1 Capture Wind Energy.
Wind has mass, speed, direction and temperature. Windmills capture energy by lowering energy levels in one of these dimensions, by slowing down the wind (drag effect) or deflecting the wind out into another direction (lift effect), the energy is converted from airspeed/direction to a rotor. I never heard of windmills that capture heat or turn windmass into energy, that would be hard to do. Our first goal is to "Translate wind direction or speed into kinetic energy in the form of a rotating vertical axis". Structuraly, this means the blades attached to some axis in some way. This also involves trying to understand aerodynamica like predicting airflow and rpm/torque at different windspeeds using simulators (and finding or making good simulators).
2 Building Structure
That is strong enough to stand the forces of wind and lightning as good as possible. That is easy to maintain. That is modular. That has as few moving parts as possible. That is least visible. That makes least noise. That is able to continu turning for years, yet that is as light and cheap to produce as possible. This is the part that has less to do with theory, but more with engineering. We need know how on material properties, maximum stresses, making an axis turn with least friction, but sturdy, etc. Balancing cost, strength and shape. We need CNC etc. Woodworkers. Steelworkers. Epoxy and advanced fiber knowledge.
3 Generate Power
The art of turning a magnets magnetic field as fast as possible and as close as possible near as much wire as possible. We need to know where the magnetic fields are highest, and how we should make the rotor and stator in such a way, that maximizes the possible output. 3 phase knowledge. Star, delta, or series. Lots or less wire. Where to place the magnets. Near the axis, or on the outer rim of a disk. It should be a balance between lots of volts and lots of amps, between torque and rpm. Between magnets and coils. Between small airgap and large highwind output versus large airgap and low wind output.
4 Store Power
Once created by the generator, the raw currents most be harnassed and stored as efficient and safe as possible. This requires a lot of thinking about how to fill a 12 v battery with raw, unmodified, fluctuating currents. Diodes, to make AC into DC, transformers, accus, trickle loaders, handling overloading batteries, safety issues. This part is create the end product: stored, electrical energy!
5 Use Less Power
By helping to build things like led-lights. This is the 'how can I save energy' goal: reduce power consumage where-ever possible, so we dont have to MAKE as much!
6 Connect to Grid
As soon as we make more as we use ourselves, or have our batteries overflowing at some times, we can try to see if it is possible to connect our power to the grid, to deliver it back. This also requires a lot of paperwork and calling around. I think my power compagnie will look very suspicious if I tell them that "yeah, my meter turned backwards this year!" and be not at all happy when I fiddle around with the power. But the energy market is officially open here in europe, so it has to be technically possible. Also, I know of people who have done it. But is remains very hard for an individual to do so, so lets share experiences and tactics, as well as electrical diagrams and switching plans and so on.
7 Share Knowledge
Building your own mill? Tell us how you did it! Tell us the output of the mill, the average windspeeds at your place, where you got the materials, etc. Know of a good place to buy a piece of magnet or a generator or accu? share! building airflow simulators? share it! No need for people to walk the same path twice. Lets gather all information we have on this subject, and empower the people to make their own ENERGY!
