Natural fuel reserves are not unlimited, and energy prices are constantly rising. Agree, it would be nice to use alternative sources of energy instead of traditional ones, so as not to depend on gas and electricity suppliers in your region. But you don't know where to start?

We will help you understand the main sources of renewable energy - in this article we have reviewed the best eco-technologies. Alternative energy is capable of replacing conventional power sources: with your own hands you can arrange a very effective installation for its production.

Our article discusses simple ways assembling a heat pump, wind generator and solar panels, selected photo illustrations of individual stages of the process. For clarity, the material is provided with videos on the manufacture of environmentally friendly installations.

"Green technologies" will significantly reduce household costs through the use of practically free sources.

Since ancient times, people have used mechanisms and devices in everyday life, the action of which was aimed at turning the forces of nature into mechanical energy. A striking example of this are watermills and windmills.

With the advent of electricity, the presence of a generator made it possible to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.

The water mill is the forerunner of the automatic pump, which does not require the presence of a person to do the work. The wheel rotates spontaneously under the pressure of water and draws water on its own

Today, a significant amount of energy is generated precisely by wind farms and hydroelectric power plants. In addition to wind and water, people have access to sources such as biofuels, the energy of the earth's interior, sunlight, the energy of geysers and volcanoes, the power of the tides.

In everyday life, the following devices are widely used to obtain renewable energy:

The high cost of both the devices themselves and the installation work stops many people on their way to getting seemingly free energy.

Payback can reach 15-20 years, but this is not a reason to deprive yourself of economic prospects. All these devices can be manufactured and installed independently.

When choosing a source of alternative energy, you need to focus on its availability, then the maximum power will be achieved with a minimum of investment.

DIY solar panels

A ready-made solar panel costs a lot of money, so not everyone can afford to buy and install it. With self-manufacturing of the panel, costs can be reduced by 3-4 times.

Before you start building a solar panel, you need to understand how it all works.

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The principle of operation of the solar power supply system

Understanding the purpose of each of the elements of the system will allow you to present its work as a whole.

The main components of any solar power supply system:

• The solar panel. This is a complex of elements connected into a single whole that converts sunlight into a stream of electrons.
• Batteries. One is not enough for a long time, so the system can have up to a dozen such devices. The number of batteries is determined by the power of the consumed electricity. The number of batteries can be increased in the future by adding the required number of solar panels to the system;
• solar charge controller. This device is necessary to ensure the normal charging of the battery. Its main purpose is to prevent repeated recharge of the battery.
• inverter. A device required to convert current. Batteries provide low voltage current, and the inverter converts it into high voltage current required for functionality - output power. For a house, an inverter with a power output of 3-5 kW will suffice.

The main feature of solar panels is that they cannot generate high voltage current. A separate element of the system is capable of generating a current of 0.5-0.55 V. One solar battery is capable of generating a current of 18-21 V, which is enough to charge a 12-volt battery.

If it is better to purchase an inverter, batteries and a charge controller ready-made, then it is quite possible to make solar panels yourself.

Classification of heat pumps

I classify heat pumps according to the number of circuits, the source of energy and the method of obtaining it.

Depending on the final needs, heat pumps can be:

• One, two or three circuit;
• Single or double capacitor;
• With the possibility of heating or with the possibility of heating and cooling.

According to the type of energy source and the method of its production, the following heat pumps are distinguished:

• The soil is water. They are used in a temperate climate zone with uniform heating of the earth, regardless of the time of year. For installation, a collector or a probe is used, depending on the type of soil. Drilling shallow wells does not require obtaining permits.
• . Heat is accumulated from the air and directed to water heating. Installation will be appropriate in climatic zones with winter temperatures not lower than -15 degrees.
• . Installation is due to the presence of water bodies (lakes, rivers, groundwater, wells, sedimentation tanks). The efficiency of such a heat pump is very impressive, due to the high temperature of the source during the cold season.
• Water is air. In this bundle, the same reservoirs act as a heat source, but the heat is transferred directly to the air used for space heating by means of a compressor. In this case, water does not act as a heat carrier.
• The ground is air. In this system, the heat conductor is the soil. Heat from the ground through the compressor is transferred to the air. Non-freezing liquids are used as an energy carrier. This system is considered the most versatile.
• . The operation of this system is similar to that of an air conditioner capable of heating and cooling a room. This system is the cheapest, as it does not require earthworks and pipelines.

When choosing the type of heat source, you need to focus on the geology of the site and the possibility of unhindered earthworks, as well as the availability of free space.

With a shortage of free space, you will have to abandon heat sources such as land and water and take heat from the air.

The efficiency of the system and the cost of its installation largely depend on the correct choice of the type of heat pump.

The principle of operation of heat pumps is based on the use of the Carnot cycle, which, as a result of a sharp compression of the coolant, provides an increase in temperature.

By the same principle, but with the opposite effect, most climatic devices with compressor units (refrigerator, freezer, air conditioner) work.

The main operating cycle, which is implemented in the chambers of these units, assumes the opposite effect - as a result of a sharp expansion, the refrigerant narrows.

That is why one of the most affordable methods for manufacturing a heat pump is based on the use of individual functional units used in climate equipment.

So, for the manufacture of a heat pump, a household refrigerator can be used. Its evaporator and condenser will play the role of heat exchangers, selecting thermal energy from the environment and directing it directly to the heating of the coolant, which circulates in the heating system.

Installing a wind turbine is considered economically viable if the average annual wind speed exceeds 6 m/s.

Installation is best done on hills and plains, ideal places the coasts of rivers and large reservoirs are considered away from various engineering communications.

To convert the energy of air masses into electrical energy, wind turbines are used, the most productive in coastal regions.

Classification of wind generators

The classification of wind generators depends on the following main parameters:

• Depending on the location of the axis, there may be horizontal. The horizontal design provides the ability to auto-rotate the main body to find the wind. The main equipment of a vertical wind turbine is located on the ground, so it is easier to maintain, while the efficiency of vertically located blades is lower.
• Depending on the number of blades, there are one-, two-, three- and multi-bladed wind generators. Multi-bladed wind turbines are used at low air flow rates, they are rarely used due to the need to install a gearbox.
• Depending on the material used to make the blades, the blades can be sailing and rigid. Sailing-type blades are easy to manufacture and install, but require frequent replacement, as they quickly fail under the influence of sudden gusts of wind.
• Depending on the pitch of the screw, there are changeable and fixed steps. When using a variable step, it is possible to achieve a significant increase in the operating speed range of the wind generator, but this will inevitably complicate the structure and increase its mass.

The power of all types of devices that convert wind energy into an electrical analogue depends on the area of ​​the blades.

Wind generators practically do not need classical energy sources to operate. Using a plant with a capacity of about 1 MW will save 92,000 barrels of oil or 29,000 tons of coal over 20 years

Wind generator device

In any wind turbine there are the following main elements:

• blades, rotating under the action of the wind and providing the movement of the rotor;
• Generator, which generates alternating current;
• Vane controller, is responsible for the formation of alternating current into direct current, which is required to charge batteries;
• Rechargeable batteries, are needed for the accumulation and equalization of electrical energy;
• inverter, performs the reverse transformation of direct current into alternating current, from which all household appliances work;
• Mast, necessary to lift the blades above the ground until reaching the height of the movement of air masses.

At the same time, the generator and the mast are considered the main parts of the wind generator, and everything else is additional components that ensure reliable and autonomous operation of the system as a whole.

Low-speed wind generator from autogenerator

It is believed that this design is the simplest and most accessible for self-manufacturing. It can become both an independent source of energy and take over part of the capacity of the existing power supply system.

If you have a car generator and battery, all other parts can be made from improvised materials.

Step #1 - Making the Wind Wheel

The blades are considered one of the most important parts of the wind turbine, as their design determines the operation of the remaining nodes. For the manufacture of blades can be used most different materials- fabric, plastic, metal and even wood.

We will make blades from a sewer plastic pipe. The main advantages of this material are low cost, high moisture resistance, ease of processing.

Work is performed in the following order:

1. The length of the blade is calculated, while the diameter of the plastic pipe should be 1/5 of the required footage;
2. Using a jigsaw, the pipe should be cut lengthwise into 4 parts;
3. One part will become a template for the manufacture of all subsequent blades;
4. After cutting the pipe, the burrs on the edges must be processed with sandpaper;
5. The cut out blades must be fixed on a pre-prepared aluminum disk with a fastening provided;
6. Also, after the alteration, you need to fasten the generator to this disk.

Please note that PVC pipe does not have sufficient strength and will not be able to withstand strong gusts of wind. For the manufacture of blades, it is best to use a PVC pipe with a thickness of at least 4 cm.

The size of the blade plays an important role in the magnitude of the load. Therefore, it would not be superfluous to consider the option of reducing the size of the blade by increasing their number.

The blades of the wind generator are made according to a template from ¼ PVC sewer pipe with a diameter of 200 mm, cut along the axis into 4 parts

After assembly, the wind wheel should be balanced. To do this, you need to fix it horizontally on a tripod in a closed room. The result of proper assembly will be the immobility of the wheel.

If the blades rotate, it is necessary to sharpen them with an abrasive to balance the structure.

Step #2 - Making the Wind Turbine Mast

For the manufacture of the mast, you can use a steel pipe with a diameter of 150-200 mm. The minimum length of the mast should be 7 m. If there are obstacles to the movement of air masses on the site, then the wind turbine wheel must be raised to a height exceeding the obstacle by at least 1 m.

Pegs for fixing stretch marks and the mast itself must be concreted. As extensions, you can use a steel or galvanized cable with a thickness of 6-8 mm.

Stretching the mast will give the wind turbine additional stability and reduce the costs associated with the construction of a massive foundation, their cost is much lower than other types of masts, but additional space is required for stretching

Step #3 - Car alternator conversion

Alteration consists only in rewinding the stator wire, as well as in the manufacture of a rotor with neodymium magnets. First you need to drill the holes necessary to fix the magnets in the rotor poles.

Installation of magnets is carried out with alternation of poles. Upon completion of the work, the intermagnetic voids must be filled with epoxy resin, and the rotor itself must be wrapped with paper.

When rewinding the coil, it must be taken into account that the efficiency of the generator will depend on the number of turns. The coil must be wound in a three-phase circuit in one direction.

The finished generator must be tested, the result of a correctly performed work will be an indicator of 30 V at 300 rpm of the generator.

Step #4 - Completing the Assembly of the Slow Wind Turbine

The rotary axis of the generator is made of a pipe with mounted two bearings, and the tail section is cut out of galvanized iron 1.2 mm thick.

Before attaching the generator to the mast, it is necessary to make a frame; a profile pipe is best suited for this. When mounting, it must be taken into account that the minimum distance from the mast to the blade must be more than 0.25 m.

To operate the system after the wind generator, you need to install a charge controller, batteries, and an inverter.

The capacity of the battery is determined by the power of the wind generator. This indicator depends on the size of the wind wheel, the number of blades and the wind speed.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Production of a solar panel with a plastic case, a list of materials and the procedure for performing work

Does your home use alternative energy sources for heat and electricity? Did you build a wind generator or solar panels yourself? Please share your experience in the comments to our article.

Why pay energy companies for electricity every month when you can provide your own energy? More and more people in the world understand this truth. And so today we will talk about 8 Unusual Alternative Energy Sources for Home, Office and Leisure.

Solar panels in windows

Solar panels are the most widely used alternative source of energy in the home today. Traditionally, they are installed on the roofs of private houses or in courtyards. But recently it has become possible to place these elements directly in the windows, which makes it possible to use such batteries even for owners of ordinary apartments in high-rise buildings.

At the same time, solutions have already appeared that allow creating solar panels with a high level of transparency. It is these energy elements that should be installed in the windows of residential premises.

For example, transparent solar panels were developed by specialists from Michigan State University. These elements transmit 99 percent of the light passing through them, but at the same time have an efficiency of 7%.

Uprise has created an unusual high power wind turbine that can be used both at home and on an industrial scale. This windmill is located in a trailer, which can move an SUV or motorhome.

When folded with the Uprise turbine, you can drive on public roads. But when unfolded, it turns into a full-fledged windmill fifteen meters high and 50 kW.

Uprise can be used while traveling in a motorhome, to provide power to remote sites or ordinary private residences. By installing this turbine in his yard, its owner can even sell excess electricity to neighbors.

Makani Power is a project of the company of the same name, which recently came under the control of a semi-secret innovation laboratory. The idea of ​​this technology is both simple and ingenious. We are talking about a small kite that can fly at a height of up to one kilometer and generate electricity.

The Makani Power aircraft is equipped with built-in wind turbines that will work actively at altitude, where the wind speed is significantly greater than at ground level. The received energy in this case is transmitted along the cord connecting the kite to the base station.

Energy will also be generated from the movements of the Makani Power aircraft itself. Pulling under the force of the wind cable, this kite will spin the dynamo built into the base station.

With the help of Makani Power, it is possible to provide energy to both private homes and remote facilities where it is impractical to install a traditional power line.

Modern solar panels still have a very low efficiency. Therefore, in order to obtain high production rates from them, it is necessary to cover rather large spaces with panels. But the technology called Betaray allows you to increase the efficiency by about three times.

Betaray is a small installation that can be placed in the yard of a private house or on the roof of a high-rise building. It is based on a transparent glass sphere with a diameter of slightly less than one meter. It accumulates sunlight and focuses it on a fairly small photovoltaic panel. The maximum efficiency of this technology has a stunningly high show of 35 percent.

At the same time, the Betaray installation itself is dynamic. It automatically adjusts to the position of the Sun in the sky in order to work at maximum capacity at any time. And even at night, this battery generates electricity by converting light from the moon, stars and street lights.

Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson launched an unusual project called Little Sun, which combines creativity, technology and the social commitment of successful people to the underprivileged. We are talking about a small device in the form of a sunflower flower, which during the day is filled with energy from sunlight in order to bring illumination to the darkest corners of the planet in the evenings.

Anyone can donate money so that the Little Sun solar lamp appears in the life of a family from a Third World Country. Little Sun lamps allow children from slums and remote villages to devote evenings to study or reading, without which success in modern society is impossible.

Little Sun lamps can also be purchased for yourself, making them part of your own life. These devices can be used when going out into nature or to create an amazing evening atmosphere in open areas.

Many skeptics laugh at athletes, arguing that the forces expended by them during exercise can be used to generate electricity. The creators went on about this opinion and created the world's first set of outdoor simulators, each of which is a small power plant.

The first Green Heart sports ground appeared in November 2014 in London. The electricity that exercise enthusiasts generate on it can be used to charge mobile devices: smartphones or tablet computers.

The Green Heart site sends excess energy to local power grids.

Paradoxically, even children can be forced to produce "green" energy. After all, they are never averse to doing something, somehow playing and entertaining themselves. That is why Dutch engineers have created an unusual swing called Giraffe Street Lamp, which uses children's restlessness in the process of generating electricity.

The Giraffe Street Lamp swing generates energy when it is used for its intended purpose. Swinging in the seat, children or adults stimulate the dynamo built into this design.

Of course, the electricity received is not enough for the full functioning of a private residential building. But the energy accumulated during the day of games is quite enough for the operation of a not very powerful street lamp within a couple of hours after dusk.

Mobile operator Vodafone realizes that its profits increase when customers' phones work around the clock, and their owners themselves do not worry about where to find an outlet to charge their gadget's batteries. Therefore, this company sponsored the development of an unusual technology called Power Pocket.

Devices based on Power Pocket technology should be as close as possible to the human body in order to use its heat to generate electricity for domestic needs.

At the moment, based on Power Pocket technology, two practical products have been created: shorts and a sleeping bag. They were first tested during the Isle of Wight Festival in 2013. The experience turned out to be successful, one night of a person in such sleeping bag It turned out to be enough to charge the battery of the smartphone by about 50 percent.

In this review, we talked only about those alternative energy sources that can be used for domestic needs: at home, in the office or while relaxing. But there are still many extraordinary modern "green" technologies developed for use on an industrial scale. You can read about them in the review.

Overview of alternative energy sources for a private house

In the context of the current constant increase in tariffs, the owners of private houses are slowly starting to use alternative energy sources in their households. This allows you to save on utility bills. And some owners are simply deprived of the ability to connect to energy resources. That is, in some areas it is simply impossible to conduct electricity, heating, or it is very expensive. Therefore, people are increasingly paying attention to such sources of energy that nature provides, or obtained from human waste. As a result, some devices have appeared, which we will consider in this article. If it is problematic for residents of apartment buildings to use such installations, then residents of the private sector may well save on utility bills in this way. Modern alternative energy installations allow you to independently receive heat, electricity and even gas. Some, in addition to providing energy at home, also manage to sell their surplus.

Let's briefly list the main sources of alternative energy that can be used in a private home. This is:

• Using solar energy to generate heat and electricity;
• Use of wind generators;
• Various types of heat pumps;
• Energy from biofuels;
• Homemade hydroelectric power plants;
• Others.

Now let's look at these points in more detail.

Solar energy for electricity and heat

The sun is one of the most common and powerful sources of energy used in private homes. With the help of various installations, solar energy is converted into heat or electricity. Very often in houses you can find both options. Modern models and allow you to get heat and electricity in clear weather, even in winter. So, if your area has a lot of sunny days, then such settings are recommended for use.

Getting electricity

Solar panels used for electricity are assembled from photovoltaic cells. Photovoltaic wafers are based on silicon with various additives. When sunlight hits them, they emit electrons and an electric current is generated. This process is based on p-n phenomenon transition.

Photovoltaic cells, depending on their structure, are single-crystal and polycrystalline. Monocrystalline have a slightly higher efficiency than polycrystalline, and show good performance even in cloudy weather.

Getting thermal energy

Solar energy in private homes is also used to heat air or water. For this, an installation called a solar collector is used. At the same time, heated water can be used both for heating the house and for hot water supply. To minimize the influence of the weather, thermal collectors are used in conjunction with boilers and boilers for gas or electricity. There are three main types of solar collectors:

• flat;
• vacuum;
• Air.

Flat collectors

The design of such collectors is quite simple and they can often be found in private houses and suburban areas. Such collectors are a box, one side of which is transparent (glass, polycarbonate, film), and the other side is painted black and thermally insulated. Between these walls is an absorber. Often a copper coil is used for this.

The sun's rays heat the structure and transfer the heat of the water circulating in the coil through the absorber. The efficiency of such systems is small, but they are simple and can be made by hand. Such systems can be used for hot water supply during the summer season. In winter, in the Russian climate, they are inoperable.

Vacuum manifolds

Such systems are manufactured industrially and can be used for hot water supply and home heating all year round. Here, the coolant is in a copper tube, which is placed in a glass tube of a larger diameter, and air is pumped out between them. Thanks to the vacuum, perfect thermal insulation is achieved.

The composition of systems with a vacuum collector includes an accumulator where water is heated. Water circulation is provided by a pump, and the water is usually divided into two circuits. Some kind of antifreeze can circulate through the vacuum manifold, which will give off heat in the boiler to water circulating in the heating system of a private house or hot water supply. The cost of such systems is high and they pay off for several years.

Air collectors

This is the simplest and least efficient way to collect solar thermal energy. By their design, air collectors resemble flat ones. There is a box with a transparent outer side and a thermally insulated bottom. Air passes through the interior space by gravity or under the action of a fan.

Such installations operate in summer, early autumn and spring all daylight hours. In private homes, they are usually used to heat utility rooms, sheds with animals, garages.

Wind generator in a private house

Another inexhaustible source of energy on our planet is the wind. Wind turbines are used to convert wind energy into electrical energy. It is advisable to install them in private houses in those regions where the average annual wind speed is high. Usually these are coastal and lowland areas.

Heat pumps

A heat pump is another installation option for organizing heating and hot water in a private house. Only here it is not used solar energy and heat from earth, water and air. It is based on the principle of a refrigerator, in which heat is taken from some medium and transferred to the heating system.

Depending on the medium from which heat is taken and where it is transferred, heat pumps are distinguished:

• Water-water;
• Air-to-air;
• Air-water;
• Ground water.

Regardless of the medium with which the work is being carried out, in installations of this type there are: a compressor, a heat exchanger, an evaporator.

water-water

Water-to-water heat pumps extract heat from water from groundwater and transfer it to water circulating in the heating and hot water system of a private house. The collector for collecting heat is laid in a reservoir (it should not freeze entirely) next to the house or wells are drilled under it. Wells are drilled to a depth of about 15 meters.

Air to air

This is the most affordable option among all heat pumps. The design of such installations is similar to a split system. Electricity in air-to-air pumps is used to extract heat from the environment and pump it into the house. Modern models of such pumps can work in severe frosts, although their efficiency decreases.

One kilowatt of electricity in such systems turns into about 5 kW of heat.

Today, energy conservation issues are very tough, especially on the territory of some independent states from among the former republics. 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 its 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 allow us to transform the energy of our natural source light 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 the temperature of various soil layers into thermal energy.
• Biogenerators that allow you to collect released during the decomposition process organic matter gas. This design can work various types fuel, the most efficient and safe installations with automatic control.

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

Non-traditional energy sources include the energy of the sun, wind, and also that which is produced by human muscular efforts. Find out the details below.

Alternative energy sources are a variety of promising ways to obtain, as well as transmit the resulting electricity. At the same time, such energy sources are renewable and bring minimal harm. environment. These energy sources include solar panels and solar stations.

They, in turn, are divided into 3 types of energy production using:

• photocells;
• solar panels;
• Combined options.

It is popular to use mirror systems that heat water up to high temperatures, resulting in steam, which, passing through the pipe system, turns the turbine. Windmills and wind farms generate electricity using wind energy, which turns special blades connected to generators.

The use of wave energy, as well as ebbs and flows, is popular.

As experiments have shown, such power plants are capable of generating about 15 kW, which is much more powerful than solar and wind power plants.

From geothermal sources, hot water is widely used to generate electricity. Interesting use kinetic energy in some premises, for example, in gyms, where the moving parts of the simulators are connected by means of rods to generators, which, as a result of the movement of people, generate electricity.

Non-traditional energy sources: methods of obtaining

Non-traditional sources of energy supply are primarily the generation of electricity using wind, sunlight, tidal wave energy, and also using geothermal waters. But, besides this, there are other ways using biomass and other methods.

Namely:

1. Getting electricity from biomass. This technology involves the production of waste biogas, which consists of methane and carbon dioxide. Some experimental installations (Michael's humidifier) ​​process manure and straw, which makes it possible to obtain 10–12 m 3 of methane from 1 ton of material.
2. Getting electricity thermally. Converting thermal energy into electricity by heating some interconnected semiconductors consisting of thermoelements and cooling others. As a result of the temperature difference, an electric current is produced.
3. Hydrogen cell. This is a device that from ordinary water by electrolysis allows you to get a fairly large amount of hydrogen-oxygen mixture. At the same time, the cost of obtaining hydrogen is minimal. But such power generation is still only in the experimental stage.

Another type of electricity generation is a special device called a Stirling engine. Inside a special cylinder with a piston is a gas or liquid. With external heating, the volume of liquid or gas increases, the piston moves and makes the generator work in turn. Further, the gas or liquid, passing through the pipe system, cools and moves the piston back. This is a rather rough description, but it makes it clear how this engine works.

Alternative energy options

AT modern world due to some limitation of natural resources of heat and electricity, some people use alternative energy sources. One of the main directions of alternative energy is the search and use of non-traditional types and sources.

Sources with which you can get electricity:

• Are renewable;
• Can successfully replace traditional ones;
• We are constantly improving, developing and researching.

Equipping high-power piezoelectric elements of turnstiles in the subway and at railway stations makes it possible, when stepping on special plates, to generate electricity from the pressure of human weight. Such operating installations have been installed as an experiment in some cities in China and Japan.

Green energy is the production of biogas, which can later be used to heat seaweed houses. It has been established that up to 150,000 m 3 of gas can be obtained from 1 ha of water surface occupied by green algae. Using the energy of dormant volcanoes, water is pumped into the volcano, under the influence of heat and high temperatures, it turns into steam, which enters the turbine through special pipes and turns it. Currently, there are only 2 such experimental installations in the world. The use of waste water with the help of special cells, which contain special bacteria that oxidize organic matter, leads to the fact that during chemical processes, electrons are generated and, as a result, electricity.

Energy sources at home: options

In connection with the increase in energy tariffs, many people are beginning to think not only about saving energy, but also about additional sources of energy. Some people prefer to make their own DIY, and some prefer any ready-made solutions, which may include certain options.

Namely:

1. Installation of solar panels on glass, which have high transparency, so that they can be placed even in multi-storey buildings. But at the same time, their efficiency even in sunny clear weather does not exceed 10%.
2. To illuminate some areas of the room, LEDs and LED lamps on small batteries connected to a solar panel are used. It is enough to charge during the day, thus, the battery in order to get lighting in the evening.
3. Installation of traditional solar panels that allow you to charge batteries and from them, through an inverter, partially power household appliances and lamps. It is also possible to generate hot water during the warm season by installing a vacuum pump and a heat collector on the roof.

Residents living in urban areas, unfortunately, have a limited choice of additional energy sources, unlike those who live in country houses. In a private house, there are much more opportunities to make an autonomous power supply. And also to make autonomous independent heating systems for a country house or in the country.

Heating for a private house: alternative energy sources

Among the most common ways to generate electricity is the driving force of the wind. It is enough to put a high mast with moving blades connected to a generator near the country house in order to receive electric current and charge the batteries.

To obtain heat, you can use heat pumps, when using them, you can take heat from almost anywhere:

• Air;
• Water;
• Earth.

The principle of their operation, as in a refrigerator, only when air or water is pumped through the pump, heat is obtained. Homemade designs are in no way inferior to industrial ones. At home, you can make such structures yourself, just find the drawings and make a windmill to get cheap electricity literally out of thin air. There are other types and opportunities to get electricity and heating for a private house.

It is effective to use an ordinary generator, especially in the northern regions of Russia, since, with a lack of sunlight, the panels are simply useless.

The same applies to thermal convectors, which are designed to heat water. It is somewhat easier to use a biofuel boiler for heat generation; pressed sawdust, granules, including straw and peat, are used as the material for the furnace. But such biofuel boilers are somewhat more expensive than gas-fired ones.

Do-it-yourself current and heat: alternative energy for the home

Free electricity for an apartment or a private house has always been of interest to people, since in recent years the tariffs for heating and electricity have only been growing. And to save money, many people are trying to find options for getting heat and energy for free. To do this, they make different systems, including trying to invent an eternal source, and come up with unusual and new ways to generate current and heat.

Relative free energy (assembling solar panels with your own hands):

• It is possible to purchase solar panel parts in China;
• Collect everything yourself;
• As a rule, an assembly diagram is attached to each kit.
• All this allows you to independently assemble a panel and a power circuit, in particular an apartment or a private house.

Fuel-free free energy is obtained from electromagnetic waves - any fluctuations can be converted into electricity. True, the efficiency of such circuits is very small, but, nevertheless, with the help of specially made devices, you can charge phones and other small household appliances.

True charging will take quite a long time.

To generate heat, some craftsmen use methane, which in turn is obtained from animal manure and other waste. The right system is good option for generating heat energy and heating the house, as well as for cooking.

Sun and wind as alternative forms of energy

An alternative to obtaining both heat and electricity is relevant for many people. Small solar energy is the use of silicon-based solar batteries, the amount of energy received depends on the number of batteries, the latitude of the location of the house or other premises.

The technology of obtaining energy using generators is interesting, it is enough to connect a charge controller to the generator and connect the entire circuit with batteries, so you can get enough energy.

The use of special thermoelectric converters of heat energy into electricity, in other words, the use of a thermocouple made of semiconductors, is topical. One part of the pair is heated, the other is cooled, as a result of which free electricity appears, which can be used in everyday life. It can be used as a power generator for children, it is enough to connect a swing with a dynamo in the playground in order to receive a small percentage of electricity that can be used to light the playground.

Do-it-yourself free electricity (video)

An alternator or, more simply, a power supply generator is by far the most common way to generate electrical energy. But, despite this, there are many opportunities for generating electricity using alternative sources around the globe.