The experience of Europeans shows that it is unprofitable to heat rooms with fuel. In the West, people get heat with electricity. Installing electric boilers is not profitable if the house or apartment is supplied with central electricity. You can get the necessary energy resource yourself, smart people came up with a lot of homemade devices. We will talk about those alternative sources of electricity, which are the easiest to do with your own hands.

Structure for power generation

Wind is the most common source of energy. We warn you in advance that it is not very easy to build equipment for generating electricity with your own hands, but the result of the operation of the device will not be long in coming. During development, a person will need to understand the structure of the factory technology and learn how to assemble it on their own. The main components of the installation are:

• engine
• multiplier
• DC generator
• battery charge controller
• battery
• voltage transformer

There are two types of wind turbines: vertical and horizontal. Their difference lies in the order of the axis. It is a little easier to make a vertical alternative energy source for a home with your own hands than a horizontal one. In practice, each of the devices has its own advantages. The efficiency of vertical-axis equipment does not exceed 15%. Due to the low noise level, their operation at home does not cause discomfort. The amount of electricity produced depends on the strength of the wind, so the owner does not have to rack his brains if the direction of the air flow changes.

Free energy for the home, obtained using a horizontal axis, is the complete opposite of the vertical type. The equipment is characterized by high efficiency, but it needs to install sensors that respond to changes in wind direction. The disadvantage of a horizontal wind turbine is high level noise. This option is more suitable for industrial use.

To get alternative electricity in large quantities, you need to choose the right number of blades and propeller sizes. Homemade have developed a schematic diagram of the assembly of the device. It all depends on what results the owner wants to get. With a propeller diameter of 2 meters, the following number of blades must be installed:

• 10 watts - 2 pieces;
• 15 watts - 3 pieces;
• 20 watts - 4 pieces;
• 30 watts - 6 pieces;
• 40 watts - 8 pieces.

For a propeller diameter of 4 meters, the following characteristics apply:

• 40 watts - 2 blades;
• 60 watts - 3 blades;
• 80 watts - 4 blades;
• 120 watts - 6 blades.

Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that alternative electricity will help in heating the room. It remains only to find out the power of the electric boiler and calculate the required propeller size. When calculating, the wind speed equal to four meters per second was taken as the basis. In Eastern Europe, this figure is average.

The blade is an important component of the wind turbine

When making alternative energy sources for the home with your own hands, special attention should be paid to the blades. Sailing devices that are installed on old mills are not efficient because they have a low efficiency. It is advisable to use aerodynamic devices that imitate the appearance of aircraft wings. By and large, the material does not matter, the blades can even be cut from wood. If you decide to use traditional plastic, then remember that with a small number of blades in the installation, vibrations will occur. Therefore, it is desirable to place in a device that will help to obtain alternative forms of energy, 6 blades with a diameter of 3 meters. It is best to use a PVC pipe designed for pressure plumbing. To obtain aerodynamic properties, the edges of the product must be turned and sanded. To assemble the propeller, you will need an "asterisk", which is made from a horizontal.

To get high-quality electricity with your own hands, you need to balance the wind wheels. This can be done at home, during the test work, the blades are checked for arbitrary movement. If the propeller is in a static position, then vibrations are not terrible for it.

It is impossible to generate alternative energy with your own hands using wind without factory equipment. In any case, you will need a DC motor, which costs a penny compared to the price of factory wind turbines. Further, the production of equipment occurs according to the following scenario:

• frame assembly for structural reliability;
• installation of a rotary assembly, behind which the generator and the wind wheel will be fixed;
• installation of a movable side shovel with a spring tie (necessary to protect the device during hurricane winds). If this mechanism does not exist, then the manufactured electricity generator with its own hands will be turned in the direction of the wind;
• we attach the propeller to the generator, which in turn is attached to the frame, and the frame to the frame;
• a shovel is attached to the frame;
• the swivel mechanism is connected to the frame;
• the generator is attached to the current collector, from which the wires go to the electrical part.

To assemble the electrical part, you need to have elementary knowledge in physics. We attach a diode bridge to the battery, through which the voltage controller and fuses pass. The battery distributes alternative electricity for the home.

Making a simple wind generator with your own hands

Solar panels

Plates for generating electricity using the sun

Relatively recently, mankind has learned to get free energy for the home with the help of the Sun. The resulting resource is used to heat the premises and provide it with electricity, and it is also possible to combine two processes. To the benefits solar energy factors include:

1. eternity of the resource;
2. high level of environmental friendliness;
3. noiselessness;
4. the possibility of processing into other alternative forms of energy.

If there is no possibility or desire to buy ready-made solar panels, then the device can be designed independently. We offer you a simple installation so that you can check its effectiveness in practice, and then make several of these devices and create a whole thermal station for your home.

Copper plate before solar panel assembly

So, an alternative current source can be made from plain sheet copper, for simple equipment we need about 45 square centimeters. First you need to cut a piece of metal to the size we need. Be guided by the fact that the sheet fits on the spiral of the electric stove. Before starting the procedure, it is important to remove excess elements from copper and eliminate defects. Then you can put the sheet on an electric stove, which should have a power of at least 1100 watts.

During the heating process, the material will change its color several times, which is associated with the peculiarities of the laws of physics and chemistry. After the copper is covered in black, mark for half an hour. After this time, the oxide layer will become thick. When making a solar alternative energy source for your home, after turning off the tile, wait a while for the copper to cool. Cooling will be needed in order for the oxide to exfoliate from the copper. When the sheet temperature of the sheet is equal to room temperature, it is necessary to rinse the material under warm water. And in no case should you separate the remains of copper oxide. The inventory of device assembly technology will prove to you that it is very easy to get alternative electricity without much effort.

First, we cut out another sheet of copper, which will correspond to the size of the processed piece. We bend both sheets and place them inside a plastic bottle, and do it in such a way that they do not touch each other. We attach crocodile clips to two plates. Now it remains only to connect the wires to the poles: the cable from “pure” copper goes to the plus, and to the minus - from the processed on the tile.

Small compact solar array

A device for generating electricity with your own hands is almost ready. At the final stage, it remains in a separate vessel to mix 3 tablespoons of salt with plain water. We stir the mixture for several minutes so that the salt is completely dissolved in the liquid, after which the resulting solution is poured into plastic bottle. If you design several such devices at once, you can get good and free alternative energy sources, made with your own hands in a short period of time. You can’t come up with a simpler home-made option for heating a room.

Solar panels - the principle of operation and production

Getting electricity from the bowels of the earth

Laying of heat pump communications

To obtain electrical or thermal energy from the bowels of the earth, it is necessary to build a geothermal heat pump. This device is universal, it is able to extract the product we need from both soil and groundwater. Recently, this alternative form of energy has become very popular.

To get electricity from the ground, you first need to lay a pipeline. If the energy comes from water, then the heat pump is placed in a reservoir. The principle of operation of a heat pump is no different from that of a refrigerator. The only difference is that in our case, heat is not released into the environment, but is absorbed from there.

Do-it-yourself alternative sources of electricity are of four types:

• vertical manifold. It is installed in drilled wells, the depth of each of which can be up to 150 meters. This technique is relevant when the area of ​​​​the site does not allow the installation of a horizontal heat pump;
• Horizontal collector. For its location, you need to dig the soil over the area to a depth of one and a half meters. Do-it-yourself alternative energy obtained in this way is available for almost every private house. Experience shows that this scheme is the most effective;
• Water collector. Relevant if there is a river or lake near the house. The pipeline must be laid at a depth that is below the freezing depth. Otherwise, you will have to install the system every year. This method of obtaining energy is considered the cheapest;
• Groundwater collector. Obtaining alternative electricity in this way is possible only with the help of specialists. The process of laying pipes requires compliance with stringent requirements. The peculiarity of the installation is that after passing through the entire scheme, the water that has given up its heat returns to the ground. In the future, it is heated with the help of soil and becomes suitable for heating the room and generating electricity.

Advantages of heat pumps

Horizontal manifold

Do-it-yourself alternative energy sources for a home, the sources of which are the bowels of the earth, have many advantages. From the first days of using heat pumps, you will be convinced that such technologies have a high efficiency. Since the temperature of the soil in the wells always remains unchanged throughout the year, the source can be considered eternal. The units do not emit noise and provide the premises with thermal energy in the required volumes. Manufacturers of ground probes say that with the help of such equipment it is possible to generate electricity with your own hands for a hundred years.

There are several other important characteristics that play in favor of heat pumps:

• no need for natural gas;
• no harm to the environment;
• high level of fire safety;
• the need for a small amount of territory.

Now you know how to generate electricity at home. Having all the necessary information, you can choose the most suitable method.

Heat pump for home heating

If you liked our site or the information on this page was useful, share it with friends and acquaintances - click one of the buttons social networks at the bottom of the page or at the top, because among the heaps of unnecessary garbage on the Internet it is quite difficult to find really interesting materials.

alternative energy- a set of promising methods of energy production, which are not as widespread as traditional ones, but are of interest because of the profitability of their use with a low risk of causing harm to the environment.

Alternative energy source- a method, device or structure that allows you to receive electrical energy (or other required type of energy) and replaces traditional energy sources that operate on oil, natural gas and coal.

Types of alternative energy: solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy, wave energy, gradient-temperature energy, shape memory effect, tidal energy, geothermal energy.

solar energy- conversion of solar energy into electricity by photoelectric and thermodynamic methods. For the photoelectric method, photoelectric converters (PVC) are used with direct conversion of the energy of light quanta (photons) into electricity.

Thermodynamic installations that convert the energy of the sun first into heat, and then into mechanical and then into electrical energy, contain a "solar boiler", a turbine and a generator. However, solar radiation incident on the Earth has a number of characteristic features: low energy flux density, daily and seasonal cyclicity, and dependence on weather conditions. Therefore, changes in thermal regimes can introduce serious restrictions on the operation of the system. Such a system must have a storage device to exclude random fluctuations in operating modes or to ensure the necessary change in energy production over time. When designing solar power plants, it is necessary to correctly assess meteorological factors.

geothermal energy- a method of generating electricity by converting the internal heat of the Earth (the energy of hot steam-water sources) into electrical energy.

This method of generating electricity is based on the fact that the temperature of the rocks increases with depth, and at a level of 2-3 km from the Earth's surface it exceeds 100°C. There are several schemes for generating electricity at a geothermal power plant.

Direct scheme: natural steam is sent through pipes to turbines connected to electric generators. Indirect scheme: steam is pre-cleaned (before it enters the turbines) from gases that cause the destruction of pipes. Mixed circuit: untreated steam enters the turbines, and then gases that have not dissolved in it are removed from the water formed as a result of condensation.

The cost of the "fuel" of such a power plant is determined by the cost of productive wells and the steam collection system and is relatively low. The cost of the power plant itself is low, since it does not have a furnace, boiler plant and chimney.

The disadvantages of geothermal electrical installations include the possibility of local subsidence of soils and the awakening of seismic activity. And the gases coming out of the ground can contain toxic substances. In addition, certain geological conditions are necessary for the construction of a geothermal power plant.

Wind power- This is a branch of energy specializing in the use of wind energy (the kinetic energy of air masses in the atmosphere).

Wind power plant - an installation that converts kinetic energy wind into electricity. It consists of a wind turbine, an electric current generator, an automatic control device for the operation of a wind turbine and a generator, facilities for their installation and maintenance.

To obtain wind energy, different designs are used: multi-bladed "daisies"; propellers like aircraft propellers; vertical rotors, etc.

Wind farms are very cheap to manufacture, but their capacity is small and they depend on the weather to operate. In addition, they are very noisy, so large wind farms even have to be turned off at night. In addition, wind farms interfere with air traffic, and even radio waves. The use of wind power plants causes a local weakening of the strength of air currents, which interferes with the ventilation of industrial areas and even affects the climate. Finally, the use of wind farms requires huge areas, much more than other types of power generators.

Wave energy- way to get electrical energy by converting the potential energy of the waves into the kinetic energy of the pulsations and the design of the pulsations into a unidirectional force that rotates the shaft of the electric generator.

Compared to wind and solar energy, wave energy has a much higher power density. Thus, the average wave power of the seas and oceans, as a rule, exceeds 15 kW/m. With a wave height of 2 m, the power reaches 80 kW/m. That is, when developing the surface of the oceans, there can be no shortage of energy. Only a part of the wave power can be used in mechanical and electrical energy, but for water the conversion factor is higher than for air - up to 85 percent.

Tidal energy, like other types of alternative energy, is a renewable energy source.

This type of power plant uses tidal energy to generate electricity. For the device of the simplest tidal power plant (PES), a pool is needed - a bay blocked by a dam or a river mouth. There are culverts in the dam and hydraulic turbines are installed that rotate the generator.

At high tide, water enters the pool. When the water levels in the basin and the sea are equal, the gates of the culverts are closed. With the onset of low tide, the water level in the sea drops, and when the pressure becomes sufficient, the turbines and the electric generators connected to it begin to work, and the water gradually leaves the pool.

It is considered economically feasible to build tidal power plants in areas with tidal sea level fluctuations of at least 4 m. The design capacity of a tidal power plant depends on the nature of the tide in the area where the station is built, on the volume and area of ​​the tidal basin, and on the number of turbines installed in the body of the dam.

The disadvantage of tidal power plants is that they are built only on the shores of the seas and oceans, besides, they do not develop very high power, and the tides occur only twice a day. And even they are not environmentally friendly. They disrupt the normal exchange of salt and fresh water and thus the living conditions of marine flora and fauna. They also affect the climate, since they change the energy potential of sea waters, their speed and the territory of movement.

Gradient temperature energy. This method of extracting energy is based on the temperature difference. It is not very widespread. With it, you can generate a sufficiently large amount of energy at a moderate cost of electricity production.

Most gradient-temperature power plants are located on the sea coast and use sea water for operation. The world's oceans absorb almost 70% of the solar energy falling on Earth. The temperature difference between cold waters at a depth of several hundred meters and warm waters on the surface of the ocean is a huge source of energy, estimated at 20-40 thousand TW, of which only 4 TW can be practically used.

At the same time, offshore thermal power plants built on the temperature difference sea ​​water, contribute to the release a large number carbon dioxide, heating and lowering the pressure of deep waters and cooling of surface waters. And these processes cannot but affect the climate, flora and fauna of the region.

biomass energy. When biomass rots (manure, dead organisms, plants), biogas with a high content of methane is released, which is used for heating, electricity generation, etc.

There are enterprises (pigsties and cowsheds, etc.) that provide themselves with electricity and heat due to the fact that they have several large "vats" into which they dump large masses of manure from animals. In these sealed tanks, the manure rots, and the released gas goes to the needs of the farm.

Another advantage of this type of energy is that as a result of the use of wet manure for energy, a dry residue remains from the manure, which is an excellent fertilizer for the fields.

Also, fast-growing algae and some types of organic waste (corn stalks, cane, etc.) can be used as biofuels.

The shape memory effect is a physical phenomenon first discovered by Soviet scientists Kurdyumov and Chondros in 1949.

The shape memory effect is observed in special alloys and consists in the fact that parts made of them restore their initial shape after deformation under thermal exposure. When restoring the original shape, work can be performed that significantly exceeds that which was expended on deformation in the cold state. Thus, when restoring the original shape, the alloys generate a significant amount of heat (energy).

The main disadvantage of the shape recovery effect is the low efficiency - only 5-6 percent.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources

It's hard to imagine modern man who is not familiar with the problem of pollution of the earth's atmosphere by products of combustion of hydrocarbons. A number of international documents, and above all the Kyoto Agreement (1997 - 1999), are evidence that the international community and the administrations of many countries are concerned about the amount of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and offer deterrent factors. Such a factor in reducing the burning of primary sources is their replacement with alternative forms of energy.

Accidents at nuclear power plants: 1979 Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant, Pennsylvania, USA; 1986 Chernobyl NPP, Ukraine; 2011, the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant, Japan, revealed a new global problem for the environment and humans, and it is also being solved through alternative energy. As an example. The German government will not use nuclear energy for the next 9 years. The alternative is wind energy from the coastal Barents and North Seas, solar energy and biomass energy.

Of the alternative and renewable energy sources, at present, the most in demand are liquid biofuels, solid biofuels, biogas, solar and wind energy.

liquid biofuel.

Fuel from vegetable or animal raw materials and industrial waste. Biofuel is necessary for internal combustion engines (ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, etc.), that is, it can be used on road transport. The main producers of liquid biofuels are the US and Brazil, each with 45% of the world's total production. We will not describe the technological processes of production and the peculiarities of obtaining liquid biofuels, I will cite only from the information I have, their positive and negative characteristics.

Experts believe that the main disadvantages in the development of the biofuel industry are:

– Reduction of sown areas for food crops and redistribution in favor of fuel crops, which means a reduction in the fodder base for poultry and livestock.
– As a result of the growth in biofuel production, the number of hungry people on the planet could increase by more than 1 million people.

The main advantage of burning biofuels is the environmental effect. The use of biofuels is regarded as a "carbon neutral technology": first, atmospheric carbon (in the form of CO2) is fixed by plants, and then released when substances derived from these plants are burned. It should be noted that the total amount of CO2 released during the manufacture and use of such biofuels is almost the same as when using traditional fossil fuels, but for a certain type of plant.

The next positive factor can be considered the use of agricultural land taken out of circulation. The cultivation of raw materials for the production of biofuels on these lands will increase the share of biofuels in transport from 10% to 25%. In the USA and Europe, there is a standard for biofuel - fuel E85 (85% ethanol and 15% gasoline). In a number of European countries, a mixture of ethyl alcohol and gasoline is already 25% cheaper than pure gasoline. The governments of a number of countries are introducing tax incentives for the sale of vehicles running on biofuels.

1. Based on the environmental and economic benefits of biofuels, do you think it is beneficial to use biofuels in a personal vehicle?

solid biofuels.

actwin,0,0,0,0;ScreenshotCaptor
12/22/2012 06:46:24 PM

Firewood is the oldest fuel used by man. Currently, special energy forests are grown, consisting of fast-growing plant species, which, as a result of further processing, are used as solid biofuels. In addition to firewood, fuel pellets and briquettes are pressed products from sawdust, wood chips, bark, logging waste, etc. Straw, agricultural waste (sunflower husks, nutshell, manure, chicken manure) and other biomass are all solid biofuels.

There are many offers on the market for the sale of both solid fuel boilers for heating and fuel for them in the form of wood fuel pellets (pellets). As an example confirming the profitability of using solid biofuels, I will cite the following interesting fact. Now in Europe and in particular in Ukraine, since 2010, the energy Swedish willow has been grown. Willow has a high biomass growth, grows both in wetlands and on fresh arable land.

When burned, low ash content. In terms of heat of combustion, willow chips are 28% inferior to natural gas, but 2.5-4 times cheaper. Boilers using briquetted willow waste operate in automatic mode and achieve up to 75% savings compared to gas heating. The nomenclature of boilers is from 21 kW to 1000 kW, and are intended for private houses, summer cottages, cottages and industrial facilities.

2. Tell me, in an era of rising prices for coal, gas and electricity, do we need alternative energy in the form of solid biofuels?

Biogas is produced by methane (anaerobic, that is, without air access) fermentation of biomass, which decomposes as a result of exposure to three types of bacteria. These are hydrolytic, acid-forming and methane-forming bacteria, and the waste products of the previous one serve as food for each next type of bacteria. As a result of fermentation, complex organic compounds occur and, under the influence of bacteria, are converted into methane CH4 and carbon dioxide CO2. The raw material for biogas production is organic waste: manure, bird droppings, grain and vegetable waste.

Raw biogas contains on average 65% methane and 35% CO2, moisture and other impurities. Just like natural gas, that is, gas extracted from the subsoil, before being used in an internal combustion engine, biogas undergoes enrichment (up to a 95% methane content in gas), purification, drying and compression.

The physicochemical and environmental properties of purified biogas and natural gas are almost identical, so the same fuel equipment is used for them. Biogas is used as a fuel in heating boilers and generators to produce mechanical and electrical energy. An important factor in biogas technology for the processing of cattle manure, chicken manure, pig manure and other organic agricultural waste is the formation of biofertilizers.

Biofertilizer contains all the necessary components of fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, macro- and microelements) in a dissolved, balanced form in the ratios necessary for plants, as well as active biological growth stimulants that increase yields by two or more times. Today, biogas plants are being intensively introduced in the agricultural sector, as an alternative source of fuel, and especially in private backyards.

An example of biogas production at home (Lipetsk region, Russia).

The owner of his farmstead dug a large hole. He laid it out with concrete rings, then covered it with an iron bell. Mix 1.5 tons of manure with 3.5 tons of waste - rotten leaves, tops, etc. Pour the mixture into the hole. I added water in such an amount that the humidity was about 60-70 percent. Serpentine, heated the mixture to 35 degrees. Under the influence of temperature, the mixture began to ferment, and in the absence of air, the temperature rose to 70 degrees. The production process took 2 weeks.

He took the necessary measures to prevent an explosion - by installing a counterweight to the dome, using cables and periodically releasing gas. I received about 40 cubic meters of biogas per day. The gas was used to heat the house. Five tons of the mixture was enough for him to operate the installation for six months. Waste resulting from the operation of the installation is an excellent fertilizer for the garden.

3. If you have a private household, livestock and poultry, or your relatives or friends have a private courtyard, and the area where you live needs to be gasified, what decision will you come to create a heating system for your home?

solar energy.

The widespread use of solar energy for domestic needs (lighting, home heating, water, etc.) is a long-established fact for many developed countries. Rapid development solar energy based on new technologies force us to rethink the prospect of energy supply for our homes. Solar energy is environmentally friendly, relatively inexpensive and, most importantly, forever.

We discussed the details of building solar collectors with our own hands in the article http://site/page/solnechnaja-batareja-sdelaju-sam. Solar battery, I will do it myself. Today, it is especially pleasing that our children are interested in solar energy and its use for everyday needs. Here is what a Bashkir schoolboy writes from Russia, who made a model of a house with a solar battery: “The use of electricity from solar batteries is beneficial not only because of the cheapness, but also because they do not harm the environment.

But Russia, and in particular Bashkiria, has few sunny days a year. Therefore, for the greater benefit of nature and the economy, it is important to use combined energy sources, that is, solar energy, today it should be considered as an addition to fuel, hydraulic and nuclear energy resources. My dream is to create a metropolis powered only by solar energy. Through a space station that directs the rays of the sun to a specific point on Earth.

While visiting friends, they live in Kiev in a multi-storey residential building of a new construction, I noticed one interesting fact. At the level of the roof of the 22-storey building, a platform was made, fenced with a barrier. On this site, green ornamental trees, probably thuja, are planted in special pots. Why this was done I do not know, and I could not find out.

During my stay with friends, the electricity was cut off for 4 hours (the house is not gasified). Electric stove, electric kettle, hot water, heating, TV, lighting, everything is off! What if it's a long time? I immediately had an idea, but why not install solar panels next to the green spaces on the roof (roof area 20 - 50 sq.m.) and at the time of shutdown, power supply to residents according to an emergency scheme coordinated with the power of the solar battery and drives.

4. In your opinion, are the solutions I proposed for installing solar panels on the roofs of modern buildings applicable or not?

Wind energy.

The use of wind energy occurs in wind turbines with the production of electrical energy. This energy source is fundamentally different from primary energy sources, as there is no raw material and no waste. The only important requirement for a wind turbine is a high average annual wind level.

Based on market opportunities, it is possible to purchase a wind turbine for quite reasonable money and ensure the energy independence of your home for many years. The task of autonomous or almost autonomous power supply of housing from wind energy is still difficult. To accomplish this task, the propeller of a wind turbine must be about 20 m in diameter. Therefore, the use of a wind turbine in a household should be considered in terms of significant savings in heat production costs and a reduction in electricity consumption from the network.

And yet, in order to finally form an opinion on the possibility of using wind turbines in everyday life, I will give some figures. According to UNESCO, for confident and comfortable housing in a country house, electricity consumption must be at least 2 kWh. per day. According to experts who monitored the electricity consumption of several dozen families, the actual consumption of electricity by a family of three is 3.5 kWh. per day (lighting, TV, computer, pump, refrigerator).

Wind turbines, serially produced by various manufacturers with a capacity of 1000 W - 2000 W at an average wind speed of 5 m / s, are capable of generating from 8 kWh. up to 15 kWh per day. That is, they may well provide a minimum independent power supply for a country house.

5. What do you think, is it worth it to install a wind generator as an independent source of electricity for your home, with the current increase in electricity prices?

Environmental problems and the ever-increasing rate of growth in oil, coal and natural gas prices force us to look for ways to solve them. Alternative forms of energy are the reality of today. Almost everything depends on our understanding and on our further actions. I believe in the positive results of increasing the use of non-traditional and renewable energy sources, including in everyday life, this has been proven by practice.

Dear reader, I did not accidentally choose the layout of the article in the form of a survey. I really hope that after reading my thoughts, you will express your opinion in the comments on one of the directions or on all. Further topics of my publications depend on your understanding and response. I wouldn't be able to collect this information without you. I wish everyone and everyone success in their affairs with full health.

Today, energy conservation issues are very tough, especially on the territory of some independent states from among the former republics of the Soviet Union. One of the most discussed topics in many forums concerns the financial feasibility of installing sources that reduce energy consumption. Do-it-yourself alternative energy - is there an effective solution? Let's try to understand this issue.

It is worth immediately stipulating the fact that it is unlikely that it will be possible to create alternative energy sources with your own hands. But there is the possibility of using equipment produced on an industrial scale. It is the installation of such devices that can not only reduce the cost of electricity and heat supply, but also completely eliminate dependence on central energy networks.

Technologically, all alternative energy installations can be divided into two main types:

• Devices for generating electrical energy.
• Units used to obtain thermal energy in pure form or to generate gaseous fuel for boiler equipment.

Autonomous power supply installations

Among the existing devices for obtaining free electricity, the following types of equipment have found widespread use:

• Solar panels that convert the energy of our natural light source directly into electricity. Panels of this type consist of a plurality of light-receiving semiconductor elements. These units are recommended for use in regions with a large number of sunny days. It is advisable to install such panels using mechanisms that provide a change in the angle of inclination of the structure. This will help to avoid the negative effects of precipitation and ensure the reception of the maximum possible solar radiation.
• Another do-it-yourself alternative energy generator can be installed in regions with a significant wind load. At first glance, an ordinary windmill is able to provide electricity to several consumers at the same time. The performance of the unit depends on the type of generator used, the wingspan of the drive unit, the ability to turn the device depending on the prevailing wind direction.

Heat supply installations

• Heat pumps operating on the principle of transferring heat energy from a medium with a higher temperature. In practice, heat exchangers operating on the energy of water, air and geothermal installations are used, capable of converting into thermal energy temperature of different soil layers.
• Biogenerators, allowing to collect the gas released during the decomposition of organic substances. This design can operate on various types of fuel, the most efficient and safe installations with automatic control.

Of course, the cost of installations this class a lot, but their acquisition will ensure the independence of the energy supply of your own home.

Electricity is one of the most important sources of power for a private home. Electricity helps in cooking, heating the room, pumping water into it and in simple lighting. It is able to completely replace gas supply and central water supply. Without electricity, a modern house is not considered comfortable and functional. High-voltage lines reach even the most remote villages and towns, supplying them with electricity. But still there are places where communications are not laid, and their installation will cost a decent amount. In this situation, alternative energy sources will help out. They are environmentally friendly, completely autonomous and financially profitable. The owner of his own source of electrical energy does not depend on scheduled repairs, breakdowns and rolling blackouts that leave entire villages without electricity. The most common and not quite familiar non-traditional energy sources are discussed in detail below.

Electric generators

The first and most popular source of energy at home, which is most often found in private homes - power generators. According to the type of fuel used, they are divided into diesel, gasoline and gas.

Diesel generators have many advantages, including efficiency, reliability and low risk of fire. With regular daily use, a diesel generator is much more profitable than models that consume gas or gasoline. The fuel consumption of diesel equipment is not high, the price of fuel is also not high, it does not require expensive repairs and financial investments. The disadvantages of diesel generators are a large amount of gases emitted during operation, noise and a high price for the device itself. The price of equipment with a power of 5 kW averages $ 850.

Gasoline generator - this unit is ideal as a backup or seasonal source of current. Generators on this type of fuel are small in size, make little noise during operation, the device itself has a lower price than a diesel counterpart. The average price of a 5 kW gasoline generator is $500. The disadvantages of using a gasoline generator - although the noise level is low, but it is, a large amount of carbon dioxide is released during operation, so the device must be placed in separate rooms with good sound insulation.

Gas generators of electricity have proven themselves well from all sides. They run on both natural gas and bottled liquefied fuels. The noise level of these devices is the lowest, the motor resource is very high. The average price for a 5 kW device is $600.

Use of solar energy

Another alternative source of electrical energy is solar energy. It is used not only to generate electrical energy, but also to provide autonomous heating. To obtain electricity from the sun, solar panels of various sizes are installed, which are equipped with a battery and an inverter. Some of the benefits of using solar energy sources include:

• The ability to resume.
• Absolute noiselessness in work.
• Safety for human health and the environment, as the devices used in this technology do not emit any substances into the atmosphere.
• Ease of self-installation.

All these qualities make solar energy sources one of the most popular. But this method of generating electricity also has disadvantages:

• For houses with a high rate of electricity consumption, it will be necessary to install equipment of a large area, which will take up a lot of space in the local area. The area of ​​the station must be at least 10 m2. That is, this type of energy production is not available to owners of small plots of land.
• The second drawback is the dependence on daily and seasonal changes in solar radiation.
• Third - during operation, these installations do not emit harmful substances, but for the manufacture of photovoltaic cells and solar systems that make up a solar battery, highly toxic substances are used that are difficult to dispose of.

The finished station has a price of $3,500 to $7,000. More affordable way receiving energy from the sun - collectors for heating water. This equipment captures the heat of the sun even on days when the star is hidden behind clouds. It is used only for heating water, does not generate electricity. One collector satisfies the daily need for hot water for a family of three. The price varies from 1000 to 4000 $. The disadvantage of this type of equipment is only one, inherent in solar batteries - the impossibility of functioning in areas with low solar activity and at night.

Use of wind energy

Installations for converting the energy of the air flow into electricity also no longer belong to the category of science fiction and are used everywhere. They work on the principle of wind turbines, which convert the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy from turbine rotation. This energy is collected and converted by the inverter into alternating current. The minimum wind speed at which electricity is generated from the flywheel is 2 m/s. The optimum wind speed is 8 m/s. According to the type of construction, wind power generators are divided into models with a horizontal rotor and a vertical one.

The horizontal design of the generator has a high efficiency factor; a small amount of materials. Disadvantages - a high mast is required for installation, the generator itself has a complex mechanical part, it is not convenient to maintain. Vertical is distinguished by a larger range of wind speeds in which they operate. But at the same time, vertical wind generators are not economical, as they require the use of more equipment and materials.

The use of the wind farm is limited by the wind indicators in the context of each season. If in the off-season, with increased air activity, the station will be very effective, then on calm days, electricity will not be generated. To smooth out this difference and supply the house with electric current uninterruptedly, the wind farm is equipped with a storage battery. This measure helps to accumulate energy in windy weather and use it during calm periods.

An alternative to installing a battery in a wind farm is the conversion of energy into heat. It is used for both heating and hot water supply. In this design, the battery is replaced by a water storage tank. Using a wind farm in this way can reduce its total cost by 25%. The cost of a wind farm with a battery is an average of $ 10,000, without a battery - $ 1000-2000.

Among the not very pleasant nuances of using a wind farm is the need to equip a foundation for equipment. It is strengthened especially carefully so that during strong winds the mast, together with the windmill, is not pulled out of the ground. The second nuance is the possibility of icing of the blades in winter, which reduces the efficiency of the station. During operation, this equipment generates noise and vibration, therefore it is mounted away from residential buildings.

Use of geothermal energy

Geothermal energy is a fairly new source of energy for a private home. IN this case uses the heat that is generated in the bowels of the planet. The Earth's core has high temperature, which comes to the surface in volcanic areas, sources of water and steam, and is also contained in the deep layers of the planet. Geothermal heat is used as an energy source of current and heat.

The principle of operation of a geothermal energy source in a private house is quite simple - they drill a well into which a heat pump is installed. The installation pumps hot water from the deep layers, when cooled, it generates energy, which is then converted into electricity. At work this installation consumes electric current, but at the same time, for each kW spent, it produces 5-6 kW of current. The average installation cost for a 150 m2 home is $30,000. Advantages of use - an inexhaustible source of energy, which does not depend on the season, time of day and weather conditions.

Disadvantages of using Earth's energy - thermal water often highly mineralized and contains toxic impurities, therefore it cannot be sent to ordinary sewage. Waste water is returned to the deep horizon from which it was pumped. Some scientists believe that this type of energy production leads to an increase in seismic activity in the earth's crust.

Use of biomass energy

Many people have already heard about biofuels. Around this type of hot, a lot of controversy and conflicting reviews flare up. As a fuel for cars, it has an attractive price, but its effect on the engine and its power is not fully understood. But combat fuel is used not only as a fuel for vehicles, but also as a source of electric current. This fuel replaces gas, gasoline and diesel when refueling equipment for generating electrical energy.

Biofuels are produced by processing various plants. For the manufacture of biological diesel, fats from the seeds of oil crops are used, and gasoline is produced by fermenting corn, sugar cane, beets and other plants. Algae are recognized as the most optimal source of biological energy, as they are unpretentious, easily turn into biomass with oily properties similar to oil.

This technology also makes it possible to obtain biological gas, which is captured during the fermentation of organic waste from the food industry and animal husbandry. In this case, methane is obtained. Cellulosic ethanol is obtained by capturing the gas in landfills. 1 ton of useless garbage produces up to 500 m3 of useful gas.

With regard to the domestic use of biofuels for the generation of electrical energy, an individual biogas plant is purchased for this purpose. Such a device produces natural gas from waste. A standard IBGU-1 unit produces from 3 to 12 m3 of gas per day, which are then used to heat the house, refuel various equipment, including a gas power generator. The average cost of a biogas plant is $9,000.

miniature hydroelectric power station

Another type of alternative energy that is successfully used in private homes is individual hydroelectric power stations. In installation, this type of electricity generator is one of the most difficult, but at the same time its efficiency is much higher than that of wind and solar sources. Hydroelectric power stations are built with dams and without dams, the second option is the simplest and most accessible. Such installations are also called flow stations. According to the device, they are divided into stations with a wheel, a garland, a Darier rotor and a propeller.

• The water wheel station has a central round part with blades, which is installed perpendicular to the water surface. When moving, water presses on the blades and turns the wheel. The principle of operation is the same as in a wind farm, only water acts as a source. More complex designs of wheeled water power plants are a turbine wheel with special blades for a jet of water.

• A garland station is a rope on which the rotors are rigidly fixed. The cable is attached to the opposite banks of the water flow, the rotors are immersed in water. When moving, the water rotates the rotors, and they transmit this movement to the cable.
• Station with a Darrieus rotor - the design is similar to the previous one, but here the rotor is located vertically and rotates due to different pressure indicators in its blades. This indicator is created due to the complex shape of the surface.

• The propeller station is an underwater installation with a vertical rotor. Outwardly, this installation is similar to a windmill with small blades.

Among the presented varieties of hydroelectric power plants, the garland installation is considered the most inconvenient. It has low productivity, the design itself poses a danger to the surrounding people, the installation of the station requires the consumption of a large amount of materials. The Darier rotor is more convenient, since the axis is located vertically and its installation is possible above the water. But to mount such a station is quite difficult and the rotor must be spun at the start. The best option for making your own hands is a station with a propeller or wheel. The average cost of a 6 kW station is $8,000-10,000.