Vocabulary
The change in wind speed and direction at different altitudes or sort distances.
Turbulance
What geographical and environmental factors are considered when setting up a commercial wind farm?
Wind speed
Land availability
Proximity to local land structures.
What is the first recorded use of wind energy in 5000 BC for what application and by where?
Propel boats along the Nile River in Egypt
in the United States, we use 110-120V (60 Hz), while in many other countries, 220-240V (50 Hz) is used.
A 60Hz electrical system means that the power completes 60 cycles of complete wave sequence per second.
What is the primary source of energy loss in wind turbines?
Airfoil drag
The minimum wind speed at which a wind turbine begins to move/create electricity.
Cut-in speed
How could installing a wind turbine negatively affect the area around it?
The amount of space it takes up, visual impact, noise pollution, and potential harm to wildlife, particularly birds and bats
In which state was the first wind turbine farm and when?
+ Bonus: How man Turbines?
High voltages are used for transmission of electrical power over long distances because...
It minimizes energy loss due to resistance in the wires
What is the average of these wind velocities? (Use a calculator)
5.9, 6.1, 7.7
( 5.9 + 6.1. + 7.7 ) / 3 = 6.56
A device that converts DC electricity generated by wind turbines into AC for use on the power grid.
Inverter
Name an example of how wind turbines impact bird/bat populations and what steps are being taken to mitigate these effects.
Collision, sound pollution
Blade Research, habitat restoration
Which state produces the most wind power annually?
Texas
AC power's advantage over DC power is primarily what?
It can be easily transformed to higher voltages for efficient transmission over long distances, resulting in less energy loss
What is the cube of 6.1?
6.1 x 6.1 x 6.1 = 226.981
A device for measuring wind speed
Anemometer
Why is it more difficult to install offshore wind farms in the U.S. along the West Coast compared to the East Coast?
The West Coast has deeper coastal waters, making installation and maintenance more difficult.
Who built the first HAWT wind turbine and in what year?
1888 Charles Brush
What percentage of total U.S. electricity generation is attributed to wind power as of recently (roughly)?
10%
Watts Law states what?
The power through a circuit is equal to the product of the current and voltage throughout the current. P=IV
An aerodynamic force that opposes the motion of an object through air reducing the efficiency of turbine blades.
Drag
Which gas contributes most to Global Warming?
CO2
Who invented the Panemone Windmill and what was it used for?
The Persians to ground grain.
What is the main advantage of asynchronous generators over synchronous generators?
Accommodation of variable speeds
Betz's law states the maximum possible efficiency of a wind turbine is what?
59.3%