Wind power: Nature and Origin
The solar radiations give birth to wind. These radiations heat up the surface of the planet earth, although in unequal proportions. This uneven heating follows as a direct result of the abrasive earth surface, rotational planetary movements as well as the continuously altering propensities of heat absorption of the different levels of the earth’s atmosphere. The seas, oceans and vegetation types on earth play important roles in this regard as well. As a result, some parts of the planet experience consistently higher temperatures than certain other parts, all round the year.
For example, the poles of earth remain covered by snow and are always way colder than the warm equatorial regions. As a result of this phenomenon, air in the warmer parts grows lighter and less dense, and as such, begins moving in the upward direction. This creates a sort of vacuum in their place, which gets occupied rather quickly from the colder, denser, heavier air from nearby locations. Wind is defined as this movement process of air, and a form of kinetic energy is released from it. Modern technologies are made use of to acquire wind energy from this kinetic energy. The procedure of tapping and using wind energy to produce such outputs that can be used multiple number of times (like, electricity) is termed wind power.
Global usability of wind power
Wind is correctly described as the circulatory system of the entire earth. When sun rays reach the earth, the latter gets heated up in an unequal fashion, due to rotational motions, uneven nature of earth’s terrain, properties of the water bodies that differ from the vegetation-covered parts. The atmospheric levels of earth also vary in the ability to absorb heat in its various layers. As a result of this unequal heating of the earth’s surface, temperature differences remain between the earth’s equator and the polar regions.
Air from the warmer parts of earth starts moving upwards. The void thus created soon gets filled up by heavier air from the local cooler realms. Hence, a redistribution of heat levels from the colder parts of the earth to the relatively warmer parts occurs. This process generates a form of energy. The latter can be used to produce electricity and/or mechanical energy (as the requirement might be). In fact, electricity produced from wind power resources make up approximately one per cent of the total worldwide supply of power forms.
There is considerable scope of more in-depth studies in topics surrounding wind power topics. However, usage of wind power has already become highly popular all over the world. Germany, Denmark and America are the top three countries in terms of wind production. The recent past has indeed seen a spurt in the global usage of wind power.
The manner of working of wind power
Modern methods are used to tap and harness wind power, so that the latter can be converted into mechanical energy and electricity. The devices that generate mechanical energy from wind power resources are called wind mills. Wind turbines are the wind energy systems that convert wind power into electrical power. For realizing how wind power is exactly used, let us now look at the nature of the wind turbines. An average wind turbine has about two or three propeller blades, which are attached to a rotor.
A movable main shaft is used, to which the rotor, with its blades are fixed. The shaft is then attached to an electronic generator. When the latter starts to spin, electricity is produced. The blades of a wind turbine resemble those in an airplane. Also, the most modern technologies, and the latest designs are used to manufacture of these turbines. Hence, the latter can transform wind’s kinetic energy to electric power. In keeping with the various uses that the wind turbines can be put to, they come with variable levels of power rating.
For example, a domestic home needs electricity that can be provided by a low powered turbine. However, for broad-based provincial an/or national application purposes, more electricity is required, and hence turbines with higher power ratings are needed. The power rating that any turbine has depends crucially on the speed with which wind moves across any particular region. This is in accordance with the law that, the amount of wind energy generated goes up with the velocity of the wind (raised to the power of 3). This immediately implies that, higher wind velocities would help in the production of more wind energy.
The effectiveness of wind power
Wind power systems use wind resources as their fuel. Now, wind is a free source of fuel that can be renewed as many times as wished for. As long as sun beats down on earth, no chances of exhaustion of wind stock reserves exist. Unlike conventional power plants that made use of fossil fuels, the wind energy systems are eco-friendly as well, since no poisonous air pollutants or gases with greenhouse effects are emitted by wind-based units. Economic viability is another of the benefits of wind energy setups.
The cost of acquiring the fuel (wind) is, literally zero. The expenses related to running these systems are also fixed at nominal levels. Hence, the entire lifetime costs of wind power systems remain very low, and are way lesser than the cost levels associated with operating conventional power plants. Hence, over time, wind power is steadily finding wider application usage all over the world, and is currently one of the most ideal sources of renewable energy.
Keeping all these advantages offered by wind power systems, it is indeed advisable that you should one at your home. Get hold of an instruction manual that will help you know all the necessary information for installing such a system. The spot at your home that would be ideal for the unit, the steps of installation, the required safety measures as well the wires used are all discussed in such a manual. The manual would also state from where to get free batteries, as well as the other components of the system at rather reasonable prices. Read through the manual, and set up your own wind turbine, easily!
Jim Martin is a researcher, inventor, home energy consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, “Earth 4 Electricity- Renewable Energy Made Easy”. Jim has written dozens of home energy related articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide. To Learn More about Jim Martin’s Unique Step By Step Solar and Wind Power System Visit: Wind Energy
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