Wind power – a key industry of alternative energy. Wind energy people use for their own benefit for many centuries. Windmills have been used before our era, with their help, milled grains. These mills are widely used in the Islamic world at that time, and only then were brought to Europe by the Crusaders. Windmills were used not only for grinding grain, but with the help of water pumped out and organized irrigation of the soil. The first windmills that produce electricity, appeared in the 19th century, and in 1890. The first wind farm was built. But in the mid-20th century, wind power is in decline. Interest in it has arisen after the 1973 oil crisis. This period can be safely considered the beginning of the revival of wind energy.
Today, wind energy power electricity annual growth came in first place, ahead of natural gas and solar energy.
So what is the basis of wind power? The basis of this industry is the transformation of kinetic wind energy into mechanical energy, with its final transformation into electricity.
According to the power generated by the wind power installation can be divided into industrial, for residential and commercial needs. Given that the wind turbine power is directly dependent on the power of the wind, it is advisable to place them in the coastal areas and other areas where a high level of wind prevails throughout the year. Industrial wind farms represent the union of a large number of individual units, and they are connected to the electricity grid, but power for household needs, as a rule, can work independently and provide electricity to certain areas.
According to the type wind turbines are vertical and horizontal. In modern wind energy horizontal wind turbines are mainly used. These in turn are divided into single blade, two-bladed, three-lobed and multibladed. The most the most widely used three-bladed wind turbines, and their nominal power up to 7 MW. However, in areas where the wind speed is not very high vertical wind turbines become widespread due to the fact that their use in such conditions, more productively. Modern rotary wind turbines equipped with the latest brakes, and they can easily carry heavy wind, do not fail.
The development of wind power will significantly reduce pollution, and reduce СО2 emissions in the atmosphere. Samovozobnovlyaemost this source of energy makes it an inexhaustible and it signed a huge potential. It is worth noting that, despite the huge wind turbine design, the surrounding land can safely be used for agricultural crops. And as to the benefits can be attributed fairly simple operation.
But there are still happy to shortcomings that hamper the development and dissemination of wind energy. These include the high cost of wind turbines. One of the main factors that significantly affect the efficiency of power generation – is the power of the wind. Unfortunately people can not in any way to influence it. The noise of wind farms, is also one of the main negative factors. Developers so far managed to cope well with the mechanical noise that was created with the machinery, but the aerodynamic noise that occurs in the interaction with the wind vane, and so is left. No less important disadvantage is, the icing of blades in cold weather or when using wind turbines in areas where icing occurs frequently. The icing of the blades is dangerous because when you run the wind turbine expansion occurs floes within a radius of 60 m. Therefore, in such weather conditions, be sure to set the warning signs that could prevent injuries.
However, based on the fact that the progress does not stand still, and some problems are gradually solved, wind power will grow rapidly. It is particularly relevant where there is no central power. Especially effective is the use of wind energy in combination with other forms of alternative energy.
