| With so many ecological threats we face today, the | | | | How they work: |
| concept of wind energy is gradually gaining a strong | | | | Turbines typically have two or three blades. Even in a |
| footing. It is imperative now to give due credence to | | | | wind-less situation, the blades on a wind turbine are |
| such renewable sources of energy. | | | | positioned at an angle of 45 degrees so that the |
| Wind is basically the movement of air, which depends | | | | turbine can trap all possible energy even with the |
| on the sun. Solar heating patterns on the surface of | | | | slightest of winds. When in contact with the wind, the |
| the earth create this phenomenon. Different land and | | | | fronts of the rotor blades (which have the larger |
| water bodies on our planet's surface absorb the sun's | | | | surface area) propel to a 0 degree angle and are |
| heat at varied rates at different times of the day; for | | | | bombarded with energy, from the front and the back. |
| e.g. during the day, the air over land surfaces heat | | | | In essence, this creates positive pressure on the fronts |
| faster than over water. On expanding, this warm air | | | | of the blades and negative pressure behind them, |
| rises with cooler, denser air replacing it, creating a | | | | causing a suction type effect which in turns lifts the |
| movement known as wind. During the night we see | | | | blades and transfers the wind energy to kinetic energy. |
| the reverse of this pattern. Geographical location, | | | | This force turns the shaft connected to the rotors, |
| vegetation density and the intensity of solar heat are | | | | creating a strong rotational energy which gets |
| also some of contributors in wind creation. When in | | | | converted to electric energy by the generators. |
| motion, the air has copious amounts of resulting energy | | | | An electric control system connects the generator. |
| that can be gainfully used in various forms and for | | | | The entire system channels the produced electric |
| various purposes. | | | | energy to high voltage transformers and eventually the |
| Thus the wind is not only something pleasant you look | | | | grid. These grids are responsible for supplying energy |
| forward to on a balmy day, but can be one of the | | | | to places like homes, farms, factories, water pumps, as |
| most effective forms of energy creation, when | | | | well as commercial power suppliers. |
| harnessed correctly. Since it depends on the sun, wind | | | | The efficiency of wind turbines depends on various |
| power or energy is a renewable and 'green' way to | | | | factors such as location, geographical factors, |
| power our world. It can be used to create or | | | | mechanics, rotor shape/size, etc... Output can be |
| supplement electricity and mechanical power. | | | | regulated by a constant or variable rotational speed, as |
| The vital cog in the process of wind energy usage and | | | | well as adjustable and non-adjustable blades. This |
| creation for the generation of power, are the Wind | | | | control is essential because sometimes the wind's |
| Turbines. These turbines employ the mechanics of a | | | | speed puts too much stress on the turbine, causing |
| reverse fan. Powered by the wind's energy, its blades | | | | safety controls to kick-in and apply brakes to the rotor |
| help in generating electricity. The basic mechanics | | | | to prevent it from damage. |
| consist of the turbine's blades that are put into motion | | | | Types of Wind Turbines: |
| by the wind, and are connected to generators. Finally, | | | | Wind turbines can be classified into two major types. |
| these generators are used to transform this rotational | | | | Although they work on the same basic premise, the |
| energy into electric power. | | | | process and design differ greatly. |