money! Just remember that energy sources (bio-waste and wind) must also be permanent.

The next type of alternative energy source is a heat pump. Its device is more complicated, and installation is more expensive, since it involves drilling wells on the site. Therefore, it is unlikely that it will suit an inexperienced owner. country house. In addition, a reservoir will also be needed.

Let's stop briefly on solar panels. It is a little easier to assemble them, because you can buy ready-made photocells. They are labeled in Volt-Amps, so you can calculate how many photovoltaic cells you need.

To assemble the solar panel housing you will need a piece of plywood. You will nail wooden slats to it and drill holes for ventilation. Inside it is necessary to place a sheet of fiberboard, on which a ready-made (soldered) chain of photocells will be placed. It remains only to check the operation of the circuit and fasten the plexiglass. That, perhaps, is all.

As you can see, it does not require special labor costs, nor does it require a scientific degree in physics. And you can also combine the work of several options for electric generators. In general, in order to create an alternative source of energy on your site, you need a little ingenuity and a clear head. published