Report
Report
Engineering faculty
Civil Department
A report on wind
Energy
Feb 2023
By:
Name: Javid Ahmad
F/name: Roy Mohammad
Att#: 23th
Dep: Civil Engineering
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A Report on wind Energy – Feb 2023
Table of Contents
1. Abstract ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3
2. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................................... 4
2.1. Wind: ................................................................................................................................................................. 4
2.2. Wind Energy: ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
2.3. Wind Turbines: .................................................................................................................................................. 4
3. Literature review ....................................................................................................................................................... 5
3.1. How wind turbines work: .................................................................................................................................. 5
3.2. Types of wind turbine: ...................................................................................................................................... 5
3.3. Sizes of Wind Turbines: ..................................................................................................................................... 6
3.4. Structure of wind Turbines: .............................................................................................................................. 7
4. Electric Industry: ....................................................................................................................................................... 8
5. Wind energy’s Benefits and Government Actions .................................................................................................... 9
5.1. Environmental Impacts ..................................................................................................................................... 9
5.2. Economic Impacts ............................................................................................................................................. 9
5.3. Renewable Electricity production tax credit (PTC) ......................................................................................... 10
6. Pros and Cons of Wind Energy ................................................................................................................................ 10
6.1. Advantages of Wind Energy ............................................................................................................................ 10
6.1.1. Free Fuel.................................................................................................................................................. 10
6.1.2. Reduces Our Dependence of Fossil Fuels ............................................................................................... 10
6.2. Disadvantages of Wind Power ........................................................................................................................ 10
6.2.1. Dangerous to some wildlife .................................................................................................................... 10
6.2.2. NOISE:...................................................................................................................................................... 11
7. Wind Energy’s Future:............................................................................................................................................. 12
8. References .............................................................................................................................................................. 13
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1. Abstract
As a clean and renewable energy source, wind energy is seen by many as a way to partially solve our
nations’ energy crisis. With U.S. wind energy generation capacity growing by 45% in 2007, wind turbines are
sprouting up on wind farms all over the country.
This report presents an overview of the wind energy industry. It begins with an explanation for how
wind energy works. Then an analysis of the current state of the electric industry is presented, along with a
discussion of wind energy’s benefits that have led to the current expansion. Steps in building a wind farm and
local issues that often arise are explored. the report concludes with a discussion of potential future
developments in wind energy.
Some highlights of the report are:
Wind is a form of Energy. Winds are caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the
sun the irregularities of the earth’s surface and the rotation of the earth.
There are two types of modern wind turbines: horizontal-axis and vertical-axis.
The average utility size wind turbine being installed today is 1.5 megawatts(MW)
Coal is the leading source for electric generation (49%), followed by natural gas (20%) and
nuclear power (19%). Wind energy accounted for just over 1% of total generation in 2007.
U.S. wind energy generation capacity grew to over 16800 MW in 2007. Over 5200 MW were
added in 2007 alone, which equaled 45% growth.
the benefit of wind energy includes a reduction of greenhouse gases and significant economic
benefit to local communities.
Government support of the wind energy industry includes tax credits, research funding,
energy standards, and development grants and loans. The most important government
program is the renewable production tax credit.
Some local issues that often arise with the development of a wind farm include affects on
wildlife , noise created by the wind farm, the aesthetics, and shadow flicker
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2. INTRODUCTION
2.1. Wind:
Wind is the air flow that consists of many gasses in the atmosphere of the earth. According to it’s mechanism
wind is the phenomenon of Air moving from the equatorial regions toward the poles, as light warm air rises toward the
atmosphere, while heavier cool Air descends toward the Earth’s surface. Therefore, cooler air moves from the north
pole toward the equator and warms up on its way, while already warm air rises toward the north poles and gets cooler
and heavier, until it starts sinking back down toward the poles. The creator factors of this phenomenon are Rotation of
the Earth, Uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun and the irregularities of the earth’s surface. Wind is a sustainable
energy source since it is Renewable, widely distributed, and plentiful. Thus, the wind flow is used by the humans for
many purposes such as Water pumping, sailing, Grain milling and generating electricity. (Kumar, sumathi, & Surekha,
2019)
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3. Literature review
Below is an explanation of how electricity is generated by wind turbines put forth by the U.S Department of
energy’s wind and hydropower Technologies Program.
Figure 3.3: shows the sizes of wind turbines in recent past and future.
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3.4. Structure of wind Turbines:
The diagram of contents and their description:
Anemometer:
Measures the wind speed and transmits wind speed data to the controller.
Brake:
A disc brake which can be applied mechanically, electrically or hydraulically to stop the rotor in emergencies.
Blades:
Most turbines have either two or three blades. Wind blowing over the blades causes the blades to “lift” and rotate.
Controller:
The controller starts up the machine at wind speeds of about 8 to 16 miles per hour (mph) and shuts off the
machine at about 55 mph. turbines do not operate at wind speeds above about 55 mph because they might be
damaged by the high winds.
Gear box:
Gears connect the low-speed shaft to the high-speed shaft and increase the rotational speeds from about 30 to 60
rotations per minute (rpm) to about 1000 to 1800 rpm. The rotational speed require by most generators to produce
electricity. The gear box is a costly (and heavy) part of the wind turbine and engineers are exploring “direct-
drive” generators that operate at lower rotational speeds and don’t need gear box.
Generator:
Usually an off-the shelf induction generator that produces 60-cycle AC electricity.
High-speed shaft:
Drives the generator
Low-speed shaft:
The rotor turns the low-speed shaft at about 30 to 60 rotations per minute.
Nacelle:
The nacelle sits atop the tower and contains the gear box, low- and high- speed shafts, generator, controller, and brake.
Some nacelles are large enough for a helicopter to land on.
Pitch:
Blades are turned or pitched out the wind to control the rotor speed and keep the rotor from turning in winds
that are too high or too low to produce electricity.
Rotor:
The blades and the hub together are called the rotor.
Tower:
Towers are made from tubular steel, concrete, or steel lattice. Because wind speed increase with height, taller
towers enable turbines to capture more energy and generate more electricity.
Wind direction:
This is an “up wind” turbine, so called because it operates facing into wind. Other turbines are design to run
“down wind” facing away from the wind.
wind vane:
measures wind direction and communicates with the yaw drive to orient the turbine properly with respect to the
wind.
Yaw drive:
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Upwind turbines face into the wind; the yaw drive is use to keep the rotor facing into the wind as the wind
direction changes. Downwind turbines don’t require a yaw drive; the wind blows the rotor down wind.
Yaw motor:
Powers the yaw drive.
4. Electric Industry:
This section of the report will examine the current state of the electricity generation in the United States and the
growth in the wind energy sector in recent years. As highlighted in chart 1, electricity generated through coal burning
power plants was the most abundant source of electricity in the United States in 2006. Coal accounted for 1.99 billion
MWH (megawatt hours) or just below 50% of all electricity generated. Coal was followed by natural gas (20.0%) and
nuclear power (19.4%). (Energy information Administration, 2006)
Renewable energy sources accounted for 379 million MWH or 9.4% of all generation. At 283 million MWH
hydroelectric power plants accounted for the lion’s share of this amount. Electricity generated from biomass was the
next biggest renewable energy source at 55 million MWH. Wind energy accounted for 27 million MWH, or just less
than 1% of all generation. Geothermal and solar power makes up the remainder. (Energy information Administration,
2006)
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ELECTRIC GENERATION BY SOURCE
(2006)
Coal
49%
solar/PV…
hydroelectric
7%
Renewable Wind
9% 1%
Biomass
0.7%
geothermal
Natural gass 0.3%
Nuclear
20% 20%
Other Electric Generation by Source
2% (Thousand Megawatt hours)
Coal 1990926 Biomass 54759
Natural gas 813044 Geothermal 14568
Nuclear 787219 Hydroelectric 282688
Other 94401 Solar/PV 508
Source: Energy Information Administration Renewables 379111 Wind 26589
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Figure 6.1: the danger of turbines for Birds.
6.2.2. NOISE:
Wind turbines can be quiet noisy which is why they are mostly found in very rural areas where most people
don’t live. Depending on the location of the turbine, such as offshore noise isn’t an ensue. With advancements in the
technology, newer deigns have been shown to reduce the noise complaints and have a much quieter presence. The wind
energy proponents claim that an operating modern wind farm at a distance of 750 to 1000 feet is no noisier than a kitchen
refrigerator. Industry studies estimate wind turbine noise levels to be around 45 decibels.
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6.2.2.1. Other Issues:
Opponents claim wind turbines interfere with television and other communication signals.
Wind farms depress home values
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8. References
Association, E. W. (2009). Wind energy- The facts. London: earthscn.
Kumar, L. a., sumathi, S., & Surekha, P. (2019). solar pv and wind energy conservation system. banglore, karnataka,
India: springer.
varner, b. L. (2008). report on wind energy. los angeles: comission on government forcasting.
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