Generating Power with Wind Turbines
Many times when we think of wind energy, the first picture that surfaces is those large windmills out on farm land around the country. Have you ever wondered how they work? They really aren’t hard to understand, it’s just a few blades connected to a shaft that rotates and creates power. We make it sound easier then it is, but we’ll get into a little more detail in a minute.
Listen, the next time you see one of those old-fashioned airplanes with the front propeller, think about how those work. It’s the same type of concept that goes into wind turbines, except they are larger and more powerful. The most common type of wind energy producer is a windmill. However, once the electricity is generated, the terminology revolves around a wind power unit, WG, or WEC (wind energy converter).
Now that the world has turned our technology up a notch, there are strong and more efficient wind turbines out there today. Take for example the HAWT system. This is short for a horizontal-axis wind turbine. They offer a rotor shaft and generator in the same location at the top of the tower. Then of course there are servo motors that have built in sensors to help make the blades rotate faster.
To understand the complexity of this fully, the turbines must be positioned upwind in order to create a substantial amount of power. The good news is they are extremely durable, and specifically built to keep from collapsing. This is nice to know considering all the turbulence and strong winds that come through at these heights.
If the HAWT isn’t what you need, one of the VAWTS might be better for you. These are setup in a vertical position and much lower to the ground. While it’s a great benefit if you need to do maintenance or repairs, it hurts you in the long run. These don’t produce nearly as much energy as the HAWTS, but they are more convenient if that’s what you’re looking for when creating wind energy .
The reason these can’t be setup on the high towers is because they’re difficult to mount. This is why you normally see these at the base of the tower.
This provides you easy access to the mechanical part for maintenance or repair. But the downside is that since the speed of the wind is slower at this lower altitude, there is a lower amount of wind energy available to these turbines. Also because the winds closer to the surface can be more turbulent, these types of turbines can be vibrated more, and therefore get more wear and tear.
If you want to truly do your part and take advantage of a renewable resource, try combining it with solar power as well. It will allow you to reduce your energy costs, help keep the environment cleaner, and let everyone around you breathe cleaner air.