Wind Energy

Wind Energy

“Take care, your worship; those things over there are not giants but windmills.”

-Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes

I. Abstract: Wind energy has many pros and cons, and thus is subject to much scrutiny as a viable energy source. A fundamental qualification for wind power is the ability to support the vast industries and the enterprises of the 6.3 billion people that inhabit this planet. In addition, wind power must be able to meet the needs of the Earth’s population in a renewable, reliable, and responsible manner. In the following paper, wind energy will be evaluated based on its energy/cost efficiency, possible environmental ramifications, its practicality and the various countries already implementing it, the logistics of installing and maintaining the turbines, and finally any possible improvements that loom in the future.

II. Historical Background:

Since the dawn of time, man has relied upon wind to run his creations, most notably windmills and boats. In fact, the first wind-driven machines were implemented in Persia as early as 200 B.C. However, in the last decade, wind power has come to the forefront in the race to unearth alternate energy sources.

America and the world as a whole have relied upon non-renewable sources of energy for decades. In previous years, the search for renewable energy had been relegated to the backburner, lying dormant as the oil market boomed. However, the use of fossil fuels has been embroiled in many environmental issues, not to mention political and economical ones. However, rising oil prices and the questionable security of America’s oil sources has led to a new clarion call for clean, efficient energy. Proponents of wind power argue that it is clean, resp...

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...onic, tulip encircled windmills of Holland with new, ultra-modern designs. The thatched roofs and the wooden frames have been replaced with steel that is strong yet still light. Indeed, if Don Quixote attempted to charge these windmills, he would be in for quite a surprise.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/docs/documents/1214/wind-velocity-diagram.png

CALCULATIONS

The basic equation P = 0.5Av3 details the maximum power produced by wind blowing through a certain cross sectional area (A) where v=velocity, ρ=density of air, and P=Power.

P = 1/2 ρ A v3

P = power (W)

ρ = density of air (kg/m3)

(At sea level and at 20 °C, air has a density of approximately 1.2 kg/m3).

A = cross sectional area (m2)

v = wind velocity (m/s)

NOTE: Density of air is directly proportional to density and altitude. Thus as temperature and altitude decrease, air density decreases as well.