How does a wind turbine work? | Sustainability - ACCIONA
Summary
TLDRWind turbines harness wind energy to generate electricity. They have blades up to 60 meters long, designed to capture kinetic energy from wind. The blades rotate at speeds between 7 and 12 RPM, which is then increased by a gearbox over a hundredfold for the high-speed shaft. This drives a generator that converts the kinetic energy into electricity. The electricity is then stepped up in voltage by transformers for efficient transmission through the power grid to consumers, providing a clean, sustainable energy source.
Takeaways
- π Wind turbines have a wind vane at the top to indicate wind direction, allowing the turbine to rotate and face the wind.
- π΅ The turbine blades rotate on their axis for maximum resistance to wind, capturing kinetic energy from moving air currents.
- π² Blades can be up to 60 meters long and are made of lightweight, resistant materials to facilitate movement even with light winds.
- π΄ Wind turbines start producing energy at wind speeds of about 11 kilometers per hour.
- π³ For safety, in very strong winds above 90 kilometers per hour, blades are placed in a feathered position to stop the turbine from spinning.
- π΅ The blades are attached to the hub, which is coupled to the low-speed shaft that spins at the same speed as the blades (7-12 RPM).
- π² The gearbox increases the turning speed of the low-speed shaft over a hundred times, transferring it to the high-speed shaft.
- π΅ The high-speed shaft rotates up to 1500 RPM and is connected to a generator that converts kinetic energy into electricity.
- π΄ The electricity produced is conducted through the tower to the banks where a transformer raises the voltage for transport.
- π΅ Alternating current from each turbine is sent to the substation through underground cables, where the voltage is increased again for integration into the power grid.
- πΉ Wind energy is used to power cities, industries, schools, hospitals, and household appliances in a clean and sustainable manner.
Q & A
What is the primary function of a wind vane on a wind turbine?
-The wind vane at the top of a wind turbine indicates the wind direction, allowing the turbine to rotate on the tower and face the wind.
How do the blades of a wind turbine interact with wind?
-The blades rotate on their axis to maximize resistance to wind force, which is the kinetic energy contained in moving air currents.
What material properties are important for wind turbine blades?
-Wind turbine blades are made of very light and resistant materials to ensure ease of movement and energy production even with light winds.
What is the minimum wind speed required for a wind turbine to start producing energy?
-A wind turbine can start producing energy with very light winds, starting from about 11 kilometers per hour.
Why do wind turbines stop spinning in very strong winds?
-In very strong winds above 90 kilometers per hour, the blades are placed in the feathered position and the turbine stops spinning for safety reasons.
What is the purpose of the gearbox in a wind turbine?
-The gearbox increases the turning speed of the low-speed shaft over a hundred times and transfers it to the high-speed shaft.
How fast does the high-speed shaft rotate in a wind turbine?
-The high-speed shaft rotates up to 1500 revolutions per minute.
What converts the kinetic energy into electricity in a wind turbine?
-A generator converts the kinetic energy into electricity, which is easier to transport and use.
How is the electricity produced by a wind turbine transported to the power grid?
-The electricity produced is conducted through the interior of the tower to the banks, where a transformer raises the voltage for transport inside the wind farm.
What happens to the voltage of the electricity at the substation?
-At the substation, the voltage is increased again to feed it into the power grid and transport it to end consumers.
How does the use of wind turbines contribute to sustainability?
-Wind turbines use wind to produce clean and sustainable energy that can be used to light cities, feed industries, schools, hospitals, or operate household appliances.
Outlines
π¬οΈ How a Wind Turbine Works
This paragraph explains the basic functionality of a wind turbine, starting with the wind vane at the top of the turbine which helps orient the blades toward the wind direction. The blades are designed to rotate on their axis to capture the kinetic energy from wind currents. These blades, which can be up to 60 meters long, are made from lightweight and resistant materials to facilitate movement even in light winds. Wind speeds as low as 11 km/h can generate power, but if wind speeds exceed 90 km/h, the blades are placed in a feathered position to stop the turbine for safety. The energy from the blades is transferred through the low-speed shaft, which rotates at the same speed as the blades (7-12 revolutions per minute).
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Wind Turbine
π‘Wind Vane
π‘Kinetic Energy
π‘Blade
π‘Low-Speed Shaft
π‘Gearbox
π‘High-Speed Shaft
π‘Generator
π‘Transformer
π‘Substation
π‘Power Grid
Highlights
Wind turbines convert wind force into electrical energy.
A wind vane at the top indicates wind direction.
Turbines rotate to face the wind for maximum resistance.
Blade design captures kinetic energy from moving air currents.
Blade length can be up to 60 meters for efficient energy capture.
Blade materials are light and resistant for ease of movement.
Turbines can produce energy with winds as light as 11 kilometers per hour.
For safety, turbines stop spinning in very strong winds above 90 kilometers per hour.
Blade position is adjusted for safety in high winds.
The hub connects the blades to the low-speed shaft.
The low-speed shaft spins at 7 to 12 revolutions per minute.
A gearbox increases the shaft's speed over a hundred times.
The high-speed shaft rotates up to 1500 revolutions per minute.
A generator converts kinetic energy into electricity.
Electricity is transported and used more easily.
The transformer raises voltage for efficient transport within the wind farm.
Alternating current is sent to the substation through underground cables.
Voltage is increased again to feed into the power grid.
Wind energy is used to power cities, industries, schools, hospitals, and household appliances in a clean and sustainable way.
Transcripts
[Music]
how does a wind turbine work you've
probably seen a wind farm but do you
know how wind force is converted into
electrical energy we are going to show
you how a wind turbine works each wind
turbine has a wind vane at the top that
indicates the wind direction this allows
the turbine to rotate on the tower and
face the wind the blades also rotate on
their axis for maximum resistance wind
force that is the kinetic energy
contained in moving air currents spins
the blades these are designed to fully
capture its energy they can be as long
as 60 meters each and a made of very
light and resistant materials for ease
of movement this is why they can produce
energy even with very light winds
starting from about 11 kilometers per
hour with very strong winds above 90
kilometers per hour the blades are
placed in the feathered position and the
turbine stopped spinning for safety
reasons the blades are attached to the
wind turbine through the harm which is
coupled to the low-speed shaft the
low-speed shaft is given this name
because it spins at the same speed of
the blades between 7 and 12 revolutions
per minute
to produce electricity it is necessary
to increase the turning speed of the
low-speed shaft that is the mission of
the gearbox which raises the speed over
a hundred times and transfers it to the
high-speed shaft the high-speed shaft
that rotates it up to 1500 revolutions
per minute is connected to a generator
the generator converts the kinetic
energy into electricity a source of
energy that is easier to transport and
use
the electricity produced in the
generator is conducted through the
interior of the tower to the banks there
the transformer raises the voltage for
transport inside the wind farm from each
turbine alternating current is sent to
the substation through underground
cables here the voltage is increased
again to feed it into the power grid and
transport it to end consumers this is
how we use the wind to light cities feed
industries schools or hospitals or
operate our household appliances in a
clean and sustainable way
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