WINDMILLS

Janiris Pimentel

A GENDA
What is a Windmill?

Wind Energy How does Wind Turbines Works? Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Energy

W HAT

IS A

W INDMILL ?

A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational (mechanical) energy by means of vanes called sails or blades.

W INDMILLS

IN

A NTIQUITY

Use of wind to power machines was first used by Greeks on the 1st Century AD. There are Different types of windmills with different functionality.

Food Milling

Ground Water Pump

Wind Turbine (Electricity)

W IND E NERGY

Wind Energy is presented as an alternative to Fossil Fuel. Represents the 35% of new energy production in the US. Wind energy is presented as a cleaner, safer and affordable option to replace the use of fossil fuel.

The average cost of wind energy is estimated to be 9 cents per Kwh. (In Puerto Rico the electricity cost is 24 cent per Kwh)

B ASIC COMPONENTS OF W IND T URBINES

H OW DOES W IND T URBINES W ORK ?

Wind makes the blades rotate

Rotation of the low speed shaft amplified by gear box

The generator uses magnetic fields to convert the rotational energy into electrical energy

W IND T URBINES C APACITY

The capacity of the wind turbines are affected by several variables:

Wind Speed

Air Density (Altitude)

Tower Height Blade Diameter

W IND S PEED

Wind speed is not constant. Speed greater than 8 mph are required to move wind turbines blades. Speeds greater than 55 mph will stop the wind turbine for safety precautions.

The quantity of energy produced by the turbine is directly related to the wind speed.
Wind Speed increase with altitude.

A IR D ENSITY (A LTITUDE )

Lighter air offer less resistance to blades reducing the wind turbine capacity. Air Density is usually related to altitude. The air at sea level is denser than at higher altitudes. Even the wind speed increases with altitude the air density affects the wind turbine efficiency.

TOWER H EIGHT AND B LADE D IAMETER

Wind turbine efficiency improves as the tower height increases. The average wind tower height is 300 ft tall. The tower height should be proportional to the blades diameter. Largest wind turbine produce 10 MW the tower height is 533 ft and a blade diameter of 475 ft. A larger blade will increase the wind turbine efficiency.

W IND E NERGY A DVANTAGES AND D ISADVANTAGES

Advantages

Disadvantages

No harmful emissions Renewable Energy Resource Reduced space (compared to a fuel power station) Advance technology to improve efficiency

Wild life impact Noise Contamination Initial Cost Output Variability

Q UESTIONS ???