WIND ENERGYWIND ENERGY

in the upwindin the upwind

ContentsContents

1. Energy from the windEnergy from the wind

2. Wind usage evolution 2. Wind usage evolution

3. How wind machines work3. How wind machines work

4. Types of wind machines 4. Types of wind machines

5. Wind power plants5. Wind power plants

6. Wind production6. Wind production

7. Wind and the environment7. Wind and the environment

1. Energy from the windEnergy from the windWindWind=simple air in motion;=simple air in motion; -caused by the uneven heating of -caused by the uneven heating of

the earth‘s surface by the sun;the earth‘s surface by the sun;

!!The large atmospheric winds that The large atmospheric winds that circlecircle

the earth are created because the landthe earth are created because the landnear the earth's equator is heated morenear the earth's equator is heated moreby the sun than the land near the Northby the sun than the land near the Northand South Poles.and South Poles.

Today, wind energy is mainly used Today, wind energy is mainly used toto

generate electricity. generate electricity. Wind is called a renewable energyWind is called a renewable energy

source because the wind will blow as source because the wind will blow as longlong

as the sun shines.as the sun shines.

2. Wind usage evolution2. Wind usage evolution

Over 5,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians used wind to Over 5,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians used wind to sail sail

ships on the Nile River. Later, people built windmills to grind wheatships on the Nile River. Later, people built windmills to grind wheat and other grains.and other grains.

The earliest known windmills were in The earliest known windmills were in Persia (Iran); Persia (Iran); they they looked like looked like large paddle wheels. large paddle wheels. Centuries later, the people of Centuries later, the people of Holland improved the basic design of the windmill; they gave it Holland improved the basic design of the windmill; they gave it propeller-type blades, still made with sails.propeller-type blades, still made with sails.

-the oil shortages of the 1970s created an interest in alternative -the oil shortages of the 1970s created an interest in alternative – –

energy sources, such as windmill to generate electricity. energy sources, such as windmill to generate electricity.

-american colonists used windmills to grind wheat and corn, to -american colonists used windmills to grind wheat and corn, to pump pump

water and to cut wood at sawmills; water and to cut wood at sawmills;

!Nowadays, California is the most important producer of wind California is the most important producer of wind energy.energy.

!The first offshore wind park in the United States is planned in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

3. How wind machines work3. How wind machines workLike old fashioned windmills, Like old fashioned windmills,

today’s wind machines use blades to today’s wind machines use blades to collect the wind’s kinetic energy. collect the wind’s kinetic energy. Windmills work because they slow Windmills work because they slow down the speed of the wind. The wind down the speed of the wind. The wind flows over the airfoil shaped blades flows over the airfoil shaped blades causing lift, like the effect on airplane causing lift, like the effect on airplane wings, causing them to turn. The wings, causing them to turn. The blades are connected to a drive shaft blades are connected to a drive shaft that turns an electric generator to that turns an electric generator to produce electricity. produce electricity.

With the new wind machines, With the new wind machines, there is still the problem of what to do there is still the problem of what to do when the wind isn’t blowing. At those when the wind isn’t blowing. At those times, other types of power plants must times, other types of power plants must be used to make electricity.be used to make electricity.

4. Types of wind machines 4. Types of wind machines

There are two types of There are two types of wind turbines used today, wind turbines used today, based on the direction of the based on the direction of the rotating shaft: horizontal or rotating shaft: horizontal or vertical axis wind machines.vertical axis wind machines.

1) Vertical-axis1) Vertical-axisVertical–axis wind Vertical–axis wind

machines have blades that go machines have blades that go from top to bottom and the from top to bottom and the most common type (Darrieus most common type (Darrieus wind turbine) looks like a giant wind turbine) looks like a giant two-bladed egg beaters. The two-bladed egg beaters. The type of vertical wind machine type of vertical wind machine typically stands 100 feet tall typically stands 100 feet tall and 50 feet wide. Vertical-axis and 50 feet wide. Vertical-axis wind machines make up only a wind machines make up only a very small percent of the wind very small percent of the wind machines used today.machines used today.

!!The largest wind machines in the world The largest wind machines in the world have blades longer than a football field!have blades longer than a football field!

2) Horizontal-axis2) Horizontal-axisMost wind machines Most wind machines

being used today are the being used today are the horizontal-axis type. They horizontal-axis type. They blade like airplane propellers. blade like airplane propellers.

A typical horizontal wind A typical horizontal wind machine stands as tall as a 20-machine stands as tall as a 20-story building and has three story building and has three blades that span 200 feet blades that span 200 feet across. across.

The Wind Amplified The Wind Amplified Rotor Platform (WARP) is a Rotor Platform (WARP) is a different kind of wind different kind of wind system that is designed to system that is designed to be more efficient and use be more efficient and use less land than wind less land than wind machines in use today. machines in use today.

The WARP does not The WARP does not use large blades; instead, it use large blades; instead, it looks like a stack of wheel looks like a stack of wheel rims.rims.

5. Wind power plants5. Wind power plants

--wind power plants=wind power plants=clusters of windclusters of wind machines used to machines used to

produce electricity;produce electricity;-a -a wind farmwind farm usually has dozens of wind usually has dozens of wind machines scattered over a large area;machines scattered over a large area; ! ! Wind speed increases with altitude andWind speed increases with altitude and over open areas with no windbreaks, soover open areas with no windbreaks, so good sites for wind plants are the tops ofgood sites for wind plants are the tops ofsmooth, rounded hills, open plains orsmooth, rounded hills, open plains orshorelines, and mountain gaps that shorelines, and mountain gaps that

produceproducewind funneling.wind funneling.

The largest wind farm in the world is the Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center in Texas. This wind farm has 421 wind turbines that generate a total capacity of 735 megawatts.

These turbines are owned by Florida Power & Light. The company operates 46 other wind farms throughout the U.S., they have a total capacity of 4,002 megawat

6. Wind production6. Wind production

-the United States -the United States ranks third in the world in ranks third in the world in wind power capacity, behind wind power capacity, behind Germany and Spain and Germany and Spain and before India;before India;

-Denmark ranks number -Denmark ranks number five in the world in wind five in the world in wind power capacity but power capacity but generates 20 percent of its generates 20 percent of its electricity from wind. electricity from wind.

!!Most of the wind power plants in Most of the wind power plants in the world are located in Europe the world are located in Europe and in the United States where and in the United States where government programs have government programs have supported wind power supported wind power development.development.

--the amount of the amount of electricity electricity generated from wind generated from wind has has been growing fast inbeen growing fast in recent years, tripling recent years, tripling since 1998;since 1998;

Wind turbines in Wind turbines in GermanyGermany

Wind turbines in USA

Wind turbines in India

7. Wind and the environment7. Wind and the environment

AdvantagesAdvantages

- wind energy is an economical- wind energy is an economical power resource;power resource;- wind is a clean fuel;- wind is a clean fuel;- wind farms produce no air or- wind farms produce no air or water pollution because no water pollution because no

fuelfuel is burned;is burned;

DisadvantagDisadvantageses

- negative effect on wild - negative effect on wild bird populations; bird populations;

- the visual impact on - the visual impact on thethe

landscape;landscape;

!!Windmills are a good alternative to Windmills are a good alternative to conventional power conventional power

plants.plants.

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Coordinated by: Schnabel DieterCoordinated by: Schnabel Dieter