WIND ENERGY (RENEWABLE ENERGY)

Muhammad Azeem Jalbani (azeemjalbani@gmail.com)

Wind Energy is an indirect form of solar energy which can be used continuously. Wind is a form of solar energy which is caused by uneven the heating of atmosphere by the sun, the irregularities of earth’s surface and rotation of earth. Wind flow patterns are modified by earth’s terrain, bodies of water and vegetative cover. Wind flow or motion energy when harvested by wind turbines can be used to generate electricity.

There are two types of winds:

1.      Planetary winds

2.      Local winds

1.      Planetary winds:

Which are cause to due to greater heating of earth’s surface near to equator.

2.      Local winds:

Which are cause to due to differential heating of land and water in coastal areas. These are also cause due to uneven heating in hills and mountains along the slopes.

The era of wind electric generators began close to 1900’s.

The first modern wind turbine, specifically designed for electricity generation, was constructed in Denmark in 1890.

The first utility-scale system was installed in Russia in 1931. A 100 kW turbine was installed on the Caspian Sea shore, which worked for two years and generated about  20,000 kW electricity.

The Wind Energy or Wind Power describes the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity.

The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to generator and makes electricity.

Components of wind turbines:

Blade or rotor which converts the energy in the wind to rotational shaft energy;

Drive train and Nacelle which usually including a gearbox and a generator.

Tower that supports the rotor and drive train with nacelle.

Converter, Heat exchanger, electrical cables, ground support equipment and interconnection equipment which perform works respectively.

Types of wind turbines:

Horizontal axis wind turbine

Most commercially used design, higher power coefficient, Low cut in wind speed, complicated design and Yaw drive arrangement required.

Vertical axis wind turbine:

No Yaw arrangement required, Gear box and Generator can be accommodated at ground, Low maintenance cost, usually not self-starting, Low turbine efficiency, Chances of high rotational speed and structure breakage

Basic parameters of wind measurement

1.      Wind Speed

2.      Wind Direction

3.      Air Density

4.      Temperature

Equipment’s of wind measurement

1.      3-Cup anemometer which measure the wind speed. 

2.      Wind vane which informs wind direction.

3.      Temperature sensor which measures temperature.

4.      Data logger which provides wind measurement details.  

Wind energy is friendly to the surrounding environment, as no fossil fuels are burnt to generate electricity from wind energy.

Wind turbines take up less space than the average power station. Windmills only have to occupy a few square meters for the base, this allows the land around the turbine to be used for many purposes, for example agriculture.

Newer technologies are making the extraction of wind energy much more efficient. The wind is free, and we are able to cash in on this free source of energy.

Wind turbines are a great resource to generate energy in remote locations, such as mountain communities and remote countryside. Wind turbines can be a range of different sizes in order to support varying population levels.

Wind energy is that when combined with solar electricity, this energy source is great for developed and developing countries to provide a steady, reliable supply of electricity

The main disadvantage regarding wind power is down to the winds unreliability factor. In many areas, the winds strength is too low to support a wind turbine or wind farm, and this is where the use of solar power or geothermal power could be great alternatives.

Wind turbines generally produce allot less electricity than the average fossil fueled power station, requiring multiple wind turbines to be built in order to make an impact.

Wind turbine construction can be very expensive and costly to surrounding wildlife during the build process.

The noise pollution from commercial wind turbines is sometimes similar to a small jet engine. This is fine if you live miles away, where you will hardly notice the noise, but what if you live within a few hundred meters of a turbine. This is a major disadvantage.