Wind TurbinesBy: Nicole Ameling Jenna Kelmser

& Lindsey O’Hearn

How do wind turbines work?

A wind turbine looks closely to a household fan but very larger. The huge blades move slowly against the wind.

• When the blades move small gears inside move also. One of the gears is connected to a high speed shaft within the generator.

How do wind turbines work? (cont.)

• On the high speed shaft a magnetic rotor spins inside loops of copper wire. When the rotor spins it creates “electromagnetic induction” that generates electrical current

How do wind turbines work? (cont.)

Issues within the gearbox

• With wind turbines being becoming a larger need the push to improve performance becomes important.

• Gearbox reliability problems are being addressed with advanced design soil contamination control. Next-generation contamination control technologies. The two most common and damaging oil contaminants.

Timeline

600’S 1300’S 1888 1971 2004

1100’s 1800’s 1820’s 2001

Timeline questions

• How early was the technology of wind turbines used?• What were they

originally used for?• What state were

they origionally used to generate electricity?

New Technology of wind turbines in different countries!

• Europe/UK:

• Asia/Chinese markets:

• Africa:

• Australia:

• America:

• Antarctica

What are the advantages of offshore wind turbines?

• No noise pollution: located so offshore; no one hears them.

• No injury to birds: birds don’t frequently fly in open ocean except a slight amount.

Disadvantages?• Scenery loss: nobody

like to see wind turbines with their nice ocean view.

What are the advantages of onshore turbines?

• Cost: costs less then offshore wind turbines. - cheaper foundations. - cheaper installation

- cheaper and easier access for operation and maintenance.

Disadvantages?• Noise: Farmers and homeowners hear them all day long.• Its affect on animals: Birds and livestock just don’t like

them.• Loss in scenery: You may love the view of your grass hills.

How does wind turbines affect birds and bats?Studies are shown that wind turbines harm birds and bats in three ways:1.Disturbance2.Habitat loss (both direct and/or indirect) 3.Collision

Some of the major affects on birds and bats are Navarra in Spain, and the Altamont Pass in California.

Wind turbines effect on migration patterns

What will humans next design look like for a wind turbine?

References 1. http://www.windsolarenergy.org/wind-turbines.htm2. http://www.allsolarproducts.net/wind-turbines.html3. http://windy-future.info/2009/10/20/building-wind-turbines/4. http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/919345. http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/wind-power/wind-turbines/6. Northgowerwindactiongroup's Blog7. Scholarly Journal8. Wind energy Articled9. Wind power news- The New York Times10. GE Energy- Wind power