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Wind Power
Introduction
Humans have been using wind power for at least 5,500 years to propel sailboats and sailing ships. Windmills have been used for irrigation pumping and for milling grain since the 7th century AD in what is now Afghanistan, India, Iran and Pakistan.
In the United States, the development of the "water-pumping windmill" was the major factor in allowing the farming and ranching of vast areas otherwise devoid of readily accessible water. Windpumps contributed to the expansion of rail transport systems throughout the world, by pumping water from water wells for the steam locomotives.. The multi-bladed wind turbine atop a lattice tower made of wood or steel was, for many years, a fixture of the landscape throughout rural America. When fitted with generators and battery banks, small wind machines provided electricity to isolated farms.
Wind formation
Wind is a phenomenon that occurs caused by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface in combination with the spinning of the planet on its axis.
Wind is the natural movement of air across the land or sea. Wind is caused by uneven heating and cooling of the earth's surface and by the earth's rotation. Land and water areas absorb and release different amount of heat received from the sun. As warm air rises, cooler air rushes in to take its place, causing local winds. The rotation of the earth changes the direction of the flow of air.
Wind power all starts with the sun. When the sun heats up a certain area of land, the air around that land mass absorbs some of that heat. At a certain temperature, that hotter air begins to rise very quickly because a given volume of hot air is lighter than an equal volume of cooler air. Faster-moving (hotter) air particles exert more pressure than slower-moving particles, so it takes fewer of them to maintain the normal air pressure at a given elevation (see How Hot Air Balloons Work to learn more about air temperature and pressure). When that lighter hot air suddenly rises, cooler air flows quickly in to fill the gap the hot air leaves behind. That air rushing in to fill the gap is wind.
If you place an object like a rotor blade in the path of that wind, the wind will push on it, transferring some of its own energy of motion to the blade. This is how a wind turbine captures energy from the wind
Wind to wind energy to electrical energy
Wind electric generator converts kinetic energy available in wind to electrical energy by using rotor, gearbox and generator. The wind turns the blades of a windmill-like machine. The rotating blades turn the shaft to which they are attached. The turning shaft typically can either power a pump or turn a generator, which produces electricity.
The amount of energy produced by a wind machine depends upon the wind speed and the size of the blades in the machine. In general, when the wind speed doubles, the power produced increases eight times. Larger blades capture more wind. As the diameter of the circle formed by the blades doubles, the power increases four times.
Wind turbine works
A wind turbine works the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, a turbine uses wind to make electricity.
The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity. The electricity is sent through transmission and distribution lines to a substation, then on to homes, business and schools.
The typical wind turbine is a slender structure that consists of a three-bladed rotor that extends up to 300 feet in diameter attached to the top of tall towers that soar hundreds of feet into the air. A yaw mechanism uses electrical motors to turn the nacelle with the rotor against the wind. An electronic controller senses the wind direction using a wind vane.
If the electricity to be generated will only be used to supply one building or household, one turbine will suffice. The Earth is capable of producing 72 TW or 72,000,000,000,000 Watts of power. That’s way above humanity’s current consumption. Also, since wind never gets consumed, it has that advantage over more traditional sources of energy that use fossil fuels.
The diagram below shows some of the pieces and parts inside a wind turbine:
Good's of Wind power ( ADVANTAGES OF WIND POWER: ) Popular
1)The wind is free and with modern technology it can be captured efficiently.
2). Once the wind turbine is built the energy it produces does not cause green house gases or other pollutants.
3). Although wind turbines can be very tall each takes up only a small plot of land. This means that the land below can still be used. This is especially the case in agricultural areas as farming can still continue.
4). Many people find wind farms an interesting feature of the landscape.
5.) Remote areas that are not connected to the electricity power grid can use wind turbines to produce their own supply.
6). Wind turbines have a role to play in both the developed and third world.
7). Wind turbines are available in a range of sizes which means a vast range of people and businesses can use them. Single households to small towns and villages can make good use of range of wind turbines available today.
8) Wind energy is generally 'environment friendly'.
9) Good wind potential to harness wind energy.
10)A permanent shield against ever increasing power prices. The cost per kwh reduces over a period of time as against rising cost for conventional power projects.
11) The cheapest source of electrical energy. (on a levelled cost over 20 years.)
12)Low cost Loans is easily available to wind energy projects.
13)A project with the fastest payback period.
14)A real fast track power project, with the lowest gestation period; and a modular concept.
15)Operation and Maintenance (O&M) costs are low.
16)No marketing risks, as the product is electrical energy.
Bad's of Wind power (DISADVANTAGES OF WIND POWER: ) Limitations
1). The strength of the wind is not constant and it varies from zero to storm force. This means that wind turbines do not produce the same amount of electricity all the time. There will be times when they produce no electricity at all.
2). Many people feel that the countryside should be left untouched, without these large structures being built. The landscape should left in its natural form for everyone to enjoy.
3.) Wind turbines are noisy. Each one can generate the same level of noise as a family car travelling at 70 mph.
4). Many people see large wind turbines as unsightly structures and not pleasant or interesting to look at. They disfigure the countryside and are generally ugly.
5). When wind turbines are being manufactured some pollution is produced. Therefore wind power does produce some pollution.
6). Large wind farms are needed to provide entire communities with enough electricity. For example, the largest single turbine available today can only provide enough electricity for 475 homes, when running at full capacity. How many would be needed for a town of 100 000 people?
7) Wind machines must be located where strong, dependable winds are available most of the time.
8). Because winds do not blow strongly enough to produce power all the time, energy from wind machines is considered "intermittent," that is, it comes and goes. Therefore, electricity from wind machines must have a back-up supply from another source.
9) As wind power is "intermittent," utility companies can use it for only part of their total energy needs.
10). Wind towers and turbine blades are subject to damage from high winds and lighting. Rotating parts, which are located high off the ground can be difficult and expensive to repair.
11) Electricity produced by wind power sometimes fluctuates in voltage and power factor, which can cause difficulties in linking its power to a utility system.
12) The noise made by rotating wind machine blades can be annoying to nearby neighbours.
13). People have complained about aesthetics of and avian mortality from wind machines
Wind Power
Humans have been using wind power for at least 5,500 years to propel sailboats and sailing ships. Windmills have been used for irrigation pumping and for milling grain since the 7th century AD in what is now Afghanistan, India, Iran and Pakistan.
In the United States, the development of the "water-pumping windmill" was the major factor in allowing the farming and ranching of vast areas otherwise devoid of readily accessible water. Windpumps contributed to the expansion of rail transport systems throughout the world, by pumping water from water wells for the steam locomotives.. The multi-bladed wind turbine atop a lattice tower made of wood or steel was, for many years, a fixture of the landscape throughout rural America. When fitted with generators and battery banks, small wind machines provided electricity to isolated farms.
Wind formation
Wind is a phenomenon that occurs caused by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface in combination with the spinning of the planet on its axis.
Wind is the natural movement of air across the land or sea. Wind is caused by uneven heating and cooling of the earth's surface and by the earth's rotation. Land and water areas absorb and release different amount of heat received from the sun. As warm air rises, cooler air rushes in to take its place, causing local winds. The rotation of the earth changes the direction of the flow of air.
Wind power all starts with the sun. When the sun heats up a certain area of land, the air around that land mass absorbs some of that heat. At a certain temperature, that hotter air begins to rise very quickly because a given volume of hot air is lighter than an equal volume of cooler air. Faster-moving (hotter) air particles exert more pressure than slower-moving particles, so it takes fewer of them to maintain the normal air pressure at a given elevation (see How Hot Air Balloons Work to learn more about air temperature and pressure). When that lighter hot air suddenly rises, cooler air flows quickly in to fill the gap the hot air leaves behind. That air rushing in to fill the gap is wind.
If you place an object like a rotor blade in the path of that wind, the wind will push on it, transferring some of its own energy of motion to the blade. This is how a wind turbine captures energy from the wind
Wind to wind energy to electrical energy
Wind electric generator converts kinetic energy available in wind to electrical energy by using rotor, gearbox and generator. The wind turns the blades of a windmill-like machine. The rotating blades turn the shaft to which they are attached. The turning shaft typically can either power a pump or turn a generator, which produces electricity.
The amount of energy produced by a wind machine depends upon the wind speed and the size of the blades in the machine. In general, when the wind speed doubles, the power produced increases eight times. Larger blades capture more wind. As the diameter of the circle formed by the blades doubles, the power increases four times.
Wind turbine works
A wind turbine works the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, a turbine uses wind to make electricity.
The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity. The electricity is sent through transmission and distribution lines to a substation, then on to homes, business and schools.
The typical wind turbine is a slender structure that consists of a three-bladed rotor that extends up to 300 feet in diameter attached to the top of tall towers that soar hundreds of feet into the air. A yaw mechanism uses electrical motors to turn the nacelle with the rotor against the wind. An electronic controller senses the wind direction using a wind vane.
If the electricity to be generated will only be used to supply one building or household, one turbine will suffice. The Earth is capable of producing 72 TW or 72,000,000,000,000 Watts of power. That’s way above humanity’s current consumption. Also, since wind never gets consumed, it has that advantage over more traditional sources of energy that use fossil fuels.
The diagram below shows some of the pieces and parts inside a wind turbine:
Good's of Wind power ( ADVANTAGES OF WIND POWER: ) Popular
1)The wind is free and with modern technology it can be captured efficiently.
2). Once the wind turbine is built the energy it produces does not cause green house gases or other pollutants.
3). Although wind turbines can be very tall each takes up only a small plot of land. This means that the land below can still be used. This is especially the case in agricultural areas as farming can still continue.
4). Many people find wind farms an interesting feature of the landscape.
5.) Remote areas that are not connected to the electricity power grid can use wind turbines to produce their own supply.
6). Wind turbines have a role to play in both the developed and third world.
7). Wind turbines are available in a range of sizes which means a vast range of people and businesses can use them. Single households to small towns and villages can make good use of range of wind turbines available today.
8) Wind energy is generally 'environment friendly'.
9) Good wind potential to harness wind energy.
10)A permanent shield against ever increasing power prices. The cost per kwh reduces over a period of time as against rising cost for conventional power projects.
11) The cheapest source of electrical energy. (on a levelled cost over 20 years.)
12)Low cost Loans is easily available to wind energy projects.
13)A project with the fastest payback period.
14)A real fast track power project, with the lowest gestation period; and a modular concept.
15)Operation and Maintenance (O&M) costs are low.
16)No marketing risks, as the product is electrical energy.
Bad's of Wind power (DISADVANTAGES OF WIND POWER: ) Limitations
1). The strength of the wind is not constant and it varies from zero to storm force. This means that wind turbines do not produce the same amount of electricity all the time. There will be times when they produce no electricity at all.
2). Many people feel that the countryside should be left untouched, without these large structures being built. The landscape should left in its natural form for everyone to enjoy.
3.) Wind turbines are noisy. Each one can generate the same level of noise as a family car travelling at 70 mph.
4). Many people see large wind turbines as unsightly structures and not pleasant or interesting to look at. They disfigure the countryside and are generally ugly.
5). When wind turbines are being manufactured some pollution is produced. Therefore wind power does produce some pollution.
6). Large wind farms are needed to provide entire communities with enough electricity. For example, the largest single turbine available today can only provide enough electricity for 475 homes, when running at full capacity. How many would be needed for a town of 100 000 people?
7) Wind machines must be located where strong, dependable winds are available most of the time.
8). Because winds do not blow strongly enough to produce power all the time, energy from wind machines is considered "intermittent," that is, it comes and goes. Therefore, electricity from wind machines must have a back-up supply from another source.
9) As wind power is "intermittent," utility companies can use it for only part of their total energy needs.
10). Wind towers and turbine blades are subject to damage from high winds and lighting. Rotating parts, which are located high off the ground can be difficult and expensive to repair.
11) Electricity produced by wind power sometimes fluctuates in voltage and power factor, which can cause difficulties in linking its power to a utility system.
12) The noise made by rotating wind machine blades can be annoying to nearby neighbours.
13). People have complained about aesthetics of and avian mortality from wind machines
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