Wind Power Technology Description

Wind generated power is not only a renewable source of energy, it is an inexhaustible source of energy. Generating electricity in a wind powered turbine is environmentally inert, very clean, and uses a boundless resource. Wind currents are driven by a variety of factors—terrain, water bodies, and vegetation among them—but the driving force behind wind currents is the planet’s uneven exposure to the sun.  As air masses expand in the face of solar warmth, cooler air masses are displaced.  This phenomenon gives rise to wind cycles, and the opportunity to utilize this force for human benefaction.

Cultivation of wind energy is done through the use of wind turbines. As wind masses blow, low pressure air pockets form on the downside of wind turbine blades. Inside the turbine is a rotor, which turns alongside the blades. Connected to the rotor is a power generator which delivers the electricity.

At the top of a wind turbine is a hub housing a gear transmission box; this is used to regulate the speed at which the rotor is turned. When wind speeds become too high, the transmission slows the turbines down so as to not overload the generator with electricity, and to prevent damage to the mechanics housed inside the turbine.

Image courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation

Two types wind turbines are available: horizontal axis and vertical axis. Horizontal axis turbines have emerged as the industry’s dominant design. Two-blade horizontal axis turbines spin downward, while three-blade axis turbines spin upward. The size of the turbine dictates its power generation capability.

In the majority of residential applications, wind turbines are used to supplement power generated by other sources, typically power supplied by utility grids. A cut-in speed defines when the wind turbine will cease to provide power and the utility company will cut-in to supply it. Above the cut-in speed, the wind turbine generates power and grid-supplied energy is reduced.

If energy output produced by the wind turbine exceeds the amount of energy needed, excess power is sold back to the utility company and credited to the owner’s account. Size, intended application, and service contracts determine the cost of a wind turbine system, which can vary from as little as $6,000 to more than $40,000.

 

 

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