What
is wind energy? How is it produced? What are the major
conversion systems?
Wind
is a kind of solar power that owes its origin to various
environmental factors. The uneven earth’s terrains get
unequally heated by the sun’s rays. This makes some
region of the earth warmer than the others. The hot air
in the warmer regions becomes less dense and light and
thus rises up. This upwardly movement of the hot air
creates a vacuum which is immediately filled up by cold
air from the adjacent cooler realms. This movement of
air is called wind and the energy is called kinetic or
motion energy. This kinetic energy can be captured and
machinated by modern methods to get wind energy. The two
most modern wind energy conversion systems are wind
mills and wind energy turbines.
Varieties
of the conversion systems
Like
stated above, the two wind energy generators are
deployed to harness wind energy into mechanical power
and electricity according to the requirement. Of the two
wind energy conversion systems the wind energy turbines
are used to generate electricity whereas mechanical
power is generated by the wind mills. A detailed view of
both the systems will give us a clear idea as to which
one of them is more efficient and cost effective.
The
basic principle of a wind turbine is very simple.
Typically a wind turbine consists of two or thee blades
fitted to a rotor. The rotor is connected to a main
shaft that spins a generator which produces electricity.
Wind turbines meant for generating electricity are
usually mounted high at a usual height of 100 feet
(thirty meter) from the ground. Wind at such a height is
much faster and less roiling, thereby providing a decent
output. Wind mills however, depend on the number of
blades to give a good output of mechanical energy. Also,
the wind speed of a particular area affects the
productivity of a wind mill to a great extent.
Functionally speaking, windmills can be grouped into
various types namely, wind pumps, tjasker etc. Wind pump
is basically a wind mill used for pumping water out of a
draining land or well. Wind pumps these days are being
deployed for the drinking water of cattle and human use
also. Tjasker is another type of drainage wind used for
raising water for areas where a low head is
required.
Comparing the two wind energy conversion
systems closely gives a clear idea about which
one of them is more cost effective and efficient as
well.
Advantages
and disadvantages of the wind energy
systems
Since
wind is a free resource, the wind conversion
systems are becoming more and more popular by the
day. Besides being a free resource, wind is also a clean
and pollution free resource that will never contaminate
the air with greenhouse gases or air pollutants like the
conventional power plants. Fossil fuels like coal and
natural gas are required for the conventional power
plants that emit acid rains and greenhouse gases
resulting in depletion of the atmospheric layers. Being
a renewable and free resource wind power will get never
get exhausted. So long the sun is shining, wind energy
will be there! The wind energy generators are also quite
economic as they only need a small fraction of the land
(leased by the farmers) and the farmers can earn money
throughout the year from this lease. Also the wind
turbines are built on ranches in the rural areas, the
latter being a suitable wind site.
In
spite of all the advantages stated above, the wind power
plants pose quite a few disfavors also. The main minus
point of wind energy is its intermittent supply. Wind
flow is actually an involuntary process and does not
meet the requirements always on time. Also the most
remotely located areas make the best wind sites and thus
electricity is produced far off from the areas it is
actually needed at. Even the land required for wind
energy plants seem to be partially favoring its other
alternative usages that are apparently being more
esteemed than electricity production. Thus a
technological development and a better wind site
together play a vital role in the wind energy renewal
process. In spite of all the above stated differences,
wind power plant is attaining heights of achievements in
this modern era of energy conservation and renewal.
