wind turbines

WIND TURBINES

• Presented by-SHAKIL MUHAMMAD

UET PESHAWARPAKISTAN

HOW WIND TURBINES

GENERATE ELECTRICITY

First, let’s answer a very

important question.

What are Wind Turbines?

Wind turbines are devices that convert the wind’s

kinetic energy into Electrical energy.

First Wind Turbine

Made by :Charles.J.BrushIn1887.

Wind turbines have a variety of

shapes and sizes…

Types of Electricity Generating Wind Turbines

Small

Large

Intermediate

KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

But they’re all composed of the same 3

basic parts.

Basic Parts

A. Rotor Blades

Basic Parts

A. Rotor Blades

B. Shaft

Basic Parts

A. Rotor Blades

B. Shaft

C. Generator

Basic Parts

A. Rotor Blades

The rotor blades are the “wind

catchers” of a wind turbine.

Basic Parts

A. Rotor Blades

They’re long projections that have

aerodynamic designs.

Basic Parts

B. Shaft

The shaft is a rod that connects the

rotor blades to the generator.

Basic Parts

B. Shaft

Its main purpose is to transfer the

rotational mechanical energy of the

rotor blades to the generator.

Basic Parts

C. Generator

3 Basic Parts

Finally, the generator is a device

designed to convert mechanical energy

into electrical energy.

C. Generator

3 Basic Parts

It uses the principle of electromagnetic

induction.

Now that you know its basic parts,

let’s understand how wind turbines

generate electricity.

Basic Processes

B. Converting to Electricity

A. Capturing Wind Energy

Basic Processes

A. Capturing Wind Energy

Wind energy is captured using the wind

turbine’s rotor blades.

Basic Processes

A. Capturing Wind Energy

When wind passes through the blades, two

aerodynamic forces are at work.

Basic Processes

A. Capturing Wind Energy

After this, it’s time to convert the

mechanical energy into electricity.

Basic Processes

B. Converting to Electricity

When the rotor

blades turn,

Basic Processes

B. Converting to Electricity

the shaft also

turns.

Basic Processes

B. Converting to Electricity

The Shaft then

rotate the

generator

How Does a Generator Work?

KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

Basic Processes

B. Converting to Electricity

Which makes

the generator

produce

electricity!

Large Wind Turbines

• 450’ base to blade

• Each blade 112’

• 163+ tons total

• Foundation 20+ feet deep

• Rated at 1.5 – 5 megawatt

• Supply at least 350 homes

Increasing RPM

Other Processes Involved

You might notice that large wind

turbines turn slowly.

Increasing RPM

Other Processes Involved

On average, their rotor blades rotate at

a speed of 20 rpm (rotations per

minute).

Increasing RPM

Other Processes Involved

20 rpm is too slow to power up a

generator!

Increasing RPM

Other Processes Involved

Large wind turbines use a gearbox to

increase the rpm from 20 rpm to as

much as 2000 rpm!

Increasing RPM

Other Processes Involved

To understand the process, let’s

examine these two gears:

Other Processes Involved

Gear A

Gear B

Increasing RPM

Other Processes Involved

Gear A

Gear B

Gear A has 9

gear teeth

Increasing RPM

Other Processes Involved

Gear A

Gear B

Gear A has 9

gear teeth

while Gear B

only has 6.

Increasing RPM

Other Processes Involved

Gear A

Gear B

Gear A has 9

gear teeth

while Gear B

only has 6.This would mean that 1 revolution of

Gear A would be equal to 1.5 (9÷6)

revolutions for Gear B.

Increasing RPM

Other Processes Involved

Gear A

Gear B

Gear A has 9

gear teeth

while Gear B

only has 6.So if Gear A revolves at a rate of 20

rpm, Gear B would revolve at a faster

rate of 30 (20×1.5) rpm.

Increasing RPM

Braking Mechanism

Other Processes Involved

Overspeeding of the rotor blades can

cause malfunctions on the wind

turbine’s system.

Braking Mechanism

Other Processes Involved

This is why a braking mechanism

should exist to limit the maximum

speed of the rotor blades.

*Benefits*

• Renewable Energy source

• Enviromental Friendly

• Electricity is produced in very low cost

*Summary*

END

Questions???