Turning Wind into Power – The Role of DC Motors in Wind Turbines

Wind energy is a type of renewable energy source which is produced through the use of wind turbines. Some wind turbines utilize permanent magnet DC motors as opposed to generators for their operation. These motors utilize magnetic fields generated through the spiral movement of a magnet within these devices in order to produce electricity. At Warfield Electric Co., we sell new and remanufactured DC motors for various industries, including a DC motor for wind turbine applications.

Using Motors for the Generation of Electricity
The use of motors for the production of electricity is a lower cost alternative to using electric generators for the same purpose. A motor, such as a DC motor for wind turbine operations, translates electrical energy into mechanical energy as it generates output.

Types of Permanent Magnet DC Motors for Electricity Generation
There are two groups of permanent magnet DC motors to consider. These include the type of DC motor with a permanent outer magnet and moving coil and the second type with a moving magnet and permanent coil.

First, let’s look at brushed DC motors which are not the most ideal motors for producing electricity:

Brushed DC Motors
These motors feature a moving coil within a permanent magnet. They produce electricity by transferring the energy generated by means of the revolving brushes. As stated, they are not ideal for generating electricity because of the effect the constantly moving coil can have on the brushes, which includes degradation and difficulties generating electricity due to the brushes.

Brushless DC Motors
These electric motors are the more efficient and effective choice for generating electricity. The arrangement of a permanent coil containing a moving magnet generates continuous electricity with ease and at high efficiency.

The brushless DC motor is one of the most ideal types of motors for the manufacture of certain types of wind turbines. The blades included on the edges of this motor enables the conversion of wind energy into rotation energy, which is then translated into electricity by the operation of the motor.

If you are looking for an effective DC motor for wind turbine applications, call us today at 800.435.9346 or reach us through our contact form.