1. what is wind? 2.what makes the wind blow?
TRANSCRIPT
1. What is wind?2.What makes the wind blow?
1920’s
1940’s
The Future?
Wind Energy is the Fastest Growing Energy Source in the World!!
Top 10 Countries - Installed Wind Capcity (2005)
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
20,000M
W
Source: U.S. DOE
Wind Potential
Small (10 kW)•Homes•Farms•Remote Applications (e.g. water
pumping, telecom sites, icemaking)
Large (250 kW - 2+MW)
•Central Station Wind Farms
•Distributed Power
Intermediate (10-250 kW)•Village Power•Hybrid Systems•Distributed
Power
Different sizes for different amounts of energy.
Large Wind Turbines
• 328’ base to blade• Each blade 112’• Span greater than 747• 163.3 tons total• Foundation 20’ deep• Rated at 1.5 megawatt• Supply at least 350 homes
Why do wind turbines need to be high in the sky??
Wind Turbine Perspective
Nacelle56 tons
Tower3 sections
Workers Blade112’ long
foundation
Impacts of Wind Power: Noise
• Modern turbines are relatively quiet
• Rule of thumb – stay about 3x hub-height away from houses
US national average for modern turbines:
One-two birds
per turbine, per year
US national average for modern turbines:
One-two birds
per turbine, per year
Small relative to accepted human activitiesE.g. If all our power was from wind bird deaths would be only 10% of number of deaths caused by cats.
www.windpower.org/en/kids/intro/how.htm
A good site for starters… on your crossword.