Turbines Use Wind Energy example essay topic

What is Wind Energy? Wind Energy is defined as an alternate source of generating electricity. Wind Energy is energy obtained from moving air. The motion of wind results from the heating and cooling of the earth.

Wind power is used from a wind turbine, and electricity is generated by its magnetic fields. It is normally turned into useful energy by the action of wind currents on moving surfaces, such as, the sails of a ship, or the blades of a wind turbine. Wind Energy is the fastest growing energy source in the world. Wind Energy is an INDIRECT FORM OF SOLAR ENERGY. How Long Have Wind Turbines Been in Place For? Windmills are one of the oldest forms of energy used in the world.

It was invented in Persia, back in 200 A.D. In the 3rd century, windmills were used for many reasons. The main uses for windmills were to pump out water from wells to grind grain for flour, and for cutting wood. As the 1800's came, the use of coal became a more efficient way of producing energy, and the use of windmills became less and lesser popular. But as we reached our oil crisis back in the late 1970's, wind generation will have an important role on our future. Why Use Wind Energy? Many wind turbines are used today.

The main reason why wind turbines are becoming so popular is because it is a cleaner, and a very efficient way to generate electricity. Firstly, wind turbines do not require any fossil fuels to generate any sort of electricity. It fully relies on the wind. Because no fuels are required to generate electricity, there are no carbon emissions. Environmental Benefits Electricity generation produces more pollution than virtually any other single industry in the United States.

Poor air quality, acid rain, nuclear waste disposal, and global warming are the unwanted side effects of traditional power production that endanger the environment. Wind Energy is an environmentally friendly alternative that is clean, abundant, and domestic. Public Health Benefits Smog, which is caused by power plant emissions, can lead to acute health effects such as persistent coughing, wheezing, and headaches. Children and the elderly are especially at risk, and on high ozone days, are advised to remain indoors.

Similarly, conventional power production generates fine particles that are toxic in nature and can be linked to premature deaths from heart and lung disease, including cancer. Investments in wind energy help to reduce power plant emissions and therefore enable a brighter future for our health, and the health of our children. Economic Development Wind turbines use less than 5% of the land on which they are sited. The remaining 95% can be used for other purposes, such as farming, ranching or forestry. Wind energy brings jobs and revenue for rural communities, both in royalties to landowners and as a tax base. Wind Power vs. Solar Power Despite the high profile that solar energy has, it is an extremely expensive technology to build and maintain.

In contrast to electricity generation, it is likely to remain expensive for many years. Solar generation approximately costs seven times more expensive to build in comparison to wind turbines. Solar power also requires 1,600 times the land surface to produce only one-third the electricity, and its energy payback will take almost 20 times longer than wind power. So, it is evidently stated that wind energy provides the most environmentally and economically sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.

Shape, Size and Types of Modern Wind Turbines Firstly, modern wind turbines fall into two basic groups, the horizontal axis and the vertical axis design. Horizontal axis wind turbines have blades that spin in a vertical plane similar to airplane propellers. The blades have a special shape so that when wind passes over them, it moves more rapidly over one side. This creates a low pressure behind the blade, and a high-pressure area in front of it. The difference between these two pressures causes the blades to spin. The blades of a vertical axis wind machine work on the same principle as a horizontal axis machine.

The shape of the blades causes the pressure to differ when the wind blows over them. This causes the assembly to spin. In a vertical axis machine, however, the blades spin in a plane that is parallel to the ground like an eggbeater. The horizontal axis wind turbines are mostly used to generate electricity. Wind turbines vary in size. The heavy-duty turbines are approximately 150 metres height.

The turbine, itself can reach as enormous as 48 metres in diameter. Each propeller can weigh up to 19 tonnes. How Electricity Is Made From Turbines So how do wind turbines produce electricity? Simply stated, the wind turbine basically works the opposite of a fan.

Instead of using electrical energy to generate wind energy, turbines use wind energy to generate electrical energy. These turbines are computer-controlled to improve its efficiency, and to prevent them from breaking down. Firstly, as the wind is blown, an Anemometer is used to measure the speed and direction of the wind. As the turbine is moved into the direction of the wind, the Blades begin to rotate. As it rotates, the energy is then transmitted into a Gearbox. The gearbox is a set of gears that formulates the Generator to revolve.

The Generator is what converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. The generator is made of opposite magnetic fields. As the magnets revolve, it produces an invisible magnetic field, which consists of electrical energy. Coils of wire, which harnesses the electrical energy, is therefore converted into electricity. At many times, the turbines have a tendency to spin too fast because of harsh wind conditions. If they spin too fast, they can automatically shut down.

This could happen because there is too much electricity being supplied, and / or it prevents them from breaking down, and causing damage to the turbines. Efficiency The most important factor towards the wind energy industry is to identify how efficient wind turbines are. The average household generates approximately 1.2 to 1.6 kw / h. Wind turbines can generate from around 600 kw / h, to 4.4 Mw / h. That is equivalent to lighting approximately 10,000 to 100,000 light bulbs at once. Wind turbines are easy to maintain, and hardly ever required maintenance.

They can produce electricity, from spinning from 30-60 r. p. m. (Revolutions per minute), to 1000-1500 r. p. m. The design and structure of the blades on the turbines are so well designed, that even the slightest breeze of wind can make the turbines spin at reasonable speeds. There are also a few disadvantages in wind energy.

Even though these turbines are well designed to rotate in the slightest wind conditions, there are times where there is absolutely no wind. If there is no wind, there is no electricity being generated. This would have an effect on the economy of factories and households, that they cannot therefore utilize electricity. Another disadvantage is that they are very noisy in cities.

To repair this difficulty, they are being built on mountains, freeways, and on farms. Canada's Future Over Towards Wind Power By 2020, the world energy consumption is expected to rise 60 percent. Canada in the present has not taken a big part in wind energy, because of its plentiful resources of fuels and unlimited resource uranium. As for the Kyoto Protocol, The Government Of Canada has announced it initiatives to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 23.7 million tonnes before 2010, which is a 4% decrease. This plan is expected to cost $425 million. Canada has imposed to invest the majority of it, in wind energy farms.

A number of provinces have already demonstrated leadership by setting goals and targets that will increase the overall share of electricity generated from emerging renewable energy sources. BC Hydro will meet at least 10 percent of its new electricity requirements from emerging renewable sources by 2010. The Quebec government will double its target to purchase 100 megawatts of wind turbines, and Saskatchewan and Price Edward Island have committed to purchasing wind turbines for government facilities. In 2001, the Government of Canada provided $260 million for producing wind turbines to the WPP I (Wind Power Production Incentive). This will create 1000 megawatts of wind energy in the next five years.

By the year of 2010, Canada hopes to rely on wind power by 30%. Where They Are Placed Wind turbines are always highly visible elements in the landscape. They are placed on mountains, where the most wind is feasible, and in the water. Flat areas, by sources of water are often where turbines are being placed. It is also in a simple geometrical pattern, in which is easily perceived by the viewer. Turbines placed in a straight-line work very efficiently.

There are limits to the usefulness of being fixed about using simple geometrical patterns, however, in hilly landscapes it is rarely possible to use a simple pattern, and it usually works better to the turbines follow the altitude contours of the landscape, or the fencing or other characteristic features of the landscape. Whenever turbines are placed in several rows, one will rarely be able to notice the pattern when the park is viewed from normal eye level. Only when one is standing at the end of a row, does it really appear as an ordered layout. In the next scenic picture, you will probably only be able to distinguish three rows of turbines, while the rest appear to be scattered around the landscape. Europe's Wind energy Wind Energy is being used mostly in Europe. The most industrialized countries such as Denmark, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, and France have adapted to this renewable resource to cut down their emissions.

In the U.K., there are nearly 1,000 wind turbines in operation. In Europe in general, the use of wind turbines rose by 30% in 1999, and is expected to rise to 60 in the next 10 years. The Wind Energy capacity in Europe for wind turbines is 9,000 MW. The projected target for 2020 is 100,000 MW. That will be 10% of Europe's total electricity. This could also create 500,000 jobs.

Denmark is the biggest country in the world that fully relies on wind, for it electricity. Over the years, the wind turbines have had a short energy payback. Because of this rapid energy payback, the price of electricity has gone down by almost 50%. Conclusion.