2. Vision Statement
Wind energy will be the leading technology in transforming the global energy
supply structure towards a truly sustainable energy future based on indigenous,
non-polluting and competitive renewable technologies.
3. Agenda
What is wind turbine
Wind turbine components
How do wind turbines work
Types of wind turbines
Advantages & disadvantages of Wind
energy
4. What is
wind turbine
Wind Turbines are rotating machines that can be used
directly for grinding or can be used to generate
electricity from the kinetic power of the wind. They
provide the clean and renewable energy for us of both
home and office. Wind Turbines are a great way to save
money and make the environment clean and green.
Historically, wind turbines were used for sailing,
irrigation and grinding-grains. It was in the early 20th
century that it was used for generating power. Today,
large wind turbines can be seen in the rural areas or
near the sea coast where speed of the wind is generally
throughout the day. Device called wind resource
assessment is used for estimating the wind speed.
5. Wind
Turbine
components
Rotor – The rotor is made of blades that are attached to a centre piece. The blades are shaped
such that when the wind pushes against them they turn
Pitch Drive – Used to rotate blades to accommodate for high-speed wind
Nacelle – The rotor is attached to a housing unit called a nacelle, which protects various other
components necessary to the wind turbine operation
Brake – Necessary to slow the rotor down
Low-Speed Shaft – Attaches to the rotor and turns as the rotor turns on a 1:1 ratio
Gear Box – Serves the same function as a car, the rotor spins slowly as the wind pushes against
it and the gearbox or transmission increases that rotational speed for the generator
High-Speed Shaft – Attaches to the gearbox and generator and spins at a higher speed than the
rotor or low-speed shaft
Generator – Actual mechanism that converts the rotational kinetic energy into electricity
Wind Vane – Detects direction of wind and adjusts the rotor and nacelle to compensate
Yaw Drive – Keeps the rotor and therefore the turbines facing the wind
Tower – Elevates the aforementioned components to an altitude that optimizes wind exposure
7. How do
wind
turbines
work
1. Tower is constructed that puts the wind turbine system at the correct
altitude where wind travels at a higher and more constant rate
2. Rotor blades are exposed to wind which forces them to start turning
3. As the rotor spins, the low-speed shaft, which is connected to a
gearbox, spins at the same rate
4. The gearbox takes this slow rotational speed and through correct
gearing turns it into a faster rotational speed
5. The high-speed shaft, which is on the outgoing end of the gearbox
and connected to a generator, spins at a higher rate of speed
6. The generator spins at this high rate of speed which spins magnets
around a coil of metal wire and generates electricity
7. The electricity travels from the generator through wires to the
necessary applications whether it be direct appliances or a battery
8. Types of
wind
turbines
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine – This is the standard type of wind
turbine where the low-speed shaft that connects to the rotor is
horizontal. There are various ways to construct this wind turbine
but they all follow the same concept as outlined above. The rotor
spins with the wind and the rotational kinetic energy is converted
to electrical energy through a generator
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine – This type of wind turbine is less
common but has an advantage in that the rotor does not need to
face into the wind. The shaft connecting to the rotor is vertical
and the gearbox and generator are generally at the bottom of the
tower. There are many types of vertical axis wind turbines all of
which follow the same concept of force along the X-axis (parallel
to the ground) as opposed to horizontal axis turbines which use
force along the Y-axis (perpendicular to the ground).
9. Advantages & disadvantages
• Advantages –
• Renewable & sustainable
• Environmental friendly
• Reduces fossil fuel consumptions
• Wind energy is free
• Small footprints
• Dis advantages –
• The wind fluctuates
• Installation is expensive
• Threat to wildlife
• Noise pollution
• Shadow flickering problems.
