What is Wind Turbines

A wind turbine is a rotating machine that seeks to convert the kinetic energy present in the wind into mechanical energy. If particular machinery like a pump or grinding stone uses the mechanical energy in a direct manner then it is called a windmill, however, if this mechanical energy is first converted into electricity and then used, then the machine is commonly called a wind turbine or a wind energy converter amongst other things.

History of Wind Turbines

The first wind machines were used in Persia, as far back as 200 B.C for the purposes of grinding grain. By 250 A.D the Romans began to use the same process for the same purpose. The Dutch started using windmills to drain water from the areas lying in the Rhine River delta. 

Windmills began to be used for the production of electricity in the year 1888, and the first such windmill, meaning the first wind turbine was built by Charles F Brush in Cleveland, Ohio. By the year 1908, some 72 wind turbines were being used to produce electricity between the ranges of 5 kilowatt to 25 kilowatt. Windmills to produce electricity were commonly found on farms by the 1930s in the Unites States. 

Also read: Wind Power Is an Energy Solution

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines

The Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines or HAWT house an electric generator and the main rotator shaft at the top of a tower. Both need to be pointed into the wind, for generation of electricity. A wind vane is usually enough for this purpose in the case of small turbines, but in the case of large turbines, a servo motor coupled with a wind sensor is used to point into the wind. The rotation of the blades is controlled by a gearbox which increases the rotational speed of the blades as and when required. 

The turbine is usually pointed in the upwind direction so as to protect it from the turbulence created by the tower. Many a time’s downwind machines are also built in a bid to combat the problem of turbulence. Such machines preclude the use of additional mechanism in order to keep the turbine in line with the wind; this is because the blades can be allowed to be bent during high winds. 

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines or VAWTs, have vertical alignment of the shaft. One of the most important advantages of such turbines is that there is no need for the turbine to be pointed into the wind for efficacy. These wind turbines are generally used on sites that witness a variable wind direction. A wind force from any direction can be used by Vertical Axis Wind Turbines.

The presence of vertical axis means that the both the gearbox and the generator can be placed near ground as there is no need for the tower to offer it support. This also means that the gearbox and the generator are accessible when it comes to the maintenance of the wind turbines. 

Wind Turbines – Design and Construction

It is the job of the wind turbines to exploit the wind energy existing at a particular location. Designers and builders use the aerodynamic modeling for the determination of the various control systems to be used, number of blades, shapes of the blade, and the optimum height of the tower.

The modern wind turbine is primarily used for conversion of wind energy into electricity energy. In accordance with this purpose, the wind turbine has three major components, namely the rotor component, the generator component, and the structural component. 

Almost 20% of the cost of the wind turbine is taken up by the rotor component, while an approximate 34% of the cost is consumed by the generator component. 15% of the cost of the wind turbine is taken up the structural component.

These days' environmental activists are championing the use of wind turbines, for the production of electricity as they are environment friendly and if at all, release only a minimal amount of pollutants.

Uses Of Wind Turbines

Wind is a powerful source of energy that has been harnessed for different uses for centuries. More and more scientists and researchers feel that wind can be used effectively as a renewable energy source and this can be done only when power within the moving air can be harnessed properly.

The Wind Energy Industry has grown rapidly since the 1990’s and is considered as one of the fastest growing sectors in the power generation industry. Some of the European countries have even installed wind turbines that have been in operation for almost 20 years now and this entire operation has been extremely successful as well. Using wind turbines to harness wind power to create energy have brought down the production costs and are viable option for the coal fired power stations.

According to a study, the UK has the largest potential wind energy resource in the entire Europe and hence wind is being regarded their most promising future source of renewable energy technologies. As of today the wind turbines in the UK are producing electricity that is being delivered to almost 390,000 households and reaching around 1 million people. A salient point of the use of wind energy is that it has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by almost 1.46 million tones per annum.

The question is how can wind be converted into energy? The answer is: by using a wind turbine. The wind turbine is basically a type of rotating device just like a huge fan that can convert the kinetic energy present in the wind into mechanical energy. 

When this mechanical energy is used by any type of machinery like a pump then such a machine is known as a windmill. If the same mechanical energy is converted to electricity then the machine that does the conversion is called a wind generator or a wind turbine. It is also known as a wind energy converter (WEC) or a wind power unit (WPU).

Surprisingly the first use of the wind machines was for grinding grains as early as 200 B.C in Persia. It was also introduced in the prosperous and powerful Roman Empire in 250 A.D. The year 1900 saw the maximum number of windmills being used in Denmark. Almost 2500 windmills were installed to provide the much needed mechanical load to pumps and gave a peak power of 30MW.

Why Wind Turbines should be used?

Wind turbines can effectively help in creating mechanical energy, which can be used for multiple purposes including assisting in the generation of power and electricity. Some of the other uses include:

1. One of the salient points is that there is only a one time installation cost after which the electricity that is produced using a wind turbine will be free.
2. It is a source of clean renewable energy that will not generate any greenhouse gases or emit carbon dioxide or even produce any dangerous wastes. 
3. Each unit of electricity produced by a wind turbine displaces one from every conventional power station. Wind turbines have been commissioned in the UK and have been extremely successful in prevent the emission of almost one and a three-quarter millions tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
4. Wind is a reliable and abundant source. UK being the windiest country in Europe has abundance of wind energy that can be used for making electricity. 
5. Wind power contributes significantly to the overall energy generation in any country. Denmark is one of the countries that gets almost 20% of its electricity from wind power
6. Wind turbines use an extremely robust technology that is designed for operation locally as well as remotely and requires only periodic maintenance.

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