- 1. Wind Energy
By: Andrew Hyde
2. Wind Energy History
1 A.D.
Hero of Alexandria uses a wind machine to power an organ
1200 to 1850
Golden era of windmills in western Europe 50,000
9,000 in Holland; 10,000 in England; 18,000 in Germany*
1850s
Multi-blade turbines for water pumping made and marketed in
U.S.
1882
Thomas Edison commissions first commercial electric generating
stations in NYC and London
1900
Competition from alternative energy sources reduces windmill
population to fewer than 10,000
1850 1930
Peak growth of the small multi-blade turbines in the US
Midwest
As many as 6,000,000 units installed*
1936+
US Rural Electrification Administration extends the grid to most
formerly isolated rural sites
Grid electricity rapidly displaces multi-blade turbine uses
*Power From The Wind
3. Mathematics of Wind Power
P =1/2xair densityxswept rotor area x (wind speed)3
pAV
Density = P/(RxT)
P - pressure (Pa)
R - specific gas constant (287 J/kgK)
T - air temperature (K)
Area = r2
Instantaneous Speed
(not mean speed)
kg/m3
m2
m/s
4. Wind Turbines
5. Nacelle
10
5
Key Components
5. Gear Box
10. Blade Hub
12.Blade
16. Yaw Gears
17. Generator
16
17
12
6. Turbine Improvements
Larger turbines
Specialized blade design
Power electronics
Computer modeling
produces more efficient design
Manufacturing improvements
7. Wind Energy Storage
Pumped hydroelectric
Georgetown facility Completed 1967
Two reservoirs separated by 1000 vertical feet
Pump water uphill at night or when wind energy production exceeds
demand
Flow water downhill through hydroelectric turbines during the day
or when wind energy production is less than demand
About 70 - 80% round trip efficiency
Raises cost of wind energy by 25%
Difficult to find, obtain government approval and build new
facilities
Compressed Air Energy Storage
Using wind power to compress air in underground storage
caverns
Salt domes, empty natural gas reservoirs
Costly, inefficient
Hydrogen storage
Use wind power to electrolyze water into hydrogen
Store hydrogen for use later in fuel cells
50% losses in energy from wind to hydrogen and hydrogen to
electricity
25% round trip efficiency
Raises cost of wind energy by 4X
8. Advantages of Wind Energy
Environmental
Economic
Fuel Conservation
Cost
9. Environmental Benefits
No air pollution
No greenhouse gases
No destruction of habitats
10. Economic Benefits
Increased development creates jobs
Increased tax revenue
11. Fuel Conservation Benefits
Domestic Energy Source
Unlimited Supply
12. Cost Benefits
High initial costs are paid off quickly
Costs do not inflate
13. Disadvantages of Wind Energy
Bird and Bat Mortality
Visual
Noise
Location
Cost
Intermittent Output
Only when the wind blows.
14. The Bird and Bat Obstacle
Birds of prey(hawks, owls, and eagles) in jeopardy
15. U.S Wind Power Challenges
Best wind sites distant from
population centers
major grid connections
Wind variability
Can mitigate if forecasting improves
Limited offshore sites
Sea floor drops off rapidly on east and west coasts
Intermittent federal tax incentives
16. Wind Power Classes
17. Location of a Wind Farm
Winds
Minimum class 4 desired for utility-scale wind farm (>7 m/s at
hub height)
Transmission
Distance, voltage excess capacity
Permit approval
Land-use compatibility
Public acceptance
Visual, noise, and bird impacts are biggest concern
Land area
Economies of scale in construction
Number of landowners
*Charles Bean Twin Groves Wind Farm
18. Future of Wind Power- Offshore
19. 60-120 m hub height 20. 5 km from shore, 30 m deep ideal 21.
Gravity foundation, pole, or tripod formation 22. Shaft can act as
artificial reef 23. Drawbacks- Visual eye sore
