Guide to Harnessing the Wind for Energy
Most people are already familiar with what wind energy is: the kinetic energy of the wind which is constantly in motion due to local temperature variations. Under these circumstances, we can safely deduce that the Sun, which regulates these temperatures, is responsible for the energy output of the wind.
From this point, it is also evident that the role of power generators is to transform the kinetic energy to other forms, mainly electric. For a brief overview on wind power check out the following articles:
- The History of Wind Energy
- What is Wind Energy
- Wind Power as Renewable Energy
- Advantages of Wind Power for Energy
- Disadvantages of Wind Energy in Power Production
- Solar VS Wind Energy
Power Generation and Measurements
As mentioned before, the kinetic energy of the wind can be easily converted to electrical energy with conventional technology. The principle and a number of formulas used to calculate the wind load, velocity and turbine efficiency are explained below.
- Generating Energy out of Thin Air
- What’s New in Wind Power Generation
- How to Interpret Weibull and Raleigh Distributions for Wind Velocity
- Formula to Calculate Wind Load
- Formula to Calculate Wind Power and Wind Turbine Efficiency
Wind Turbines
Wind turbines are the most common wind power generators for houses and industries. They operate in wind speeds of around 10 miles an hour. Their maximum power output is at 33 miles/hour, while at speeds of 50+ miles/hour they need to shut down. They can last for 20 to 25 years and their general efficiency is 30-35%.
- What is a Wind Turbine
- How Windmills Generate Electricity
- An Urban Wind Turbine Energy Breakthrough
- Improvement to Wind Turbine Furling
There is a wide variety of designs as far as wind turbines are concerned. Each type however is designed to serve specific needs. For example, horizontal turbines are more stable and efficient, while vertical turbines do not need to be mounted on a tower. In general, it seems that horizontal turbines are better but special conditions, especially as far as household’s are concerned, may require the use of vertical models.
- What is a Vertical Axis Windmill and How Does It Work?
- Types of Vertical Wind Turbines
- Residential Wind Turbines - A Survey of Types
- Is Horizontal Better Than Vertical?
If you need to learn more details on the types and designs of wind turbines visit the following guide:
Similar to photovoltaic panels, wind turbines are also suitable for domestic use. If you’d like to make a home-made windmill for your home, be sure to go through the following resources as they will provide you with all the necessary tips and instructions for building your own home generator.
- Sustainable Energy Using Homemade Wind Turbine Power
- How to Make a Model Windmill
- How to Make a Windmill Electricity Generator
- How to Make a Windmill at Home
- How to Choose a Windmill for Home
- How to Make an Anemometer
Wind Farms and Power Plants
Wind farms are becoming more and more popular in the renewable energy industry. They are nothing more than a small or a large group of wind turbines located in the same area. A typical wind farm of 20 turbines may cover an area of 1 square kilometer, occupying only 1% of the land. The rest of the land is usually used for other purposes, such as farming or as a natural habitat. There are even larger farms consisting of hundreds of onshore or offshore turbines, and electricity production is much cheaper in this case.
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Farms
- Optimum Wind Turbine Spacing in Wind Farms
- Are Home Wind Farms Practical?
- Overcoming Public Resistance to New Wind Farms
- Wind Farm Tourism Attraction Vacations
- Methods of Electrical Generation in a Wind Power Plant
- Types of Wind Power Plants
- Difference between Wind Power Plant and Thermal Power Plants
- Which Region in the US Makes Best Use of Wind Power Plants?
- Jobs in the Wind Power Industry
Small and Large Scale Power Needs - From Wind Belts to WARP
A wind belt is a device that also converts the kinetic energy of wind to electrical energy, although it is much simpler than a wind turbine and suitable for covering smaller scale energy needs (3-50 watts). It is also much smaller in size and far more economical. On the other hand, there is the Wind Amplified Rotor Platform or WARP that can be related and compared to the wind turbines.
Environmental Concerns and Future Prospects
Wind and solar energy are considered to be the best alternatives to non-renewable energy sources, especially oil and coal. Due to this fact,
the wind power industry has become one of the most promising energy industries today. It has a growth rate of 30% per year and even this rate is about to increase in the next years.
Despite abundance, low-cost, and zero emissions, there are still several concerns and scepticism regarding the environmental impact and the “aesthetic aspect” of the power generation installations:
- The Costs Associated with Wind Energy
- How do Wind Turbines Benefit the Environment?
- Are Windmills Dangerous for Birds?
- World Wide Wind Energy Facts and Information on Eolic Energy
- Green Electrical Power With Home Windmills. Is It a Good Idea?
- Does Having a Home Windmill Really Save Money?
- Effect of Global Warming on Wind Power
We need long-term solutions that will both guarantee a safer and cleaner environment for us and the future generations.
References
- Alternative-Energy-News.Info
- Wind Farm - Tehachapi Mountains, California, by Stan Shebs
- An H-type Vertical Wind Turbine, by Aeolus88
- Horizontal Type Wind Turbine, by JMT