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?