Chapter Nine

System Operations of Stand-Alone Machines

Making Systems Work without an Electrical Grid

Abstract

Most small wind machines were operated as stand-alone systems prior to 1970, when electrical generating machines started being connected to the utility grid. For centuries, small wind systems have been used for pumping water and grinding grain. Almost all of the wind systems sold that are less than 1 kW in size are used for battery charging; they are used in homes, on boats, for outdoor security lighting, and for navigational lighting. Water pumping remains a large user of small mechanical wind systems. Hybrid wind systems used in remote villages and islands are included in this discussion.

Keywords

American windmill; battery charging; ...

Get Small Wind now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.