REPUBLIC OF BENIN

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MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

UNIVERSITY OF ABOMEY CALAVI

PROFESSIONNEL MASTER IN REWABLE ENERGIES AND ENERGIES

SYSTEMS

EDUCATION UNIT: ENGLISH

THEME:

WIND ENERGY

Members of group under the direction of:

ADINGNIDE Désirée
ASSOU Joel Mr Emmanuel EZIN
MANHAA Jacob
TOKOUETE Toza
ZINSALLO Cyrus

Academic year: 2022-2023

 PLAN

INTRODUCTION

I- HISTORICAL

II- DEFINITION OF WIND ENERGY

III- THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WIND TURBINES

IV- . MAIN COMPONENTS OF A WIND TURBINE

V- HOW DOES A WIND TURBINE WORK?

VI- ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF WIND

ENERGY
CONCLUSION

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 INTRODUCTION
Given the pace and evolution of technology, we are
witnessing a large generalized deficit through the use of
fossil fuels, which are not only gradually being depleted,
but also have harmful environmental consequences such
as the pollution of the atmosphere or the destruction of
the ozone layer. The current trend is to move towards an
energy transition involving the use of renewable energy,
also known as green energy. These energies come from
inexhaustible or regenerative natural resources such as
sun, wind, water, biomass and other renewable elements.
With this in mind, our theme focuses on the use of wind
energy, which is a form of renewable energy generated
by converting the kinetic energy of winds into electricity.
This study is composed of three parts, framed
respectively by the introduction and the conclusion.

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 I- Historical

The history of wind energy dates back to ancient times, when windmills were
used for simple mechanical tasks. However, it was in the nineteenth century that
wind energy saw significant advances, most notably with the construction of the
first wind turbine by James Blyth in 1887 in Scotland to produce electricity.
Over time, wind turbines have evolved from traditional mills to modern turbines.

The 1970s marked the beginning of the commercial use of wind energy for power
generation, with constant technological advances. Since then, wind energy has
grown rapidly, becoming an essential component of the global energy landscape,
contributing significantly to the transition to cleaner and more sustainable
energy sources.

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 II- Definition of Wind Energy

Wind energy is the process of harnessing the energy of wind

movement and converting it into useful forms of mechanical energy and
electricity. Today, most wind energy comes from turbines, mostly giant
wind turbines. The wind causes two or three propeller-shaped blades to
rotate around the rotor of the wind turbine. The rotor is connected to a
main shaft, which spins a generator to create electricity.

III- The different types of wind turbines

Wind turbines can easily be classified into two main families according
to the orientation of their axis of rotation in relation to the direction of the
wind: those with a vertical axis and those with a horizontal axis. However,
there are also domestic wind turbines and tidal turbines.

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  HORIZONTAL AXIS WIND TURBINES (HAWT)
The principle of the horizontal axis wind turbine is simple and reminiscent
of that of the windmill. It is the most common and well-known type of wind
turbine. It is also the one with the best yields. The blades are
perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

 VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINES (VAWT)

Vertical axis wind turbines are the most affordable. They can operate and
produce energy even with low winds. They can be easily attached to the
roof of a building. In addition, this type of wind turbine is relatively quiet.

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However, they are less well-known and widespread than horizontal-axis
wind turbines. They have the disadvantage of not being able to capture
very strong winds because they are very close to the ground. As a result,
their efficiency is lower than the horizontal axis wind turbine.
Their main flaw is their difficulty in getting started. Their weight rests on
the base and friction is important.
 Domestic wind turbine: This wind turbine is installed in a private
home (garden or roof). On average, up to 50% of the electricity
consumed by a household of 4 people can be produced by the
wind turbine. But it can also decide to sell this electricity to be
injected into the grid.

 Tidal turbine: The tidal turbine is an underwater wind turbine. The

wind turbine uses the kinetic energy of the air while the tidal turbine
uses the kinetic energy of the water. Tidal turbines harness the
energy of tidal currents (or rivers). It is interesting because it is
regular and inexhaustible.

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 IV- Main components of a wind turbine

An installation usually consists of a wind turbine, a fixed part, the

stator, and a moving part, the rotor, the force of the wind on the blades
drives the movement of the rotor, a tower with solid foundations and a set
of electrical equipment for the storage of the energy produced or to
manage the connection with the local power grid. Figure (I.6) shows the
components of a wind turbine.

Component of a high-power wind turbine

The vocabulary most often used to describe a wind turbine is mainly

based on four subsets:
 The rotor, a rotating part of the wind turbine placed high up in
order to capture strong and regular winds. It is composed of
blades (usually 3) made of composite material that are set in
motion by the kinetic energy of the wind. Connected by a hub,
they can each be 25 to 60 m long on average and rotate at a
speed of 5 to 25 revolutions per minute;
 The nacelle, a structure supported by the mast housing the
various mechanical elements. A distinction is made between
direct-drive wind turbines and those equipped
(
with gear gearbox/gearbox) depending on the type of
alternator used. Conventional alternators require an
adjustment of the rotational speed in relation to the initial
movement of the rotor.

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  The tower, consisting of the mast, the electrical control
system and the transformer. Generally conical in shape, the
mast supports the nacelle. It is between 50 and 130 m high
and has a diameter at its foot of between 4 and 7 m. An
opening at the bottom of the mast provides access to the
various wind turbine equipment, including the
transformer which increases the voltage of the electricity
produced in order to inject it into the grid;
 The base, often circular and made of reinforced concrete in
the case of onshore wind turbines, which helps to maintain the
overall structure.

A turbine is the combination of the rotor and the gear train. By extension,
this term is often used to refer to wind turbines as a whole.

V- How does a wind turbine work?

The operating principle of wind energy is based on the

transformation of kinetic energy into electrical energy: the wind turns
blades that in turn, turn generator 3 of the wind turbine. In turn, the
generator transforms the mechanical energy of the wind into electrical
energy. The electrical current is then transformed and injected into the
electricity grid to power our homes. It can be stored for later use.

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 VI- Advantages and disadvantages of wind energy
The growth of wind energy is obviously linked to the benefits of
using this type of energy. This energy source also has disadvantages
that need to be studied, so that they do not become an obstacle to its
development.
 ADVANTAGES
•Wind energy is first and foremost an energy that respects the environment.
•Wind energy is a renewable energy, which means that it is unlike fossil fuels.
•Wind energy is also no longer a risky energy source like nuclear energy is
and obviously does not produce radioactive waste, so we know the
lifespan.
•The exploitation of wind energy is not a continuous process since wind
turbines in operation can easily be shut down.
•Wind farms are easy to dismantle.

 ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES:
•It is a local energy source that meets local energy needs, it is the cheapest
energy among renewable energies.
•This energy source is also very interesting for countries in the process of
development. It responds to the urgent need for energy that these
countries have in order to develop.
•Installing a wind farm or wind turbine is relatively simple.
•The investment cost required is low compared to more traditional energies.
•Finally, this type of energy is easily integrated into an existing electrical
system.
•Wind energy creates more jobs per unit of electricity produced than any
traditional energy source.
 CONSEQUENCE
Even though there are not many islands, wind power has
some drawbacks:
•Visual impact. However, it remains a subjective theme.

•Noise: the mechanical noise that has virtually disappeared thanks to

advances in the gearbox. Aerodynamic noise, on the other hand, is related
to the rotational speed of the rotor, and this avoids wind turbines.

•The quality of the electrical power: Since the wind energy source is
stochastic, the electrical power produced by wind turbines is not
constant. The quality of the power produced is therefore not always very
good.

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 Conclusion
In conclusion, wind energy is emerging is a solution to address
the growing challenges associated with climate change and the
increasing demand for energy. This renewable energy source
harnesses the power of the wind to generate electricity in a clean
and sustainable manner. Ongoing technological advancements
in the field of wind turbines, coupled with a heightened
awareness of the importance of diversifying our energy mix,
make wind energy a major cornerstone in the transition towards
a greener energy future. By investing in this clean energy form,
we not only contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions but
also work towards creating a more sustainable and resilient
energy future for generations to come.

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