How Wind Power Works

If a person where to pull down on a fan blade he or she would spin it, wind energy works the same way. When its movement causes the rotation of blades on a wind turbine we are using kinetic energy. This energy can be transferred from one medium to another to create electricity.

Wind energy is a eco-friendly form of energy because it has no noxious by products; such as, the carbon released by burning petroleum. Wind is created when the sun heats a specific area of the land; in turn, the air surrounding this area absorbs some of the heat. Since hot air is lighter than cold air, the heated air rises. In turn, the hot air rising allows cold air to fill the gap; hence, the cold air rushing in causes wind. Wind, like water is a form of kinetic energy, and any kinetic energy is energy that can possibly be harnessed.

When air moves quickly, the particles are moving quickly. Hence, wind energy can be captured in a wind-electric turbine, just as moving water can be captured via a hydroelectric dam. A wind turbine consists of three major parts: rotor blades, shaft, and the generator. The rotor blades are like the sails of the system. By creating a barrier against the wind the wind forces them to spin. The shaft is connected to the middle of the rotor; in turn, when the rotor blades spin they cause the shaft to spin. This energy is then harnessed by the generator. The generator uses properties of electromagnetic induction, what this means in layman’s term is that it relies on a difference of electrical charge.

Voltage is just the pressure exerted by electricity, like the wind on a blade. So, to generate voltage one must generate a current. The generator generates this current via a set of magnets and a conductor. The conductor is most commonly a coiled wire surrounded by magnets. The shaft is what causes those magnets to spin around the coil. When the magnets rotate around the coil it generates voltage. This voltage is what drives electrical current into our power lines.

Wind-electric turbines work by capturing the kinetic energy stored in the wind. Once the blades begin moving they spin a shaft that connects to the hob of the rotor directly to a generator. In turn, the generator converts the rotation of the blades into electricity. Wind power works like any other electric generator. It transfers one form of energy from one medium to another. Just like a sail boat, blades capture the energy of the wind by having the pressure of the wind push on them. When a sail boat raises its sail it creates a form of resistance against the wind forcing the wind must push against; in turn, creating movement. The movement created is the key to the transfer of energy. Just as when we exert force on an object we are able to push it; the movement of wind pushes any object in its way, which can capture to create energy.

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