The Architecture Of Wind Turbines

Wind turbines have altered the way that we get our energy. Wind turbines are used to harness wind power and turn into electricity. They are comprised of usually 2 or 3 blades that are connected to a shaft that was attached to a generator which then turns into electricity. Although we now generally use it to produce electricity, wind energy was originally used in the form of windmills to do chores and housework. Because of the rapid increase in the use of wind turbines, it has added jobs and changed the way we get energy.

Everyday, this mysterious force known as the wind blows constantly around planet Earth. No one knows why the wind blows, but that did not stop individuals from harnessing its power. In past times, Persians and Daniel Halladay were able to invent their own versions of the windmill. Each design served a slightly different purpose than the other.

In the Book Building Green Skyscrapers by Mary Reid, the wind turbine is the best because it can be be use for two uses. To start wind turbines can power up buildings. The narrator stated “The wind spins the huge blades of a wind turbine... the turbine runs a machine called a generator. “ (Reid 5). This shows that this can save energy because all extra energy goes into the batteries for later use. Furthermore, Wind is the best type of source. The narrator stated “Wind power is one free source of clean electricity… wind does not produce harmful gases… Nobody needs to worry about running low on wind” (Reid 4). This explains that wind turbines are the best because you can always count on wind to help if you need. In conclusion, Wind Turbines

Everyone knows that the wind is one of the most significant factor of weather and climate because of its role in influencing the distribution of energy and moisture between the parts of the globe. Recently, people have begun to exploit the wind energy which is witnessing the fastest growth in the world. In fact, this source of energy is growing rapidly in all parts of the world. So, most of governments are trying to use wind power for different aspects. In addition, two decades of efforts to achieve technical progress has led to the production of very sophisticated wind turbines which are adjustable, easy and quick to install. Wind power may have many disadvantages, but the advantage of wind energy is more than the disadvantages. So, there are many environmental advantages of wind power such as renewable source, reduction of greenhouse gases, reduction of water consumption, and taking a small space in the land.

Wind Power can be defined succinctly as the kinetic energy present in motion that can be converted to mechanical energy. The basic turbine uses mechanical blades that rotate due to the force of the wind to drive a generator that in turn sends electricity through a transformer into the power lines that supply energy to homes and businesses. The following diagram details the above-mentioned process1

Wind energy has experienced a positive growth globally as an alternative source of energy (Thresher & Robinson, 2008). Also, it has been used for supplying the deficiency energy needed after the other forms of energy. Globally through innovation and invention, the wind energy has been used as a safe energy. It’s forecasted that the wind energy in the future will supply a significant amount of energy that is required globally. Through technological advancements, this growth of the wind energy is forecasted to continue. Wind energy is harnessed through the use of wind turbines that are used for the production of the energy. The presence of areas in the world that experience strong winds, the wind energy can be harnessed easily through the

Figure 1 in the diagram below, it simply shows how the wind turns the blades, which in turn help to power the generator.

The main components of a windmill consist of blades, rotor and generator etc. The blades are the most important feature of the wind turbine. It looks like sails, normally have two or three blades, they are aerodynamically shapes to make the most of the energy in the wind, turning a shaft which is connected to a generator and turn into wind power. When the wind forces the blades to move, it has transferred some of its energy to the rotor which is the technical term for the entire hub. It is also known as a propeller. The rotor usually consists of two or more wooden, fiberglass or metal which rotates about an axis at a rate determined by the wind speed and the shape of the blades. In addition, rotor can turn a generator which transforms the mechanical energy into electricity. There is an electric motor orientates the nacelle so that, rotor is positioned facing into the wind. In terms of generator, that is converts the motion of wind turbine in to electricity. A simple generator consists of magnets and a conductor. The conductor is typically a coiled wire, they are rotated in a magnetic field to produce electrical voltage. The shaft connects to permanent magnets which surround by coils of wire. In the electrical process, when the conductor that has magnets rotating to the other, there is an electric

Deal, 2010, ‘Wind Power: An Emerging Energy Resource’, Technology and Engineering Teacher, pp. 9-15, viewed on September 12, 2011, retrieved from: http://search.proquest.com/docview/853062621/fulltextPDF/13255EC175479D10C7A/1?accountid=42518

A wind turbine is a machine that converts the wind’s kinetic energy into mechanical energy. If the energy is then directed by machinery it is called a windmill, but if the energy is converted into electricity it is a wind turbine. Wind turbines are old technology but used to meet new challenges. There are two main types of wind turbines: rotating on the vertical axis or on the horizontal axis. The horizontal axis is the most common. These three bladed turbines have the main rotor shaft and electrical generator

Wind turbines are not flawless, they do have some problems. One of the first problems is the limitation of wind power. Scene the turbines rely on wind to generate electricity if there is no or vary little wind

A gearbox behind the blades, called the nacelle, is where the power of motion turns gears to generate electricity.

The main cost of wind energy is in the initial investment in the construction of a wind turbine; the upkeep cost is generally marginal and lower than one cent per kWhr. In general, wind power works by having air molecules move across the turbine blades transferring kinetic energy from the molecules to the turbine, causing it to turn. As it turns, the mechanical energy can be used to perform tasks such as grinding grain. More commonly, the turbine turns and utilizes a power generator to convert the mechanical energy to electrical energy.

Horizontal axis wind turbines have blades that spin in a vertical plane like airplane propellers. The blades have a special shape so that when wind passes over them, it moves more rapidly over one side. This creates a low pressure behind the blade and a high-pressure area in front of it. The difference between these two pressures causes the blades to spin.

Many countries like Morocco (figure 2.1), Egypt and South Africa, had followed the path of building wind turbines which rotate at a certain speed and