Wind Energy

By: Lizzy Jones,Katherine Mentecki, and Karin Sundquist

Overview

Resource Information Where it comes from How it works History

Interesting Facts Environmental Impact Advantages / Disadvantages Outputs Resources

Where it Comes From

Converted solar energy Hot air rises Cold air takes place, causing wind Wind turns blades

Useful Vocabulary

Weather / Climate conditions Has to be in windy area Too much wind harms equipment

Wind farm Many turbines grouped together Makes large amounts of energy

Other vocabulary words you should learn are in bold and italics on the slide.

How it Works

Wind pushes blades Blades attached to a hub

together called the rotor Rotor spins drive shaft Gearbox makes shaft faster Drive shaft turns generator to make energy Generator converts mechanical energy to

electrical energy

How it Works Picture

• Hub– Where blades are attached

• Nacelle– Contains drive train,

gearbox and generator

• Roter Blade– Converts wind energy to

rotational shaft energy

• Gear Box– Helps generator spin fast

enough to make electricity

Speed Increases

History

• 3500 B.C.– Egyptians use for sailboats

• 1100 A.D.– Appear in Europe– Used by farmers

• Pump water• Grind grain into flour

• 1888– Charles F. Brush– Electricity

• 1990s– Environmental concerns promote

wind energy• 2007

– US wind energy capacity increases by 45%

Old Dutch Windmill,

Common in Denmark

US Increases Wind Energy

Interesting Facts

• Weather device tells blades to catch more or less wind

• Denmark manufactures many windmills

• Many in Germany, Denmark, and California

Wind farm on Coast of Denmark

Vertical Vs. Horizontal Axis

• Vertical – “egg-beater”– Axle is vertical

• Horizontal– “propeller”– Axle is horizontal

Environmental Impact

Takes up lots of space

Renewable Affects endangered

birds Green energy

Advantages

Wind is free Good for pumping

water Reasonable cost Renewable source Good for rural areas

Disadvantages

Need 3x the amount of installed generation to meet demand

Limited to windy areas Can only use small generator size Need many to generate enough energy Need expensive energy storage Climate dependant

Wind can damage equipment Noisy

Four Outputs

Type I No smog Generates energy

Type II Loud Might not always work Looks ugly

Type III People profit from having it on property

Type IV Hurt endangered birds

Conclusion

Good,clean way to create energy

Has few drawbacks Not enough to

support world

Resources

www.energyquest.ca.gov www.awea.org www.kidwind.org

Questions???