Wind Energy Group 6: Jason Armstrong, Alejandra Salazar, William Becker, Silverio Sierra, Jessica Morgan

How is Wind Generated? Atmosphere warming by the sun Atmosphere warming by the sun Hot air rises while cooler air falls Hot air rises while cooler air falls Result  WIND Result  WIND

Energy From Wind Kinetic Energy from air Kinetic Energy from air Conversion into mechanical force or electricity Conversion into mechanical force or electricity 59% max efficiency 59% max efficiency Increasing current development Increasing current development

How It Works? Wind pressure turns a rotor Wind pressure turns a rotor Rotor attached to shaft Rotor attached to shaft Shaft connected to electrical generator Shaft connected to electrical generator For residential systems, DC output stored in batteries For residential systems, DC output stored in batteries For large systems, synchronous inverters coverts DC into AC and feeds into the grid For large systems, synchronous inverters coverts DC into AC and feeds into the grid

Amount Of Power Extracted Proportional to the cube of the wind’s velocity and area swept by blades which is proportional to the blade diameter Proportional to the cube of the wind’s velocity and area swept by blades which is proportional to the blade diameter The greater the wind velocity, the more impact on the rotor blades The greater the wind velocity, the more impact on the rotor blades The higher the support tower, the higher the wind velocity The higher the support tower, the higher the wind velocity Fewer blades are more efficient Fewer blades are more efficient

Types of Windmills

Types of Wind Turbines Horizontal Horizontal Common Common Three Categories: Three Categories: 1) Dutch type 2) American multivane 3) 2 or 3 bladed turbine Vertical Vertical Egg-beater shape Egg-beater shape Darrieus rotor Darrieus rotor

Dutch Windmill 4 arms 4 arms Thousands used in Holland, but few used today Thousands used in Holland, but few used today Used to pump water and grind flour Used to pump water and grind flour Small efficiency 7% Small efficiency 7%

American Multivane Used to pump water Used to pump water Dependable Dependable Operates under small wind velocities Operates under small wind velocities Low efficiency and output Low efficiency and output

2 or 3 Bladed Turbine Primarily used today Primarily used today Most efficient Most efficient

Vertical-Axis Machine Darrieus rotor Darrieus rotor No shift in wind directions No shift in wind directions Gearbox and generator mounted at base Gearbox and generator mounted at base Difficult to put high up on a tower Difficult to put high up on a tower Not popular Not popular

Disadvantages: High initial cost High initial cost Inconsistent energy source Inconsistent energy source Limited power Limited power Expensive energy storage Expensive energy storage Visual Pollution (noise, appearance) Visual Pollution (noise, appearance) Interference with television and radio waves Interference with television and radio waves Potential threat to birds Potential threat to birds Competition with other uses of land Competition with other uses of land Location of wind farms Location of wind farms

Advantages: Clean energy source Clean energy source Eliminates many pollution problems Eliminates many pollution problems Renewable resource Renewable resource Lowest priced energy source Lowest priced energy source Benefits to rural economy Benefits to rural economy Small units which can be tailored to a specific location Small units which can be tailored to a specific location Fine complement to solar energy Fine complement to solar energy

Rural Economic Benefits Iowa – 240 MW wind farm Iowa – 240 MW wind farm -$64,000/yr lease payments to farmers ($2,000/turbine) -$2 million in property taxes -40 long term jobs -200 short term construction jobs Minnesota – 107 MW wind farm Minnesota – 107 MW wind farm -$50,000/ yr lease payments to farmers -$61,000 in property taxes -31 long term jobs -31 long term jobs

Wind Energy in Costa Rica Largest wind farm in Central and South America Largest wind farm in Central and South America Generates 3% of national electricity Generates 3% of national electricity Prevents 57,000 tons of CO 2 Prevents 57,000 tons of CO 2 Ideal location for wind farms Ideal location for wind farms

Economic Benefits in Costa Rica Free fuel Free fuel Low maintenance cost Low maintenance cost Initial costs covered by private donors Initial costs covered by private donors Creates new jobs, although few Creates new jobs, although few

Problems With the Costa Rica Wind Farms Not too beneficial to the locals Not too beneficial to the locals Little employment opportunities Little employment opportunities Wages are not significantly higher Wages are not significantly higher

US Wind Energy Electric Utilities Companies and their role in “green power” programs Electric Utilities Companies and their role in “green power” programs Top 5 Ranked states for wind energy potential: ND, TX, KS, SD, MT Top 5 Ranked states for wind energy potential: ND, TX, KS, SD, MT Becoming more attractive as a source of energy Becoming more attractive as a source of energy

The Lone Wind State TX leading state in installed capacity of wind energy TX leading state in installed capacity of wind energy Central and SW Services Inc. (6.6MW) Central and SW Services Inc. (6.6MW) TXU Electric/York Research Corp. (34.3MW) TXU Electric/York Research Corp. (34.3MW)

International Leaders Denmark: Leader in converting wind  power Leader in converting wind  power Owns 50% of worldwide wind power technology Owns 50% of worldwide wind power technology Largest offshore wind farm Largest offshore wind farm Expected to be 21% of overall energy Expected to be 21% of overall energyGermany:  Largest number of installed turbines

Why Wind? Current concern for the environment Current concern for the environment High energy prices High energy prices Fossil fuel insecurity Fossil fuel insecurity Renewable energy Renewable energy Increased capacity needs Increased capacity needs Complements with Solar Energy Complements with Solar Energy Attractive alternative Attractive alternative

Any Questions?