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In today's world of climate change and dwindling resources, alternative methods of producing energy are more important than ever. Over the last century, our reliance on fossil fuels for energy has created a host of environmental concerns, not to mention political discord and in many regions, a disregard for human rights and social stability. Fortunately, many countries have started searching for power sources that are easily sustainable, carbon neutral and do not rely on outside forces to maintain supplies.
Among some of the most feasible ideas that have come about in recent decades is the wind turbine. Wind has been used for centuries as a means of creating mechanical power, with windmills having been used for everything from grinding corn to pumping water. However, it wasn't until the late 19th century that the idea of using wind to generate electricity became a practical idea. Within a few decades these turbines were being commonly used on farms and other rural locations as the primary means of generating electricity when a connection to a distribution grid was not possible.
A wind turbine works by converting the kinetic energy of the wind into usable electricity. While there are several basic designs, they all essentially work the same way. Much like the operation of a windmill, as the wind blows across the blades it forces them to turn. The blades are connected to a main drive shaft, which is connected to a generator, and the rotation of this drive shaft is what causes the generator to produce electricity. This electricity can either be used directly or can be stored for later use.
The horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT) is the most common type of turbine currently in use. They are designed with the drive shaft and electrical generator mounted on the top of the main structure. In order for these turbines to operate correctly they must be pointed into the wind, which is either done through the use of a weather vane (in the case of small turbines) or through a combination of wind sensors and a small motor. In the case of the latter, as the sensors detect which direction the wind is blowing they activate the motor, which in turn rotates the entire assembly, pointing it in the right direction.
The modern wind turbine can be used as a single unit, but in most cases they are combined with many others to create a wind farm in order to produce as much electricity as possible. These turbines are usually mounted on towers that can reach as high as 300 ft and can handle winds strong enough to produce tip speeds of over 200 miles per hour. Gear boxes are commonly used to adjust the rotational speed of the generator to compensate for either low or high wind speeds, depending on the conditions. This has the result of producing reliable electricity, regardless of the weather conditions.
The future of our energy needs will depend largely on our ability to find reliable, sustainable energy sources. Wind turbines will undoubtedly be a major part of this future.
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