Wind Power
The power of the wind can be harnessed to create electricity. Wind turbines are used and spin to turn an electricity generator which creates electricity.
Traditionally we think of the windmills of the Netherlands, which were used to mechanically grind flour or move water. I'll talk about the electricity generation.
The most common type of wind turbine is a three-blade. There are different sizes and they can be installed for individual homes or communities, or on a larger scale in wind farms with a multiple turbine array. I have also seen small roof-top turbines that attach to house roofs for home-use wind power.
The beauty of wind is that it can be windy at all times of day (unlike solar energy, which doesn't work at night). I have stood underneath wind turbines (in fact, the ones in the above picture!) and they are extremely quiet. The large turbines don't turn extremely fast, but you can imagine one swoop of those blades can go a long way! There's something glorious about a windmill - it brings the old technologies like you see on old farmsteads or in Europe with the new technologies of really working with the powerful Earth's wind to create power.
The one interesting note - the wind can be too powerful and if the turbine is directly facing the wind, it can put stress on the parts. The genius in the design is that the turbine turn to lessen the wind's force when gusts of wind are high, and turns again when wind is low.
More to come... (I need to study the technical stuff and see if I can explain it in common language)...
Written and Researched by Kim Tanasichuk. Copyright © 2007-2009 Kim Tanasichuk. All Rights Reserved. You may not reproduce any content on this website without the written permission of Kim Tanasichuk.
Videos About Wind Power
Videos courtesy of Youtube and Google Video and Copyright to Their Owners
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Winds of Change - A Wind Power Advocacy Video |
Puget Sound Energy's Wind Power |
Helix Wind Turbine |