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Styles of Wind Generators

In regions where strong winds are common, wind power is a popular alternative to power generation from fossil fuels. Wind generators vary in design according to the amount of wind and land available for their construction, but each one consistently features a turbine attached to the top of a tall tower. In large-scale wind farms, thinner towers are required to place as many turbines as possible together within a limited space.

  1. Propeller or Pinwheel Turbines

    • The most common type of wind turbine is made of several blades that radiate out from a central rotor. The rotor's axis is attached to the top of the tower at a parallel angle to the ground. The blades of the turbine are angled. When air moves past them, the blades rotate around the rotor. In turn, the rotor spins a shaft that is connected to a generator.

    Vertical Ventilated Turbines

    • Ventilated turbines make use of blades that spin on a vertical axis. The blades run parallel to the axis and are much smaller than propeller type turbines. These turbines spin on a vertical axis and are more typically used in wind-powered ventilation systems. However, they can also be used to power a generator, and their smaller size and different design makes them less hazardous to flying birds when compared with propeller turbines.

    Monopole Towers

    • A wind turbine stands on one of two types of freestanding towers. The first is a monopole. As its name implies, a monopole tower is a tall, single tube that is typically thicker at its base. The pole is tapered, becoming thinner at its top, where the turbine is attached. Monopoles are typically constructed with steel, and they are stabilized by a concrete base.

    Lattice Towers

    • Freestanding lattice towers consist of three or four metal legs connected by horizontal bracing connectors. Their design allows for considerable stability at great heights. A lattice tower may reach 120 feet with only a 12-foot distance between the legs at its base. The legs are angled toward each other, coming close together at the tower's top.

      Guyed lattice towers employ three or four legs and horizontal braces, but the legs run parallel to each other. These towers are typically shorter, being used for smaller applications. They are supported by cables, which are anchored to the ground at some distance. The cables on a 120-foot guyed lattice tower are typically anchored about 90 feet from its base.

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