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Brief history
Windmills have been around since the Middle Ages.
The first recorded evidence of windmills being used
for pumping water and grinding grain was in 7 AD in
Persia. Then China got a hold of the idea and it spread
to Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean. The uropean
mill appears to have developed independentl! from
the others because the design is so different. The
predecessor to our modern windmill dates bac" to
#rance in $$%& and ngland in $$'%. (n the $)th
centur!, the Dutch too" windmills to a whole new level
with their *tower+ mills using canvas sails stretched
across four wooden lattice frames li"e a big ,. Their
ob-ective was moving enormous amounts of water
into higher basins and canals. .! the end of the $/th
centur! thousands of windmills were pumping and
grinding in western urope. .! the late $0th centur!,
the count was 1%,%%%2and, miraculousl!, there was
still enough wind to go around.

history
Wind machines were used for grinding grain in Persia as earl! as 3%% ..C. This
t!pe of machine was introduced into the 4oman mpire b! 3&% A.D. .! the $)th
centur! Dutch windmills were in use to drain areas of the 4hine 4iver delta. (n
Denmar" b! $0%% there were about 3&%% windmills for mechanical loads such as
pumps and mills, producing an estimated combined pea" power of about 1% MW.
The first windmill for electricit! production was built in Cleveland, 5hio b!
Charles # .rush in $''', and in $0%' there were 73 wind6driven electric
generators from & "W to 3& "W. The largest machines were on 3) m 770 ft8
towers with four6bladed 31 m 77& ft8 diameter rotors. Around the time of World
War (, American windmill ma"ers were producing $%%,%%% farm windmills each
!ear, most for water6pumping.9$: .! the $01%s windmills for electricit! were
common on farms, mostl! in the ;nited <tates where distribution s!stems had
not !et been installed. (n this period, high6tensile steel was cheap, and windmills
were placed atop prefabricated open steel lattice towers.
A forerunner of modern hori=ontal6a>is wind generators was in service at ?alta,
;<<4 in $01$. This was a $%% "W generator on a 1% m 7$%% ft8 tower, connected
to the local /.1 "@ distribution s!stem. (t was reported to have an annual
load factor of 13 per cent, not much different from current wind machines.
The first electricit! producing windmill in the ;A was created in the $07%Bs b! <ir
Cenr! Dawson6Tancred and was built b! 4a! Corner and Wilson 7Widge8 Conning
in .oroughbridge near ?or" in the Eorth of ngland. (t could create up to $%% "W
of power and loo"ed ver! much li"e the modern da! turbines incorporating a
three bladed propeller.

principles
Transmission 7mechanics8
;sing the principle of mechanical advantage, transmissions provide a torFue6speed conversion
7commonl! "nown as Ggear reductionG or Gspeed reductionG8 from a higher speed motor to a
slower but more forceful output.

Turbine design and construction
Wind turbines are designed to e>ploit the wind energ! that e>ists at a location. Aerod!namic
modeling is used to determine the optimum tower height, control s!stems, number of blades, and
blade shape.
@irtuall! all modern wind turbines convert wind energ! to electricit! for energ! distribution. As
described, the modern wind turbine is a s!stem that comprises three integral components with
distinct disciplines of engineering science. The rotor component, which is appro>imatel! 3%H of the
wind turbine cost, includes the blades for converting wind energ! to an intermediate low speed
rotational energ!. The generator component, which is appro>imatel! 1)H of the wind turbine cost,
includes the electrical generator, the control electronics, and most li"el! a gearbo> component for
converting the low speed rotational energ! to electricit!. The structural support component, which is
appro>imatel! $&H of the wind turbine cost, includes the tower for optimall! situating the rotor
component to the wind energ! source.9):
<pecial wind turbines
<mall wind turbines
<mall wind turbines ma! be as small as a four hundred watt generators for residential use. The
small ones often have direct drive generators, direct current output, aeroelastic blades, lifetime
bearings and use a vane to point into the wind. Darger, more costl! turbines generall! have
geared power trains, alternating current output, flaps and are activel! pointed into the wind.
Direct drive generators and aeroelastic blades for large wind turbines are being researched.
A small wind turbine can be installed on a roof. (nstallation issues then include the strength of
the roof, vibration, and the turbulence caused b! the roof ledge.
73 m8 to 3& feet 7' m8 in diameter and produce electricit! at a rate of 0%% watts to $%,%%% watts
at their tested wind speed. <ome units are designed to be ver! lightweight, e.g. $/ "ilograms
71& lb8, allowing rapid response to wind gusts t!pical of urban settings and eas! mounting
much li"e a television antenna. (t is claimed that the! are inaudible even a few feet under the
turbine. D!namic bra"ing regulates the speed b! dumping e>cess energ!, so that the turbine
continues to produce electricit! even in high winds. The d!namic bra"ing resistor ma! be
installed inside the building to provide heat 7during high winds when more heat is lost b! the
building, while more heat is also produced b! the bra"ing resistor8. The location ma"es low
voltage 7around $3 volt8 distribution practical.

Cori=ontal a>is
Cori=ontal6a>is wind turbines7CAWT8 have the main rotor shaft and
electrical generator at the top of a tower, and must be pointed into the wind.
<mall turbines are pointed b! a simple wind vane, while large turbines generall!
use a wind sensor coupled with a servo motor. Most have a gearbo>, which
turns the slow rotation of the blades into a Fuic"er rotation that is more suitable
to drive a generator.
@ertical a>is

7or @AWTs8 have the main rotor shaft running verticall!. Ae! advantages of this
arrangement are that the generator andIor gearbo> can be placed at the bottom, near
the ground, so the tower doesnBt need to support it, and that the turbine doesnBt need
to be pointed into the wind. Drawbac"s are usuall! pulsating torFue that can be
produced during each revolution and drag created when the blade rotates into the
wind. (t is also difficult to mount vertical6a>is turbines on towers, meaning the! must
operate in the often slower, more turbulent air flow near the ground, resulting in lower
energ!@ertical6a>is wind turbines e>traction efficienc!.

wind power

Wind power uses wind turbines
which have their own generator built in.

A wind turbine loo"s li"e a windmill
with three blades. When the wind blows,
the windmill rotates and the turbine
generates electricit!

Windmills in the Philippines

Advantages

Wind is free, meaning that wind farms need

no fuel.

(t produce no waste or greenhouse gases,

ma"ing them great for the environment.

Wind is also a renewable resourceJ therefore

it wonKt run out li"e coal or other fossil fuels.

Wind farms can also be tourist attractions,

generating more revenue that wa!, and
helping the wind farm out.

Wind power is also Fuite useful for suppl!ing

power to remote areas, meaning it can go
where other power sources cannot.

Wind farms are also Fuite useful in the fact

that the land under the wind towers can still
be used for farming.

disadvantages

The! include the unpredictable behavior

of wind.

The unsightliness of the wind towers.

.irds are sometimes "illed in the blades.

Wind power can also effect television

reception.

(t can be somewhat nois! for an entire

wind farm.

Disadvantages

horizontal axis
and
vertical axis

Description of operation


How it Works
Wind power uses the same concepts as most other
energ! sources, using some force to turn a turbine. The
turbine will then transfer its energ! into a generator
where electricit! will be produced. The force to turn the
turbine in wind energ! comes from wind.
Wind is created due to the uneFual heating of air on
earth from the sun, which produces different forces of
wind dependent on the different air temperatures in each
location.
Traditionall!, wind power could onl! be harnessed in
high speed wind locations, where wind is annuall! over
$1mph, but due to new technolog! and increased
efficienc! in generators, even lower speed winds can
produce cost efficient wind power. These newer
technologies include smart windmills where the pitch of
the blade can be varied with the strength of the wind to
achieve better efficienc!.


(nside the Wind Turbine
AnemometerL
Measures the wind speed and transmits wind speed data to the controller.
.ladesL
Most turbines have either two or three blades. Wind blowing over the blades causes the blades to GliftG and rotate.
.ra"eL
A disc bra"e, which can be applied mechanicall!, electricall!, or h!draulicall! to stop the rotor in emergencies.
ControllerL
The controller starts up the machine at wind speeds of about ' to $/ miles per hour 7mph8 and shuts off the machine at about &&
mph. Turbines do not operate at wind speeds above about && mph because the! might be damaged b! the high winds.
Mear bo>L
Mears connect the low6speed shaft to the high6speed shaft and increase the rotational speeds from about 1% to /% rotations per
minute 7rpm8 to about $%%% to $'%% rpm, the rotational speed reFuired b! most generators to produce electricit!. The gear bo> is a
costl! 7and heav!8 part of the wind turbine and engineers are e>ploring Gdirect6driveG generators that operate at lower rotational
speeds and donBt need gear bo>es.
MeneratorL
;suall! an off6the6shelf induction generator that produces /%6c!cle AC electricit!.
Cigh6speed shaftL
Drives the generator.
Dow6speed shaftL
The rotor turns the low6speed shaft at about 1% to /% rotations per minute.
EacelleL
The nacelle sits atop the tower and contains the gear bo>, low6 and high6speed shafts, generator, controller, and bra"e. <ome
nacelles are large enough for a helicopter to land on.
PitchL
.lades are turned, or pitched, out of the wind to control the rotor speed and "eep the rotor from turning in winds that are too high
or too low to produce electricit!.
4otorL
The blades and the hub together are called the rotor.
TowerL
Towers are made from tubular steel 7shown here8, concrete, or steel lattice. .ecause wind speed increases with height, taller
towers enable turbines to capture more energ! and generate more electricit!.
Wind directionL
This is an GupwindG turbine, so6called because it operates facing into the wind. 5ther turbines are designed to run Gdownwind,G
facing awa! from the wind.
Wind vaneL
Measures wind direction and communicates with the !aw drive to orient the turbine properl! with respect to the wind.
?aw driveL
;pwind turbines face into the windJ the !aw drive is used to "eep the rotor facing into the wind as the wind direction changes.
Downwind turbines donBt reFuire a !aw drive, the wind blows the rotor downwind.
?aw motorL
Powers the !aw drive

types of windmills

5ne design of a
modern windmill
has two curved
blades that spin on
a vertical a>is

strong cables act

as *gu! ropes+ to
anchor the mill and
"eep it upright.

The most efficient
modern wind
machines have 3 or
1 blades li"e the
propeller of an
aircraft.
An electricit!
generator is located
inside the head of
the machine.The
head also rotates to
"eep the blades
pointed into the
wind.


Materials
4aw Materials
Windmills can be made with a variet! of materials. Post mills are made almost
entirel! of wood. A lightweight wood, li"e balsa wood, is used for the fan blades
and a stronger, heavier wood is used for the rest of the structure. The wood is
coated with paint or a resin to protect it from the outside environment. The smoc"
and tower mills, built b! the Dutch and .ritish prior to the twentieth centur!, use
man! of the same materials used for the construction of houses including wood,
bric"s and stones.
The main bod! of the fan6t!pe mills is made with galvani=ed steel. This process of
treating steel ma"es it weather resistant and strong. The blades of the fan are
made with a lightweight, galvani=ed steel or aluminum.


horizontal axis
. familiar multi laded windmills! used
primarily for pumping water
. modern two and three laded lift
devices
similar to huge airplane propellers

vertical axis
. darrieus rotor " # egg eater$%
.the &' shaped savonius rotor

Most wind machines being used toda! are the

hori=ontal6a>is t!pe.

Cori=ontal6a>is wind machines have blades li"e

airplane propellers .

A t!pical hori=ontal wind machine stands as tall

as a 3%6stor! building and has three blades that
span 3%% feet across.

The largest wind machines in the world have

blades longer than a football fieldN Wind
machines stand tall and wide to capture more
wind

(ertical'axis
@erticalOa>is wind machines have blades that go from top
to bottom and the most common t!pe 7Darrieus wind
turbine8 loo"s li"e a giant two6bladed egg beaters.
The t!pe of vertical wind machine t!picall! stands $%% feet
tall and &% feet wide.
@ertical6a>is wind machines ma"e up onl! a ver! small
percent of the wind machines used toda!.
The Wind Amplified 4otor Platform 7WA4P8 is a different
"ind of wind s!stem that is designed to be more efficient
and use less land than wind machines in use toda!. The
WA4P does not use large bladesJ instead, it loo"s li"e a
stac" of wheel rims. ach module has a pair of small, high
capacit! turbines mounted to both of its concave wind
amplifier module channel surfaces. The concave surfaces
channel wind toward the turbines, amplif!ing wind speeds
b! &% percent or more. neco, the compan! that designed
WA4P, plans to mar"et the technolog! to power offshore
oil platforms and wireless telecommunications s!stems.


How many lades)
Many Other Factors exist such as start-up
speed, average wind speed, maximum wind
speed etc.

High Torque

ow !e"ocity

High #o"idity

Water Pumping

High !e"ocity

ow Torque

ow #o"idity

lectricit!

Cow Wind Turbines Wor"
Wind is a form of solar energ!. Winds are caused b! the uneven heating of the
atmosphere b! the sun, the irregularities of the earthBs surface, and rotation of the
earth. Wind flow patterns are modified b! the earthBs terrain, bodies of water, and
vegetation. Cumans use this wind flow, or motion energ!, for man! purposesL
sailing, fl!ing a "ite, and even generating electricit!.
The terms wind energ! or wind power describe the process b! which the wind is
used to generate mechanical power or electricit!. Wind turbines convert the "inetic
energ! in the wind into mechanical power. This mechanical power can be used for
specific tas"s 7such as grinding grain or pumping water8 or a generator can convert
this mechanical power into electricit!.
<o how do wind turbines ma"e electricit!P <impl! stated, a wind turbine wor"s the
opposite of a fan. (nstead of using electricit! to ma"e wind, li"e a fan, wind turbines
use wind to ma"e electricit!. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which
connects to a generator and ma"es electricit!. Ta"e a loo" inside a wind turbine to
see the various parts. @iew the wind turbine animation to see how a wind turbine
wor"s.
This aerial view of a wind power plant shows how a group of wind turbines can
ma"e electricit! for the utilit! grid. The electricit! is sent through transmission and
distribution lines to homes, businesses, schools, and so on.



Windmills in the Philippines
$ower-generating windmi""s in %angui %ay, &"ocos
'orte, northern $hi"ippines. Photo: AFP


Windmills in the Philippines
Docated at .angui .a!, in the (locos Eorte
province of the northern Philippines, this wind
farm is the first source of clean energ! to be
introduced to the man!6islanded nation of ')
million fol"s, thus far reliant upon oil and gas
for their needs.
The pro-ect is the wor" of a private compan!,
Eorthwind Power Development Corp, which is
run b! a Danish fellow and who received the
bul" of its funding through no6interest loans
provided b! the Danish government.
$& turbines, standing on 31 stor! high masts,
starting pumping out -uice bac" in Ma! and
now provide 3).7& megawatts of power, )%H
of the suppl! in the (locos Eorte province. The
boost in electricit! suppl! has provided power
to man! in the region for the first time.
Costing more than )' million dollars, which
translates into about 3 million dollars per
megawatt, is more than double the start6up
cost of a normal power plant running on
conventional fossil fuel and would not have
been viable without the interest6free loans
from the Danish (nternational Development
Agenc!.
<ince the pro-ect has been completed, Eiels
Qacobsen, the president and C5 of the
compan! has had government and state6
owned power compan! officials from across
the countr! reFuesting help to tr! and replicate
these windmills throughout the countr!.


design
There are two classes of windmill, hori=ontal a>is and vertical a>is. The vertical a>is design was popular during the
earl! development of the windmill. Cowever, its inefficienc! of operation led to the development of the numerous
hori=ontal a>is designs.
5f the hori=ontal a>es versions, there are a variet! of these including the post mill, smoc" mill, tower mill, and the fan
mill. The earliest design is the post mill. (t is named for the large, upright post to which the bod! of the mill is balanced.
This design gives fle>ibilit! to the mill operator because the windmill can be turned to catch the most wind depending
on the direction it is blowing. To "eep the post stable a support structure is built around it. T!picall!, this structure is
elevated off the ground with bric" or stone to prevent rotting.
The post mill has four blades mounted on a central post. The hori=ontal shaft of the blades is connected to a large
brea" wheel. The brea" wheel interacts with a gear s!stem, called the wallower, which rotates a central, vertical shaft.
This motion can then be used to power water pumping or grain grinding activities.
The smoc" mill is similar to the post mill but has included some significant improvements. The name is derived from
the fact that the bod! loo"s vaguel! li"e a dress or smoc" as the! were called. 5ne advantage is the fact that onl! the
top of the mill is moveable. This allows the main bod! structure to be more permanent while the rest could be ad-usted
to collect wind no matter what direction it is blowing. <ince it does not move, the main bod! can be made larger and
taller. This means that more eFuipment can be housed in the mill, and that taller sails can be used to collect even more
wind. Most smoc" mills are eight sided although this can var! from si> to $3.
Tower mills are further improvements on smoc" mills. The! have a rotating cap and permanent bod!, but this bod! is
made of bric" or stone. This fact ma"es it possible for the towers to be rounded. A round structure allows for even
larger and taller towers. Additionall!, bric" and stone ma"e the tower windmills the most weather resistant design.
While the previous windmill designs are for larger structures that could service entire towns, the fan6t!pe windmill is
made specificall! for individuals. (t is much smaller and used primaril! for pumping water. (t consists of a fi>ed tower
7mast8, a wheel and tail assembl! 7fan8, a head assembl!, and a pump. The masts can be $%6$& ft 716$& m8 high. The
number of blades can range from four to 3% and have a diameter between / and $/ ft 7$.'6).0 m8.

How does it works

httpLIIwww$.eere.energ!.govIwindandh!droIprintableR
versionsIwindRanimation.html



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