1. Improving Electric Turbines for Sustainability
By: Angela Jane Almero and Kurtis Lopes
Introduce yourselves
State Topic
Sections we will discuss in this presentation -> applications, issues, possible solutions
We hope that this presentation will be informative and you guys learn something new that you can apply in the near future when we become in charge of designing sustainable technologies

2. What are Electrical Turbines?
Electrical turbines are machines that convert kinetic energy into rotational energy in order to generate electricity.
(Source: Murdoch University EECS, 2006,
As you can see here these are the three most common types of turbines used
Left = steam, middle = wind, right = water
As you can see all 3 have some sort of axle that rotates when its blades move
(Source: Clipart Library , 2017,
(Source: Western Power, 2015,

3. How do They Work?
Turbines can work using any fluid, such as; wind, water, or steam The fluid rotates a magnet around a conductive material, and a current is produced through induction.
(Source: Energy Education, 2015,
( Source: Energy Resources: Wind Power, 2016,
the 2 main types we see here in canada: Wind and Water
both generally work under the same principles: large “blades” that turn when there source is powerful enough to produce rotational motion = kinetic energy
the water turbine is part of a larger scale process since it requires a large source of water
( Source: U.S Army Corps of Engineers, 2017,

4. Applications of Turbines
Almost all of electrical generation in the World today is created through turbines. Turbines that produce alternating current are called alternators Turbines that produce direct current are called dynamos.
(Source: Energy Education, 2015,
On the left we see the water turbine being applied in the hydropower dam, which uses a large body of water as its main source for moving the ‘blades’
On the right we see an example of a wind turbine also being used in the power generation process.
In both applications we can see that the turbines are connected to a generator which is then connected to converters and transformers so that the electricity generated can be further distributed

5. Social and Environmental Impacts
The sounds produced by wind turbine have been known to annoy people in nearby residential areas.
Hydroelectric dams change the flow of rivers and layering of sediments.
(Source: NHACC, 2014,

6. Who does it Affect?
About 20% of the World’s population has regular access to electricity, and is therefore affected by electrical turbines.
An estimated 79 percent of the people in the Third World -- the 50 poorest nations -- have no access to electricity, despite decades of international development work.
This doesn’t mean that these electrical turbines affect the other 80%; rather than being directly affected by turbines these third-world countries are often depleted of their resources in order to supply/support the other 20%
This is where the idea of sustainability comes to play; we need to be aware of everyone that can be affected (indirect or direct) and choose a solution that has the lowest risk

7. Possible Solutions Extra points to talk about:
Due to the noise produced by wind turbines they are often forced to operate under partial load. Operation under partial loads means less energy is produced.
In order to maximize the energy produced then wind farms can be created offshore rather than near residential areas.
Micro-hydro generators have no effect on the environment since they don’t depend on dams to store and direct water; they are generally more eco-friendly than large-scale hydro-electric stations.
(Source: Siemens AG, 2014,
-order-borwin3-north-sea-grid-connection-tennet
Extra points to talk about:
(Code of Ethics) sustainability and what’s best for human beings is the up most important thing in future designs + tech
As engineers we should focus on sustainable designs + technology
If someone asks about marine life affected by offshore wind farms -> state benefits
Scientists knew that some marine animals could be displaced or disturbed so they time the building of wind turbines so that they can afford disturbing the surrounding wildlife
Also there have been discoveries of some seafloor ecosystems recovering (destroyed by farmers) but due to the limitation of fishing boundaries near these turbines these farmers cannot further destroy these ecosystems -> they have calculated ranges for avoiding species that live in the area
(Source: Practical Action, 2018,

8. Thank you for listening! Any Questions?
If someone asks about marine life affected by offshore wind farms -> state benefits
Scientists knew that some marine animals could be displaced or disturbed so they time the building of wind turbines so that they can afford disturbing the surrounding wildlife
Also there have been discoveries of some seafloor ecosystems recovering (destroyed by farmers) but due to the limitation of fishing boundaries near these turbines these farmers cannot further destroy these ecosystems -> they have calculated ranges for avoiding species that live in the area