Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
wind turbine from the side. This reminded me of my own surprise as a child when my toy
windmill worked far better when I faced the wind than when I blew at it from the side.
Essentially, a wind turbine works like a fan in reverse; instead of moving air, it is moved
by the air.
The performance of a wind turbine depends on four factors: the size of the rotor (the
combined hub and blades); the number and shape of the blades; the shape of the terrain;
and the presence or absence of obstacles such as houses, trees, or hills. The turbines used
in wind farms usually have three blades and always face the wind, thanks to sensors that
automatically redirect the rotor. From the centre of the rotor a shaft enters the main body
of the turbine (known as the nacelle) and is connected to a generator, which produces
electricity in much the same way as a bicycle dynamo (see
Figure 4.13
).
Figure 4.12.
The three blades of a wind turbine en route through Edenfield (UK) to a
wind farm.
Source:
Paul Anderson at Wikimedia Commons.
