Installation condition requirements: site selection and infrastructure construction standards

Installation condition requirements: site selection and infrastructure construction standards

For the successful installation of small wind turbines, site selection and infrastructure are the physical cornerstones of the entire project. These two points are directly related to whether the equipment can operate safely, efficiently and for a long time. The following are the core conditions and criteria that must be met.

1. Venue Selection: Looking for “Wind Channels” and Safe Spaces

The goal of site selection is to find a safe location with optimal wind conditions.

Wind resource priority: The site must be located within your home where the winds are the most consistent, strongest, and least sheltered. Open fields, ridges, coastal areas or open areas away from tall buildings and dense forests are preferred. The "wind shadow area" of buildings and woods should be avoided.

Height requirements (key criteria): In order to obtain clean and stable airflow, the lowest point of the fan impeller (blade rotation range) must be at least 3-5 meters higher than the top of all obstacles (houses, trees, etc.) within a 100-meter radius. This determines the minimum height of the tower required.

Safety distance requirements:

Collapse radius: With the tower base as the center, the radius is at least equal to the total height of the tower. There should be no people and property such as residences, garages, barns, public roads, wires, etc. This is a safety buffer for extreme situations.

Noise and visual considerations: Although the noise of modern small fans is very small, it is still recommended to keep a certain distance (such as more than 20-30 meters) from the main residential house.

2. Infrastructure Construction Standards: Build a Solid “Foundation”

A solid foundation is the lifeline to resist strong wind loads and ensure the vertical stability of the tower.

Geological conditions: The soil at the installation point must be solid and stable, able to bear the weight and huge tensile force of the foundation and tower. Soft sand, backfill, or areas prone to landslides require special foundation treatment (such as piling, expanding the foundation).

Concrete foundation standards:

Size and depth: Construction must be strictly in accordance with the drawings provided by the fan manufacturer. There are strict requirements on the depth, length, width and concrete grade (strength) of the foundation, which usually requires digging deep pits and pouring a large amount of reinforced concrete.

Accurate embedded parts: The anchor bolts or flanges that fix the tower must be accurately embedded when pouring concrete to ensure that the position, level and verticality are absolutely accurate. This is the key to connecting the tower, and the slightest deviation can cause installation difficulties or create hidden dangers.

Curing and solidification: After pouring, the concrete needs sufficient curing time (usually 28 days to reach the design strength) before it can be installed. Do not rush for success.

Grounding and lightning protection: A standardized grounding network must be laid in the foundation and reliably connected to the tower to safely guide lightning current into the earth and protect the safety of the equipment.

3. General requirements for site and infrastructure

Transportation and construction access: ensure that large vehicles (transporting towers, concrete) and lifting equipment can arrive and work safely.

Compliance with regulations: Before starting construction, it is necessary to confirm that the site selection and construction plan comply with the regulatory requirements of the local planning and construction departments, and submit them for approval if necessary.

Professional construction: It is strongly recommended that infrastructure construction be completed by experienced professionals or teams to ensure reliable quality.

In summary, a qualified installation site must meet the five conditions of "smooth wind, high ground, accessible roads, safety, and legality"; and a qualified foundation must be a solid structure that is "constructed according to the drawings, up to standard in size, accurate in pre-embedding, and adequately maintained."

Ignoring any one of them may lead to serious safety hazards or low power generation efficiency. Investing sufficient energy in on-site investigation and professional design before installation is the most critical and worthwhile investment to ensure the long-term success of the project. Don’t compromise or be sloppy on these two fundamental aspects: site and foundation.