Wind turbines are the leading technology in the shift to renewable energy worldwide as they harness wind power to produce electricity through their blades. The paper will explore the main components and working principles of onshore and offshore wind power production, and also expound on the important role of wind turbines in the renewable energy sector.
How Wind Turbines Convert Wind into Energy
The central concept of a wind turbine is actually extremely easy, but also extremely smart. It can turn the kinetic energy of wind into electricity.
Main elements of wind turbines
Blades: The blades are the initial section of the wind turbine to touch the wind. Blades nowadays are optimized to trap as much wind energy as possible.
Nacelle: The nacelle will contain important components such as the gearbox and generator, which can convert mechanical energy into electricity.
Tower: The tower serves the purpose of supporting the entire structure and transferring the electricity produced by the generator to the power grid.
How it works
When the wind blows, the blades will rotate around, generating mechanical energy. The transmitting gearbox transmits the mechanical energy to the generator, and mechanical energy is converted into electricity. This electricity can be stored or transmitted directly to the power grid.
Types of Wind Turbines
Horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT)
Market position: It is the most common one currently because it has high efficiency.
Working mechanism: The blades rotate in a horizontal axis, which can achieve improved capture of wind power.
Vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT)
Scenarios of use: The facility is very small and simpler to install in urban areas.
Efficiency problems: In the generation of power on a large scale, it has inferior efficiency compared to horizontal axis wind turbines.
Onshore and offshore wind turbines
Onshore wind farms
Advantages: It is comparatively cheap to install and sustain.
Disadvantages: Since the area of land and steadiness of winds are restricted, conditions cannot be as good as those for offshore wind farms.
Offshore wind farms
Advantages: Offshore wind resources are immense, and the power generation efficiency is 20% to 40% higher than that of onshore wind farms.
Challenges: The marine environment is harsh, and construction and maintenance costs are relatively high.
Innovations in Wind Turbine Technology
Advances in blade technology and materials
The wind turbine blades nowadays are made up of superior materials, such as aluminum alloy and fiberglass. The materials are not only durable and strong but also make the blades efficient. Additionally, the blades also have a corrosion-reducing coating on the surface so that they can last for extended periods.
Power control mechanism
New wind turbines have a highly developed technology called maximum power tracking. It has the ability to regulate the current and voltage automatically according to the fluctuation in the speed of the wind so that the generator can deliver stable power even with unstable winds.
Electricity Generation and Challenges
How Much Power Does a Wind Turbine Generate?
Depending on the power of the generator and the size of the blade, a wind turbine can generate a tremendous amount of electricity. For example:
A 2-megawatt blade is 50 to 60 meters long and takes about 2.2 kWh of electricity per revolution.
Does the greater the wind, the more it produces electricity?
The amount of electricity generated by a windmill does increase with an increase in wind speed, but when the wind speed is above a threshold, the generator will shut down automatically to prevent the tearing of the blades due to excessive centrifugal force. Within the generator, there is an equipment resembling a car gearbox that allows the generator to run at a steady low speed when the wind is very high, which can protect the blades and deliver power smoothly.
Huijue Group: Innovating Wind Turbine Technology
Huijue Group delivers advanced solutions for wind energy systems with its spiral wind turbines, designed for high performance and durability.
Discover how Huijue Group’s innovative wind turbine solutions can support your journey toward a sustainable energy future. Learn more here.
