Wind EnergyWind Energy
Group 6:Group 6:Jason Armstrong, Alejandra Salazar, William Becker, Jason Armstrong, Alejandra Salazar, William Becker,
Silverio Sierra, Jessica MorganSilverio Sierra, Jessica Morgan
How is Wind Generated?How is Wind Generated?
Atmosphere Atmosphere warming by the warming by the sunsun
Hot air rises while Hot air rises while cooler air fallscooler air falls
Result Result WIND WIND
Energy FromEnergy From WindWind
Kinetic Energy Kinetic Energy from airfrom air
Conversion into Conversion into mechanical force mechanical force or electricityor electricity
59% max efficiency59% max efficiency Increasing current Increasing current
developmentdevelopment
How It Works?How It Works? Wind pressure turns a Wind pressure turns a
rotor rotor Rotor attached to Rotor attached to
shaftshaft Shaft connected to Shaft connected to
electrical generatorelectrical generator For residential For residential
systems, DC output systems, DC output stored in batteriesstored in batteries
For large systems, For large systems, synchronous inverters synchronous inverters coverts DC into AC coverts DC into AC and feeds into the and feeds into the gridgrid
Amount Of Power ExtractedAmount Of Power Extracted Proportional to the cube of Proportional to the cube of
the wind’s velocity and area the wind’s velocity and area swept by blades which is swept by blades which is proportional to the blade proportional to the blade diameterdiameter
The greater the wind The greater the wind velocity, the more impact on velocity, the more impact on the rotor bladesthe rotor blades
The higher the support The higher the support tower, the higher the wind tower, the higher the wind velocityvelocity
Fewer blades are more Fewer blades are more efficientefficient
Types ofTypes ofWindmillsWindmills
Types of Wind TurbinesTypes of Wind Turbines
HorizontalHorizontal
CommonCommon Three Categories:Three Categories:
1)1) Dutch typeDutch type
2)2) American American multivanemultivane
3)3) 2 or 3 bladed 2 or 3 bladed turbineturbine
VerticalVertical
Egg-beater shapeEgg-beater shape Darrieus rotorDarrieus rotor
Dutch WindmillDutch Windmill
4 arms4 arms Thousands used in Thousands used in
Holland, but few used Holland, but few used todaytoday
Used to pump water Used to pump water and grind flourand grind flour
Small efficiency 7%Small efficiency 7%
American MultivaneAmerican Multivane
Used to pump Used to pump waterwater
DependableDependable Operates under Operates under
small wind small wind velocitiesvelocities
Low efficiency and Low efficiency and outputoutput
2 or 3 Bladed Turbine2 or 3 Bladed Turbine
Primarily used Primarily used todaytoday
Most efficientMost efficient
Vertical-Axis MachineVertical-Axis Machine
Darrieus rotorDarrieus rotor No shift in wind No shift in wind
directionsdirections Gearbox and Gearbox and
generator mounted generator mounted at baseat base
Difficult to put high Difficult to put high up on a towerup on a tower
Not popularNot popular
Disadvantages:Disadvantages: High initial costHigh initial cost Inconsistent energy sourceInconsistent energy source Limited powerLimited power Expensive energy storageExpensive energy storage Visual Pollution (noise, Visual Pollution (noise,
appearance)appearance) Interference with television Interference with television
and radio wavesand radio waves Potential threat to birdsPotential threat to birds Competition with other uses of Competition with other uses of
landland Location of wind farmsLocation of wind farms
Advantages:Advantages: Clean energy sourceClean energy source Eliminates many pollution Eliminates many pollution
problemsproblems Renewable resourceRenewable resource Lowest priced energy Lowest priced energy
sourcesource Benefits to rural economyBenefits to rural economy Small units which can be Small units which can be
tailored to a specific tailored to a specific locationlocation
Fine complement to solar Fine complement to solar energyenergy
Rural Economic BenefitsRural Economic Benefits
IowaIowa – 240 MW wind farm – 240 MW wind farm-$64,000/yr lease payments to farmers -$64,000/yr lease payments to farmers
($2,000/turbine)($2,000/turbine)-$2 million in property taxes-$2 million in property taxes-40 long term jobs-40 long term jobs-200 short term construction jobs-200 short term construction jobs
MinnesotaMinnesota – 107 MW wind farm – 107 MW wind farm-$50,000/ yr lease payments to farmers-$50,000/ yr lease payments to farmers-$61,000 in property taxes-$61,000 in property taxes
-31 long term jobs-31 long term jobs
Wind Energy in Costa RicaWind Energy in Costa Rica
Largest wind farm Largest wind farm in Central and in Central and South AmericaSouth America
Generates 3% of Generates 3% of national electricitynational electricity
Prevents 57,000 Prevents 57,000 tons of COtons of CO22
Ideal location for Ideal location for wind farmswind farms
Economic Benefits in Costa Economic Benefits in Costa RicaRica
Free fuelFree fuel Low maintenance Low maintenance
costcost Initial costs Initial costs
covered by private covered by private donorsdonors
Creates new jobs, Creates new jobs, although fewalthough few
Problems With the Costa Rica Problems With the Costa Rica Wind FarmsWind Farms
Not too beneficial Not too beneficial to the localsto the locals
Little employment Little employment opportunitiesopportunities
Wages are not Wages are not significantly highersignificantly higher
US Wind EnergyUS Wind Energy
Electric Utilities Companies and their role in Electric Utilities Companies and their role in “green power” programs“green power” programs
Top 5 Ranked states for wind energy potential: Top 5 Ranked states for wind energy potential: ND, TX, KS, SD, MTND, TX, KS, SD, MT
Becoming more attractive as a source of energyBecoming more attractive as a source of energy
The Lone Wind StateThe Lone Wind State
TX leading state in TX leading state in installed capacity installed capacity of wind energyof wind energy
Central and SW Central and SW Services Inc. Services Inc. (6.6MW)(6.6MW)
TXU Electric/York TXU Electric/York Research Corp. Research Corp. (34.3MW)(34.3MW)
International International LeadersLeadersDenmark:Denmark: Leader in converting Leader in converting
windwindpowerpower Owns 50% of worldwide Owns 50% of worldwide
wind power technologywind power technology Largest offshore wind Largest offshore wind
farmfarm Expected to be 21% of Expected to be 21% of
overall energyoverall energy
Germany:Germany: Largest number of Largest number of
installed turbinesinstalled turbines
Why Wind?Why Wind?
Current concern for Current concern for the environmentthe environment
High energy pricesHigh energy prices Fossil fuel insecurityFossil fuel insecurity Renewable energy Renewable energy Increased capacity Increased capacity
needsneeds Complements with Complements with
Solar EnergySolar Energy Attractive alternativeAttractive alternative
Any Questions?Any Questions?