WIND ENERGY TECHNOLOGY

Like many energy sources on our planet, wind is really a form of solar energy. The uneven heating of the earth’s surface creates movement of air. This energy has been harnessed for hundreds of years, but it has only been in the last few decades that wind has been used to generate electricity. 

The basic concept of how electricity is created from wind is relatively simple: moving air flows across wind turbine blades (typically three), the aerodynamic shape of each blade provides lift and moves it about a central hub, and the hub turns an electrical generator to create electricity. Electric generators, bearings, and other working components of a wind turbine are well understood.  Blade design and the solid state controls which synchronize the turbine’s electrical output to the power grid, however, are quite sophisticated and have advanced significantly from earlier generations of wind turbines.

Wind turbines are built in a wide range of sizes – from a few hundred watts suitable for home and remote power use, to several millions of watts for utility grid applications. A common trait for all wind turbines is that they are more productive at higher heights, thus the need to mount them on towers.  Taller towers will put wind turbines in stronger and less turbulent wind.

Wind Works LLC is focused on megawatt-class wind turbines -- that is, with a rated output ranging from one megawatt up to nearly 3 megawatts. One megawatt of power equals one million watts.  A one megawatt turbine will produce enough energy in one year equivalent to the amount used in approximately 400 homes.

There are numerous web sites with a more complete description of wind energy and wind turbines:

 

www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/wind_how.html U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Lab. A good overview with readable descriptions. www.windpower.org/composite-85.htm Danish Wind Industry Association.  One of the best and most complete descriptions of all aspects of wind energy and wind turbines. Fairly technical in places. www.windpower.org/en/kids/index.htm Danish Wind Industry Association. Information for kids. www.kidwind.org A good non-profit site for kids.

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