Kinetic Wind Generator

The Kinetic Wind Generator, with an Iron Rotor inside, in action

The Kinetic Wind Generator (or Wind Turbine) is an upgrade of the old  Windmill. It generates energy from wind power. The Wind Turbine requires maintenance, as the rotor will need to be replaced.

A rotor is required to run a Wind Turbine. Once a rotor is placed inside the GUI, the turbine is given sufficient space, and the wind level is strong enough for the rotor, the Wind Turbine will generate Kinetic Energy. This can be converted into EU with a  Kinetic Generator placed next to the turbine.

Recipe

About Wind

The wind strength, measured in MCW, is affected by 3 factors: Height, Weather, and Chance. The higher up in the world you are, the higher the wind level. Below y = 64, there is never enough wind to be used, and the will not function at all. Weather will also give boosts; Rainy weather will yield a 20% boost to normal wind levels, and stormy weather will yield a 50% boost. The final factor of chance makes the wind strength vary randomly, however there is a limited range of variation.

The easiest way to check the current wind level in an area is by using a  Windmeter.

Wind is strongest at around y = 160. There is very little wind towards the build limit of y = 255, hence no point attempting to run a wind turbine that high.

Spacing

Figure 1. Notice how the rotors overlap

Figure 3.

Figure 2. Notice how the third rotor in the background still functions

Figure 4.

For the most part, the only real space requirements of the Kinetic Wind Generator are the rotor blades.

• The rotor blades must remain free from obstruction by blocks or other rotors. (Figure 1)
• A Wind Turbine can also become obstructed if there is another Wind Turbine behind it. (Figure 2)
• This will occur if there is another KWG behind it and in range of the rotors up to 22 blocks away. Specifically, the distance is 3x the radius of the rotors. Because of this, it is considered impractical to have Wind Turbines set up as such, instead it much more preferred to have them in a line (Figure 3) or in a grid (Figure 4).

Rotors

The type of rotor equipped by the Wind Turbine will strongly affect the output of the generator. Each rotor has a different material cost, durability, and wind speed requirement. This means that even the lowly Wood Rotor can be useful in some circumstances where wind levels are not sufficient to run a larger rotor.

Wood Rotor

The Wood Rotor lasts 3 hours and requires wind levels between 10 and 60 MCW. It has a wingspan of 2 blocks. It takes about 20 Wood and 1 Iron to make one of these.

Iron Rotor

The Iron Rotor lasts 24 IRL hours inside the KWG and requires wind levels between 14 and 75 MCW. It has a wingspan of 3 blocks and requires 45 iron total to craft.

Steel Rotor

The Refined Iron (Steel) Rotor lasts 3 IRL days (72 hours) inside the KWG and requires wind levels between 17 and 90 MCW. It has a wingspan of 4 blocks and requires 36 Refined Iron plus 9 regular Iron to craft.

Carbon Rotor

The Carbon Rotor lasts 7 IRL days (168 hours) inside the KWG and requires wind levels between 20 and 110 MCW. It has a wingspan of 5 blocks. It takes 288 Coal to make one of these.