Wind turbine Definition and 20 Discussions

A wind turbine is a device that converts the wind's kinetic energy into electrical energy.
Wind turbines are manufactured in a wide range of sizes, with either horizontal or vertical axes. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of large turbines, in installations known as wind farms, now generate over 650 gigawatts of power, with 60 GW added each year. They are an increasingly important source of intermittent renewable energy, and are used in many countries to lower energy costs and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. One study claimed that, as of 2009, wind had the "lowest relative greenhouse gas emissions, the least water consumption demands and... the most favourable social impacts" compared to photovoltaic, hydro, geothermal, coal and gas.Smaller wind turbines are used for applications such as battery charging for auxiliary power for boats or caravans, and to power traffic warning signs. Larger turbines can contribute to a domestic power supply while selling unused power back to the utility supplier via the electrical grid.

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  1. I

    Why do wind turbines pitch their blades?

    Hi all. I'm new to this forum and to wind turbine technology in general, and I watched one of these one-minute videos explaining why wind turbines pitch their blades but it doesn not make sense to me. Why don't you just get a bigger generator? You'd get more energy for the same blades, same...
  2. J

    A Derek Muller and UCLA Prof. Alexander Kusenko -- Downwind Physics Wager

    Derek Muller is the Veritasium YouTube channel host and he had a wager against UCLA professor Alexander Kusenko on whether a unpowered car going downwind can go faster than the wind. Derek Muller said it can go faster than the wind, while Alexander Kusenko said it only seems that way because...
    • Jay_
    • Thread
    • Kinematic equations Speed Velocity acceleration Wind turbine
    • Replies: 4
    • Forum: Mechanics
  3. hagopbul

    De-icing the wind turbines in Texas

    Summary:: how we can de ice the turbine in case of sudden frezzing like what happened in texas hello all : i was watching the news and saw the news talking about frezzing of wind farms in texas state , and losing about 35% of the energy due to that problem can we use the following methods to...
  4. N

    I Why is it claimed that Betz's limit is a law?

    Large wind turbines have become very efficient and have a power coefficient close to that defined by Betz. However, large wind turbines are stopped when the wind is too strong, not because they produce too much, but because their blades are subject to bending stresses which may break their...
  5. B

    How to calculate the torque for a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT)

    For my senior design project we are designing a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) and trying to increase efficiency by adding flexible parts to the blades. We are currently in the process of ordering a motor/generator where we can test our new model against the same model but with standard...
  6. L

    Finding the sum and difference of two drag coefficients

    Homework Statement I have to determine the sum and difference of the two coefficients of drag between two individual items that make a torque AUT. I'm given the diameter of each bottle (6.35 cm), wind velocity (14.3 m/s), the forces of the lift load cells (+0.0741 N, -0.0741 N), and the force...
  7. A

    Choosing a wind turbine generator

    I'm doing a school project in which I'm building a wind turbine. The next step for me is to choose a generator but I'm not completely sure what is right for me. I expect to come up to 300 rpm as an average and need the required voltage to for a car battery, which is around 14.4 volt. My...
  8. D

    What generator/DC motor do I need for my wind turbine

    I am making a small wind turbine for my A-level RMT and wondering what kind of generator I need to charge a 12volt battery. The turbine is a vertical axis savonius turbine that will probably be about a meter high and half a meter wide. I know I can use permanent magnet dc motors and someone...
  9. unseeingdog

    How to make a rotating rod turn the axle of a small motor?

    I'm building a small wind turbine and I'm trying to find a way to make the metal rod where the propellers are rotate the axle of a small motor. The diameter of the rod is 1/4" and the diameter of the axle of the motor is about 2 to 3 millimeters. This is more or less the design of the turbine...
  10. A

    Wind Turbine Building Tips?

    I'm building a model wind turbine. I'm using thttps://www.vernier.com/products/kidwind/wind-energy/kw-wth3/ as the hub/the base. That's the only kit I'm allowed to use. I'm supposed to decide on the blade size, etc. THE RULES: . Students will will sign up for a time slot and test their own...
    • Avvai Chandrasekaran
    • Thread
    • energy engineering wind power wind turbine
    • Replies: 17
    • Forum: General Engineering
  11. S

    How are wind turbine blades made to face the wind?

    By noting the direction of the wind, the taper of the blades and the direction of rotation, it is obvious the turbine blades are facing the wind. On the other hand if you blow on a pinwheel while holding it loosely, it turns so the blades are away from the direction of the wind. Does anyone...
  12. N

    Factors affecting wind turbine cut in speed

    Hello, could someone explain some of the factors, or the calculation, for determining wind turbine cut in speed? I am talking about small wind turbines using with a single bearing on the rotating axis and a permanent magnet generator. A lot of literature targets a cut in speed of 3 m/s without...
  13. N

    Effect of a lightning strike on stainless steel bolt

    Hello, I was recently onsite in the Philippines and the equipment owner stated their wind turbine had been hit by lightning. The only obvious damage was to the bolted connections at the root of one blade. One was sheared, the other bent. Does anyone have any experience of lighting causing...
  14. Jimmerding

    Detanglers for copper wire/power lines - Do they exist?

    Morning all, I am currently designing a VAWT and am working on a contra-rotating turbine, but I am extremely new to electrical engineering as a whole, I just really like the idea of designing something like this as a fun project and possibly being able to benefit from lower power bills as a...
  15. Y

    Wind Turbine and Power Generation

    Working on a wind turbine for a class project and making an attempt to add a brake. The idea is that the turbine will generate power at a certain wind speed and if the wind speed is increased, we would slow the turbine with a mechanical brake. We're using a 10V low-torque motor and have created...
  16. ATY

    Chord length and radius of a wind turbine rotor blade

    Hello, I have a question about the chord length of rotor blades from wind turbines. I do not really understand what the difference is to the radius of a wind turbine. I can not find a real explanation, but it seems to be very important. I know that the formula of the chord length depends on...
  17. TrisL

    Please help me, am really bad in physics.

    Homework Statement At a certain location, wind is blowing steadily at 10m/s . Determine the mechanical energy of air per unit mass and the power generation potential of a wind turbine with 60m diameter blades at the location. Density of air is 1.25kgm-3. ( ans : 0.05kJ/kg, 1770kW ) Homework...
  18. ryanuser

    How to store electrical energy?

    Hello I made a little wind turbine so when it is directed at wind it turns and generates electricity as I can see the outcoming voltage on voltmeter. My question is how can I store its energy? Can I use a rechargable battery and let it run out, then stick copper wires at each sides of it coming...
  19. D

    Savonius wind turbine

    Given a certain sized Savonius Wind Turbine, for example, using a 5 gallon bucket (about 12 inches in diameter and 14 inches tall) cut vertically in half, the standard configuration has the two "scoops" either touching at the central vertical axis, or partially overlapped. Would moving both...
  20. F

    Could wind turbines be used as wind breaks in open farm land

    my question is would a line of wind turbines have a comparable effect to a wind break in reducing wind velocity
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