Wind Energy

Cruzat, Dacasin, de Guzman

5ChE-A
Overview
I. Introduction
II. Availability and Sources
III. Technology Involved
IV. Environmental Impacts
Introduction
What is wind energy?
Wind energy (or wind power) refers to the
process of creating electricity using the
wind, or air flows that occur naturally in the
earth’s atmosphere.

Modern wind turbines are used to capture

kinetic energy from the wind and generate
electricity.
History
People used wind energy to propel boats along
the Nile River as early as 5,000 BC. By 200 BC,
simple wind-powered water pumps were used
in China, and windmills with woven-reed
blades were grinding grain in Persia and the
Middle East.
● 1887
● Scotland
● Prof James Blyth of Anderson's
College, Glasgow
● First House to be powered by
wind energy
Availability and Sources
Availability

● Wind Speed
● Land
● Economic
● Demand
● Infrastructure
Sources of Wind Energy
A wind farm is a group of wind
turbines in the same location
used for production of electric
power. A large wind farm may
consist of several hundred
individual wind turbines
distributed over an extended
area, but the land between the
turbines may be used for
agricultural or other purposes.
Technology Involved
Types of Wind Turbines

Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines

(VAWT)

● The main rotor shaft is set

transverse to the wind.
● The main components are close to
the ground thus facilitating
repairs.
● Major drawback is the “ripple”
effect during revolution, and large
bending moments on the blades.
Types of Wind Turbines

Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbine

● Most common type of wind

turbine used today.
● Composed of three large
blades with rotor shaft and
electrical generator at the
top of tower.
● Must be pointed at the wind.
How do Wind Turbines work?

Turbine Blades

● Usually 2 or 3 blades set-up is

used today.
● Aerodynamic efficiency
increases with number of
blades but with diminishing
return.
● Commonly used material for
construction is fiber-
reinforced composites.
 How do Wind Turbines work?
Turbine Blades

In general, ideal materials should meet the following criteria:

● wide availability and easy processing to reduce cost

and maintenance
● low weight or density to reduce gravitational forces
● high strength to withstand strong loading of wind
and gravitational force of the blade itself
● high fatigue resistance to withstand cyclic loading
● high stiffness to ensure stability of the optimal shape
and orientation of the blade and clearance with the
tower
● high fracture toughness
● the ability to withstand environmental impacts such
as lightning strikes, humidity, and temperature
How do Wind Turbines work?
Drivetrain

● One of the key components in the

wind turbine is its drivetrain which
links aerodynamic rotor to electrical
generator.
● Gearbox is used to increase the
rotational speed from a low-speed
rotor to a higher speed electrical
generator.
● Direct-drive turbine dispense the use
of gearbox. However, this requires a
large generator.
Research and Development
Unprecedented Turbine Size

● Create a rotor blade longer than 650 feet

for a 50-MW offshore wind turbine. That's
2.5X longer and over 6X more output than
the largest blades and turbines now in
operation. Uses Segmented Ultralight
Morphing Rotor (SUMR) technology in an
aerodynamically-sophisticated load
alignment that could substantially reduce
peak stress and fatigue on rotor blades
and make such a gigantic turbine
structurally and economically feasible.
How do Wind Turbines work?
Generator

● Wind Turbine Generator which is used

to generate electrical energy.
● Three types:
○ Direct Current (DC) Dynamo
○ Alternating Current (AC)
synchronous machine AC
Generator
○ Alternating Current (AC)
induction machine Alternator
● Works in the principle of Faraday’s
Law of Electromagnetic Induction
Research and Development

Smarter Turbines and Plants

● Intelligent wind turbine R&D is centering on

enhanced sensing for loads, turbine
condition monitoring, wind farm controls
and smart rotors with active control
surfaces that use built-in blade intelligence
to reduce rotor blade loads and turbine
costs.
"Making turbines smarter and able to sense and optimize energy capture while knowing the
state of the turbine's health - if it's sound or damaged - will become more important," said
Todd Griffith, lead blade designer on Sandia's SUMR research.
Environmental Impacts
 ● One of the cleanest and most sustainable
ways to generate electricity
Produces no toxic pollution or global
Environmental
●
warming emissions
● Wind is abundant, inexhaustible, and

Impacts ●
affordable
Viable and large-scale alternative to fossil
fuels
Environmental Impacts
Land Use
Offshore
Wildlife and Habitat
Public Health and Community
Life-Cycle Global Warming Emissions
1. Land Use
Wind turbines must be spaced
approximately 5 to 10 rotor diameters
(diameter of the wind turbine blades) apart.

Thus, the turbines themselves and the

surrounding infrastructure occupy a small
portion of the total area of a wind facility.
2. Offshore
Depending on their location, such offshore
installations may compete with a variety of
other ocean activities, such as fishing,
recreational activities, sand and gravel
extraction, oil and gas extraction,
navigation, and aquaculture.
3. Wildlife and Habitat
A recent National Wind Coordinating
Committee (NWCC) review of peer-reviewed
research found evidence of bird and bat
deaths from collisions with wind turbines and
due to changes in air pressure caused by the
spinning turbines, as well as from habitat
disruption.
3. Wildlife and Habitat
Wind farms located offshore will also impact fish and other marine wildlife.
Some studies suggest that turbines may actually increase fish populations by
acting as artificial reefs.
4. Public Health and Community
Sound Impact
Some people living close to wind facilities have
complained about sound and vibration issues,
but industry and government-sponsored studies
in Canada and Australia have found that these
issues do not adversely impact public health.
4. Public Health and Community
Visual Impact
Under certain lighting conditions, wind turbines
can create an effect known as shadow flicker.

When it comes to aesthetics, wind turbines can

elicit strong reactions. To some people, they are
graceful sculptures; to others, they are eyesores
that compromise the natural landscape.
 5. Life-Cycle Global Warming Emissions
While there are no global warming emissions associated with operating wind
turbines, there are emissions associated with other stages of a wind turbine’s life-
cycle, including materials production, materials transportation, on-site
construction and assembly, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning
and dismantlement.
Thank you for
listening!