What is the operation of a wind turbine? How important is it in wind towers? This article will answer these questions.
When traveling by road, you have surely come across a wind farm. Have you ever wondered how they work? If you are curious to know its details, keep reading.
The importance of wind blades
Throughout history, there have been many types of turbines or machines that have been used to harness the kinetic energy produced by the wind. Of all of them, the most used and widespread nowadays is the one with three blades. It is the most efficient option because having fewer blades achieves a better balance.
The orientation of the wind turbine
Wind turbines are always oriented in the same direction so that they can follow the wind and take advantage of its potential energy. This is achieved thanks to a weather vane that they have on the top of the gondola.
The work of the wind
Sometimes it is difficult to imagine how the blades of a wind turbine are capable of being moved by a wind with normal characteristics. The reason is due to the so-called aerodynamic profile: when the wind blows perpendicular to them, a lift force is generated that causes movement.
Wind blade materials
Most blades are made of fiberglass-reinforced polyester or epoxy. Carbon fiber or aramid (Kevlar) is also used as a reinforcement material. The possible use of wood composites, such as wood-epoxy or wood-fiber-epoxy, is currently being investigated.
Parts that make up a wind turbine
For the correct operation of a wind turbine, these are the parts that we must take into account:
- It is attached to the main shaft for rotation transmission, and can be divided into 3 different parts: nose, hub, blades.
- Gondola. It is the main chassis of the wind turbine, it is located at the top of the tower and inside it are the electrical and mechanical elements necessary to convert the rotation of the rotor into electrical energy.
- It is a gearbox that converts the low speed of rotation and high power of the main shaft into a speed of rotation suitable for the operation of the motor at the cost of power.
- The generator converts the mechanical energy produced by the rotor into electrical energy.
- Rotation and angulation system. The control systems in a wind turbine have two important tasks. The first is the maximum use of the wind force through the orientation of the rotor. The second is the protection of the wind turbine against wind speeds that could damage the installation.
- Refrigeration system. Its function is to evacuate the heat of the generator and other electrical systems together with that of all the vital parts subject to friction that due to their work, which although they are well lubricated, heating could cause their degradation and possible breakdown.
- The tower is the structure that supports the electricity-producing mechanism of the wind turbine at a certain height.
In the following link you can see an explanatory video on the operation of a wind turbine >> LINK
