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The original source of energy for almost all living things on earth is…

A. Sun

B. Water

C. Soil

D. Plant life

E. Wind

2

Each and every action on Earth involves…

A. Food

B. Energy

C. Sun

D. Water

E. Motion

3

Which of the following statements best defines energy?

A. A force that moves something

B. Potential and kinetic

C. The rate at which work is done

D. The ability to do work

E. Fossil fuels

4

The term “renewable energy resources” means …A. Resources that are free and convenient

to useB. Resources that can be converted directly into heat and electricityC. Resources that do not produce air pollutionD. Resources that are very efficient to use

or producing energyE. Resources that can be replenished by

nature in a short period of time

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Which of the following energy resources is not renewable?

A. Solar

B. Coal

C. Biomass (wood, waste, plants, alcohol

fuels)

D. Water (hydro) power

E. Geothermal

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Wind EnergyUsed with permission from:Professor Stephen LawrenceLeeds School of BusinessUniversity of ColoradoBoulder, CO

Adapted from a presentation byKeith StocktonEnvironmental StudiesUniversity of ColoradoBoulder, CO

Catherine WalkerAmerican Public University

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Wind Turbines

Power for a House or City

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Wind Energy History 5000 B.C. – Egyptians are first known people to use wind energy to navigate

their boats. 1219 A.D. – The earliest known windmill was documented in China. It was

used to pump water and grind grain. 1887 – First windmill/wind turbine built for purpose of electricity by Professor

James Blyth in Glasgow. 1930s-40s – Wind turbines used on isolated farms in U.S. to generate

electricity, but they became obsolete after extension of central power grid. 1973 – The U.S. Federal Government began to seriously research wind energy

after the “Arab Oil Crisis” and OPEC Oil Embargo. Mid 1980s- early 90s – California establishes several wind energy projects

and becomes leader of wind farms. http://www.telosnet.com/wind/recent.html 1999 – The Department of Energy began the Wind Powering America (WPA)

program 2008 – The Department of Energy released a report detailing how the U.S.

could produce 20% of its electricity through wind energy by 2030 2009 – Economic Stimulus Bill signed, with a long-term goal being to invest in

renewable energy, and a promise of a 30% investment tax credit to those who buy wind turbines.

Present – “Cape Wind,” a possible first offshore wind farm for the U.S., is still tied up in the court system.

How Wind Power Works

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Wind in the U.S.

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U.S. Energy Consumption – US

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Installed Wind Turbines

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Wind Cycle

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In the daytime, the sun heats the land and the air above it. The warm air above the land rises, and the cold air above the water takes it place, where it is warmed too.

This creates a daytime convection current.

In the evening, the current goes the opposite direction because the sun is not shining, therefore the land is cooling.

San Gorgonio Wind Farm near Palm Springs

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Wind Turbine Size

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At a span of 70 meters, tip to tip, the turbine blades are over 10 metres wider than the wingspan of a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet.

The nacelle – the section of the wind turbine that houses the electricity-generating equipment – is the size of a bus.

How Big is a Wind Turbine?

Calculation of Wind Power

•Power in the wind Power in the wind

– Effect of swept area, A– Effect of wind speed, V– Effect of air density, R

Swept Area: A = πR2 Area of the circle swept by the rotor (m2).

Power in the Wind = ½ρAV3

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Wind Power Pros and Cons

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Pros Renewable energy – the wind cycle occurs

each day No air pollution No greenhouse gasses No water needed for operations Does not consume any non-renewable

resources, like coal, natural gas, or oil

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Cons Siting

Bird populations Noise Visual impact

Intermittent source of power Transmission constraints Financing

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Future Trends

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Cost Reductions Financing Strategies Manufacturing

Economy of Scale Better Sites and

“Tuning” Turbines for Site Conditions

Technology Improvements

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The Future of Wind - Offshore

• 1.5 - 6 MW per turbine• 60-120 m hub height• 5 km from shore, 30 m deep ideal• Gravity foundation, pole, or tripod formation• Shaft can act as artificial reef• Drawbacks- Underground cables lead to shore and visual eye sore NIMBY

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You as the Wind Engineer

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Fun With Wind Speed

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Measuring the WindThe energy in the moving wind can be used to generate electricity.

You need to know how fast the wind is blowing before you can harness wind power.

Wind turbines need a constant, average wind speed of about 14 miles per hour before the wind turbines can generate electricity.

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Make a model an·e·mom·e·ter

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Calibrating your

anemometer Using a car, 1 person drove the car 1 person held the anemometer out of the window 1 person held a stop watch1 person counted the revolutions of the anemometer

They drove exactly 10 mph. In one minute their anemometer made 100 revolutions.

Assuming there was no wind that day, they determined that with their anemometer 100 rpms equals 10 miles per hour.

Commercial Anemometer Wind speed - measures

current, maximum, or average wind speed

Measures wind speed - up to 65 mph (90 Km/h)

Current temperature - measures temperature in F or C

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Field Trips – Palm Springs

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Field Trips – University of Redlands

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Field Trips

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