An Introduction to Wind Turbines

Wind turbines are based on the centuries old design of the windmill. Initially used to grind grain or pump water, the current applications have a far more beneficial use; that of producing energy.

Whilst the initial purpose of the windmill's design is still in use today, the application whereby the kinetic energy of the wind is transformed into mechanical energy for electricity is becoming increasingly more widespread in the bid to combat the detrimental effects of fossil fuels across the entire globe.

There are two very distinct designs for wind turbines; the vertical axis and the horizontal axis. The design title refers to the position of the sails that power the device in relation to the supporting tower.

The traditional design of the wind turbine is the horizontal axis wind turbine, where the sails appear parallel to the tower. The juncture of the tower to the sails houses a gearbox to convert the generally slow rotation of the sails to a quicker motion in order to drive the generator. This design requires the turbine to be pointed into the wind in order to function.

The alternative design of the device, known as the vertical axis wind turbine, is constructed with its sails perpendicular to the supporting tower. This has the major advantage of not requiring to be pointed into the wind in order to function, however it is generally more expensive to run and produces less power than its horizontal counterpart.

Whilst these are the two major designs of air turbine system, there have been others that have striven to break the mould. Most notable are the Darrieus device, which is also known as the eggbeater turbine after its appearance, and the Savonius device, that uses a system similar to the rotators often seen on the roofs of vans and buses.

Wind turbines are a common form of renewable energy and wind farms consisting of these machines can be found both and land and at sea, most typically in high wind environments in order to maximise their efficiency. Smaller wind turbines are also used commercially, though they have yet to sufficiently penetrate the domestic market.

Although these devices are a form of clean, safe, renewable energy, the setup cost and subsequent cost of maintenance can sometimes be very high. With the onset of more durable materials, however, this cost will be sufficiently reduced, further enhancing the economic viability of these machines.

matt @ Wind Turbine Installers

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