Windpower Technologies is a "vendor-neutral" developer of wind power generation assets in the Texas/Oklahoma Panhandle.
If you are a landowner in the Texas and Oklahoma panhandle, with at least 500 acres of land, you may qualify as one of our "joint venture partners" and be a part of the "World's Largest Wind Farm." We are signing up new joint venture partners under the most attractive and favorable Wind Energy Lease Agreement that makes you a partner with us in the World's Largest Wind Farm!
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The argument has been settled and the debate is over. Today's "modern" 3-bladed wind turbines represent the latest technological improvements in wind turbine generators, and are superior to the 20-30 year old technology that 2-bladed wind turbines represent. First of all, it is important to remember that 2-bladed wind turbines may generate only about 90% of the power of a 3-bladed wind turbine of comparable size. While a 2-bladed wind turbine saves the weight of one extra blade when compared with a 3-bladed wind turbine, engineers of the most efficient wind turbines have determined that the extra blade used on 3 bladed wind turbines provide the optimum wind turbine efficiency and wind turbine design for the "ideal" wind turbine generators of today. Secondly, the top-3 leading wind turbine manufacturers have standardized on the 3-bladed wind turbine. They do not manufacture any 2-bladed wind turbines. Plainly stated, a wind turbine with an even number of blades (2 blades or 4 blades) are NOT of optimum design or efficiency. In fact, this debate was settled years ago when the wind turbine engineers and designers began building wind turbines over 600 kW in power output. The leading wind turbine manufacturers and their engineers have decided that 3 bladed wind turbines are the optimum number of wind turbine blades due to the stability of the wind turbine as well as the significant wind loads and stresses placed on a 2-bladed wind turbine. A wind turbine that has an odd number of blades is similar to a disc when calculating the computational fluid dynamics of the wind turbine. Engineers have learned that wind turbines that have an even number of blades - such as the 2 bladed wind turbines of the past - have stability problems for a machine with a stiff structure. The reason for this problem is simple, engineers recognized that when a 2-bladed wind turbine's top blade bends backwards - when the wind turbine's 2 blades are in the vertical position - since it is now generating the maximum power from the wind - that the lower or bottom blade is now aligned with the tower and the blade is hidden or blocked from the wind - and this generates a huge amount of stress and loads on the wind turbine and its' primary components such as the bearings, shaft, transmission etc. Because of the extreme wind loads and stresses placed on 2-bladed wind turbines, the remaining 2-bladed wind turbine manufacturers have had to resort to a "teetered hub" that helps remove some of the stress and loads placed on 2-bladed wind turbines. While there are some very fine 2-bladed wind turbines, of smaller power output, the bottom line is, 3 bladed wind turbines are inherently better and more efficient than 2-bladed wind turbines. For these reasons, community wind farm owners and developers, along with utility-scale wind farm owners and developers, would be wise to only consider 3-bladed wind turbines.
We specialize in "carbon free energy" and "pollution free power" projects. See our related sites at: www.CarbonFreeEnergy.com or www.PollutionFreePower.com for more information. NOW SIGNING JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIPS WITH LANDOWNERS IN THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE Nothing quite compares with the opportunities in renewable energy technologies, and in particular, wind energy and wind farm development. As wind energy and wind farm developers, we are preparing to announce the location and details of the "world's largest wind farm." Watch for Press Release at our new website: www.WorldsLargestWindFarm.com Wind energy and wind farm development is big business, and this is only the beginning! Today, less than 1% of our energy comes from wind energy. President Bush and the U.S. government are calling for 20% of our nation's energy to come from wind energy by 2020. Hundred of billions of dollars will be invested and made in wind energy! Now is the time to get in on the ground floor of the wind energy and wind farm development business! Look at the following facts about wind energy, according to the American Wind Energy Association (www.awea.org):
We are developing new wind farms and High Voltage Power Lines in the "wind corridor" of the US. We have new wind farms and power lines located in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota and North Dakota and South Dakota. Our Joint-Venture Partners can profit with us in the fastest-growing sector of all renewable energy technologies - wind farm development. Our wind farm projects are selected for their wind resources, location, and the ability to generate above-average returns for our "team" which is made up by our landowners, our Joint-Venture Partners and our company. Multiple
wind farm project opportunities now available for our Joint-Venture Partners.
Call (806) 576 - 1100 for more information. Are You
a Land And Ranch Owner in the Complete the following questionnaire and return to us at: info @ WindpowerTechnologies .com to see if you qualify as one of our Joint Venture Partners in the World's Largest Wind Farm for more information ========================================================================= Yes, Windpower Technologies, I'm interested in learning more about having wind turbines placed on my property and ending America's dependence on dirty fossil fuels from the Middle East, and generating clean, green power in America! I/we own
at least 500 acres of land in the Texas/Oklahoma Panhandle and are interested in
having Windpower Technologies place wind turbines on our property. Here is
the information you will need:
Name of ranch/property ________________________
city ______________
zip _________ 8. Do you have a Wind Resource Assessment already completed for your property? (If yes, please forward to us for evaluation. If not, we can provide this service. See our website at: www.WindResourceAssessment.com for more information.)
Ranch/Landowners
in the "Wind Corridor" Of the U.S. Are you seeking to help make a greener future for your children, and your children's children? Are you seeking greater returns from your ranch/land? Do you own 500 acres or more in the "wind corridor" of the U.S.? (Texas panhandle, Oklahoma panhandle, western Kansas, eastern Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota or Minnesota) Do you want to claim your share in the profits from one of our wind farms? Call
us to see if you and your property can qualify for one of our new wind farm
developments, and become one of our wind farm independent project partners.
Generate new revenues from a separate new business separately in conjunction
with your current occupation. One of the first steps a land owner needs to move forward is to determine whether the wind they receive is of sufficient quality - this is done through a Wind Resource Assessment. See our website at: www.WindResourceAssessment.com for more information. We can provide this service for land owners and ranchers that own Landowners and Ranchers, if you own 500 acres or more land and are located in the "Wind Corridor" of the U.S., please complete the questionnaire (above) and send to us at: info @ WindpowerTechnologies .com and we will let you know when we will be in your area, to schedule a personal visit to further discuss our wind farm projects.
Wind Power Generation vs. Traditional Power Generation Power
generated from clean, green wind energy avoids numerous negative effects of
traditional electricity generation from fossil fuels: Today, Carbon Dioxide Emissions in the United States approaches 6 billion metric tons/year. 39% of these Carbon Dioxide Emissions are produced when electricity is generated from fossil fuels. If the
United States obtained 20% of its electricity from wind energy, the country
could avoid putting 825 million metric tons of CO2 annually into the atmosphere
by 2030, or a cumulative total of 7,600 million metric tons by 2030. Now
seeking Land/Ranch Owners as Joint-Venture partner(s) for multiple wind farms we
are developing in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota,
Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Our wind farms also include our
own electric transmission lines.
Wind Resource Assessment
Wind mapping techniques developed by the National Renewable Energy Lab ("NREL") and U.S. companies are being used to produce high-resolution projections of U.S. and foreign regions that are painting a whole new picture of wind potential. These maps are created using highly accurate GPS mapping tools and a vast array of satellite, weather balloon, and meteorological tower data, combined with much-improved numerical computer models. The higher horizontal resolution of these maps (1 km or finer) allows for more accurate wind turbine siting and has also led to the recognition of higher-class winds in areas where none were thought to exist. The ability to accurately predict when the wind will blow will help remove barriers to wind energy development by allowing wind-power-generating facilities to commit to power purchases in advance. NREL researchers work with federal, state, and private organizations to validate the nation's wind resources and support advances in wind forecasting techniques and dissemination. Wind resource validation is important for both wind resource assessment and the integration of wind farms into an energy grid. Validating new, high-resolution wind resource maps will provide an accurate reading of the wind resource at a particular site. Development of short-term (1 to 4 hours) forecasting tools will help energy producers proceed with new wind farm projects and avoid the penalties they must pay if they do not meet their hourly generation targets. In addition, validating new high-resolution wind resource maps will give people interested in developing wind energy projects greater confidence as to the level of wind resource for a particular site.
With energy prices very volatile, and recently ranging from $45 to almost $150/bbl for oil and $6.00 to over $18/mmbtu for natural gas - and with many parts of the U.S. and around the world paying more than $0.18/kWh for electricity, there simply has never been a better time to be in the energy industry, providing renewable energy and renewable fuel solutions! We
have answers and solutions for these high power and energy prices that include
"Carbon Free Energy" and "Pollution
Free Power" technologies. These technologies are; carbon-neutral,
environmentally-friendly, sustainable and now, more affordable to operate than
coal-fired power plants. We
Develop Utility Scale Wind Farms, and
are "vendor neutral" in terms of wind turbine manufacturer. Our sole
focus is in maximizing revenues and minimizing expenses for our clients. Renewable Energy Technologies' focus is on renewable energy and developing projects that generate environmental credits such as Certified Emission Reductions, Verified Emission Reductions, Carbon Dioxide Credits, or other types of Greenhouse Gas Emissions credits. Our onsite power and energy projects produce the following benefits:
1. Reduced power and energy expenses for our customers ___________________________________________________________
Why We Need Renewable Energy, NOW! Mont Goodell, President of the Renewable Energy Institute, along with the Renewable Energy Institute's Scientific Advisory Board, which is comprised of our nation's leading experts, engineers, attorneys, professors and universities, is calling for our nation and all 50 states to adopt a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) of at least 25% by 2025. According to Mr. Goodell, our nation is at a crossroads and we have been 'over the Middle Eastern barrel of their fossil fuels' long enough. We must shift from energy dependence to energy independence and place significant emphasis and investments in our national energy security and lower greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, we need to implement a "Feed In Tariff" in lieu of a Renewable Portfolio Standard and build the 'Transmission Superhighway' or 'Unified National Grid' and dramatically increase the nation's power supply as well as implement greater use of 'Energy Conservation Measures' and 'Demand Side Management' programs. Failure to move in these areas and to do so immediately increases the risks to our country, our national security and the climate" according to Mr. Goodell. One of the fastest paths to jump-start the renewable energy industry, according to the Renewable Energy Institute, is through a "Feed In Tariff. A Feed In Tariff is superior to a Renewable Portfolio Standard," according to Mr. Goodell. "Just look at Germany, they adopted a Feed In Tariff, are further north from the Equator than we are here in the U.S., and they are placing solar panels on every rooftop and wind turbine generators throughout their country. They are leading the world in renewable energy technologies, primarily due to their early adoption of a Feed In Tariff" Renewable energy, and renewable energy only provides significant economic and environmental dividends, whether this is through a Renewable Portfolio Standard, or through a Feed-in Tariff, some of the economic and environmental dividends include:
According to the Energy Information Administration, the total US primary energy consumption is expected to increase from 100 quadrillion Btu (quads) in 2005 to 131 quads in 2030. However, the renewable electricity generation remains at 9% while use of coal increases 50 percent in 2030 to 57%. Ethanol use is expected to increase from 4 billion gallons in 2005 to 14.6 billion gallons in 2030, yet that is only about 8% of total gasoline consumption. In January (2008) the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) blamed the burning of fossil fuels as a key contributor to global warming and accelerating climate change. The NCDC warned that the rate of the warming is accelerating and that the rise in temperatures over the past 9 years is “unprecedented in the historical record." This was underscored in February (2008) in the consensus report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that concluded with near certainty that human activity was the main contributor to global warming. The renewable energy industry, single-handedly, provides a powerful argument and solutions for these problems. Global warming and climate change are symptoms of a sick planet and the results of unrestrained "dumping" of huge amounts of pollution - in the form of carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. The vast majority of carbon
dioxide emissions and greenhouse gas
emissions comes from "dirty" fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural
gas) used in making electricity at power plants and dirty fuels (gasoline and
petroleum diesel) that run our internal combustion engines in our cars, trains,
planes, and trucks. Our planet is home to millions and millions of internal
combustion engines that run on dirty fossil fuels - whether they are fueled with
gasoline for running our cars and lawnmowers or running on diesel fuel in the
engines of trucks and ships like the very large crude carriers that transport
the crude oil all around the world...... every internal combustion engine that
is running on dirty fossil fuels is dumping millions and millions of tons of carbon
dioxide emissions and greenhouse gas
emissions into our atmosphere - which is aggravating and exacerbating our
sick planet - and making manmade climate change and global warming more
difficult to resolve through manmade remedies and solutions. Why We
Need A "Unified Smart Grid" or According to Mont Goodell, President of the Renewable Energy Institute, "our country desperately needs to upgrade its' national electric grid. The grid of today is a relic from the past, that is inefficient and costly. Originally built in the 1930's, it is costing our nation approximately $120 billion every year due to its' outdated and out-lived existence. The national power grid as designed and built in the 1930's does not have the efficiencies and capabilities to keep pace with the national power grid's demands of today." "What we need" according to Mr. Goodell, is what former Vice President Al Gore calls a "Unified Smart Grid" or what we prefer to call a "Transmission Superhighway." A Transmission
Superhighway would be buried underground and
"wheels" or transmits the renewable power ("green
electricity") from the wind farms of the midwest, and solar farms of the
southwest, and geothermal farms of the west, to load centers throughout every
corner of the U.S." According to many estimates, the "Unified Smart Grid" or "Transmission Superhighway" could be built for about $400 billion. Through its' increased efficiencies, savings and reliability improvements that it will provide, the nation's new "unified smart grid" will be paid in full, in less than 4 years. Carbon Dioxide Emissions Since the Year 1750
The
carbon clock tracks total Carbon
Dioxide Emissions in metric tons since 1750. Roughly half of these Carbon Dioxide Emissions have ended up in the oceans where it is beginning to damage the coral reefs. The other half is still in the atmosphere and causing global warming. Each
pound of Carbon Dioxide ("CO2") takes up as much space as a 500 pound
person. Carbon
has relative weight 12 and Oxygen 16. Therefore, it takes only 12 pounds
of carbon to make 12+16+16 = 44 pounds of Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Wind Power Generation Saves Water! 20% of our nation's electricity requirements can be generated with wind power generation by the year 2030 according to the Department of Energy. When we do, our nation will save over 4 Trillion gallons of water through 2030 through the displacement of typical electric power plants, such as fossil fuel power plants, that would have used vast amount of water. By switching to wind power generation for 20% of our nation's electrical requirements, we reduce overall water consumption by 17% in 2030. See our website at: www.WindPowerGeneration.com for more information. According to R. James Woolsey, for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, "The basic insight is to realize that global warming, the geopolitics of oil, and warfare in the Persian Gulf are not separate problems --- they are aspects of a single problem, the West's dependence on oil."
The
Future is "Carbon Free Energy"
and The Renewable Energy Institute has determined "carbon free energy" and "pollution free power" are the best possible solutions for the many economic, environmental and political/geo-political and societal problems caused by fossil fuels. The Renewable Energy Institute is made up of the brightest minds, professors, climatologists, engineers, politicians and universities. Their "crystal ball" sees "renewable energy" and "renewable energy technologies" as the best path forward for providing the energy the world needs. And it's no longer any energy that will do - the future is for energy that is clean, sustainable, renewable, and "Carbon Free Energy" and "Pollution Free Power." According to Mont Goodell, Founder, Chairman and President of the Renewable Energy Institute, "we must become less dependent on unstable, foreign oil and energy supplies and reduce our 'addiction' to fossil fuels so that we can become energy independent - so that we will not be held hostage by counties with large supplies of fossil fuels such as Iran, Venezuela or Russia, countries that we cannot rely on as our allies or friends." Continuing, Mr. Goodell adds, "Since energy and power are the lifeblood of our economy - and we need to 'transition' away from the use of all fossil fuels, and ultimately discontinue the use of fossil fuels so that we can stop and reverse the pollution from Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. So, this begs the question, 'how do we provide for the energy and power that we need that keeps our economy healthy'? The answer and the future is quite simply, 'renewable energy and renewable energy technologies.'" Renewable
energy includes; B100 Biodiesel, Biomass / Biomass
Gasification, Biomethane, E100
Ethanol, Geothermal, Solar,
Waste to Energy (including Waste
to Fuel and Waste to Watts) and Wind.
These renewable energy technologies
produce "carbon free energy" and
"pollution free power."
This will reverse the problems caused by fossil fuels which include global
warming and climate change. Renewable energy technologies will improve our
country's energy security, economy and reduce the trade deficit. The Economic and Environmental Benefits of Wind Power According to the Department of Energy, our nation's electricity generation from wind power alone could top 20 percent of the total power generation mix by 2030. This would have the economic benefits of creating 500,000 jobs and generate more than $400 billion. Wind Power also reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions and other pollution by 25 percent than otherwise. Wind
Power Generation:
United States — 50-Meter Wind Resource Map
Yearly Installed Wind Capacity Map
Renewable Energy Project Development Solutions About
Us begin most and assist our commercial and industrial clients by providing recommendations and strategies for helping them reduce their carbon emissions, carbon dioxide emissions, greenhouse gas emissions and keep informed of current laws and pending legislation relating to climate change, global warming and how they can prepare for Cap and Trade. See our website at: www.CapAndTrade.net for more information on Cap and Trade issues, pending legislation and preparing for federal laws and compliance. Our clients benefit from our extensive experience and knowledge of issues relating to renewable energy, environmental and sustainability issues as well as implementing real world solutions that accomplish our client's goals and objectives. We have been providing products, consulting services, information, education and solutions for reducing: Carbon Emissions (www.CarbonEmissions.com) Carbon Dioxide Emissions (www.CarbonDioxideEmissions.com) and Greenhouse Gas Emissions (www.GreenhouseGasEmissions.com) since 2003. No company is better prepared to help their clients in meeting
these legal and environmental challenges with proven solutions that help save
money through significantly lower energy expenses while simultaneously reducing
or eliminating their Greenhouse Gas
Emissions, or eliminating them entirely,
than us! We are the pioneers of "Carbon Free
Energy,"
"Pollution Free Power" and "Clean Power Generation" strategies and
solutions that can completely eliminate your company's Greenhouse Gas
Emissions. Our solutions and strategies provide our customers with an integrated approach to today's climate challenges with real world solutions that solve these problems, while reducing energy expenses. We turn your waste into green power and energy! Stop "Wasting Waste!" Biomass
Gasification Engineering and Feedstock Feasibility Studies What are the benefits of verifying
your company's Greenhouse Gas Emissions? 2. Prepare for present and future regulatory compliance - Cap and Trade is coming! 3. Establishes a present-day baseline for receiving future Greenhouse Gas Emissions Credits when your company begins taking action to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. 4. Provides a blueprint and strategy for knowing how, where and when to begin reducing your company's Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Our renewable
energy project development expertise has made us a leading authority of
helping our clients with Section 45 Tax Credits. Our company and our
attorneys are skilled in the areas of renewable energy project finance and
tax issues relating to renewable energy projects. We are able to assist
our clients in connection with Section 45 tax credit project finance. See one of our following sites at: www.Section45TaxCredits.com or www.RenewableEnergyTaxCredits.com for more information or call: (806) 576 - 1100 for more information _____________________________________________________
Moving forward with us - next steps Typically, we are engaged by new clients after they have identified renewable energy or renewable fuel opportunity. We require an initial retainer from new clients. The amount of the retainer is based upon the number of hours and resources for the specific project. Our Phase I feasibility studies are led by a licensed professional engineer that holds a Ph.D. in engineering along with significant experience in biomass, renewable energy and waste to energy technologies. After completing the engineering feasibility and economic study, we are then able to move forward with the EPC (Engineering-Procurement-Construction) project development and would provide several of the key project management team members.
Wind Energy Terminology & Glossary
Air Gap - In a
permanent magnet alternator, the distance between the magnets and the laminates. Alternating Current -
Electricity that changes direction periodically. The period is measured in
Cycles per Second (Hertz, Hz). Alternator - A device
that produces Alternating Current from the rotation of a shaft. Amperage - A unit of
electrical current, equal to Coulombs per second. This is the flow rate of
electrons moving through a circuit, very roughly analogous to gallons per minute
flowing from a faucet. Ampere-Hour - A
measure of energy quantity, equal to amperes times hours. Also used to measure
battery capacity. Anemometer - A device
that measures wind speed. Angle of Attack - The
angle of relative air flow to the blade chord. Annealing - A heat
treatment process that makes Cold-rolled steel more suitable for forming and
bending. Area of a Circle - Pi
multiplied by the Radius squared. Armature - The moving
part of an alternator, generator or motor. In many PM alternator designs, it
carries the magnets and is attached to the blades and hub. Also called a Rotor. Axial Alternator - An
alternator design where a flat disc carrying magnets on the face (the Armature)
rotates near a flat disc carrying coils (the Stator). Axis - The centerline
of a rotating object's movement. Balancing - With wind
turbine blades, adjusting their weight and weight distribution through 2 axes so
that all blades are the same. Unbalanced blades create damaging vibration. Battery - An
electrochemical device for storing energy. Battery Bank - An
array of Batteries connected in series, parallel, or both. Bearing - A device
that transfers a force to structural supports. In a wind generator, bearings
allow the Shaft to rotate freely, and allow the machine to Yaw into and out of
the wind. Belt - A device for
transferring power from a rotating shaft to a generator. Allows the use of
Pulleys to change the ratio of shaft speed to and from the generator. Betz Limit -59.3
percent. This is the theoretical maximum efficiency at which a wind generator
can operate, by slowing the wind down. If the wind generator slows the wind down
too much, air piles up in front of the blades and is not used for extracting
energy. Blade - The part of a
wind generator rotor that catches the wind. Braking System - A
device to slow a wind turbine's shaft speed down to safe levels electrically or
mechanically. Bridge Rectifier - An
array of diodes used to convert Alternating Current to Direct Current.
Single-phase bridge rectifiers use 4 diodes, 3-phase bridge rectifiers use 6
diodes. Brushes - Devices for
transferring power to or from a rotating object. Usually made of
carbon-graphite. Ceramic Magnets - See
Ferrite Magnets. Chord - The width of a
wind turbine blade at a given location along the length. Coercivity--The amount
of power needed to magnetize or demagnetize a permanent magnet. Measured in
MegaGauss Oersted (mGO) Cogging - The cyclic
physical resistance felt in some alternator designs from magnets passing the
coils and gaps in the laminates. Detrimental to Start-up. Coil - A length of
wire wound around a form in multiple turns. Cold-Rolled Steel -
Steel processed by working at room temperatures. More expensive than hot-rolled
steel. Commutator - The
rotating part of a DC generator. Concave - A surface
curved like the interior of a circle or sphere. Convex - A surface
curved like the exterior of a circle or sphere. Current - See
Amperage. Cut-In Wind Speed -
The rotational speed at which an alternator or generator starts pushing
electricity hard enough (has a high enough voltage) to make electricity flow in
a circuit. Cycles per Second -
Measured in Hertz. In electricity, it is the number of times an AC circuit
reaches both minimum and maximum values in one second. Darrieus Wind Turbine
- A Vertical Axis Wind Turbine design from the 1920s and 1930s by F.M. Darrieus,
a French wind turbine designer. DC - Direct Current Delta - A 3-phase
alternator wiring configuration in which all phases are connected in Series. Diameter - A straight
line passing through the center of a circle, and ending on both edges. Equal to
2 times the Radius. Diode - A solid-state
device that allows electricity to flow in only one direction. Downwind - Refers to a
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine in which the hub and blades point away from the
wind direction, the opposite of an Upwind turbine. Drag - In a wind
generator, the force exerted on an object by moving air. Also refers to a type
of wind generator or anemometer design that uses cups instead of a blades with
airfoils. Dump Load - A device
to which wind generator power flows when the system batteries are too full to
accept more power, usually an electric heating element. This diversion is
performed by a Shunt Regulator, and allows a Load to be kept on the Alternator
or Generator. Duty Cycle - In a
circuit, the ratio of off time to on time. Dynamo - A device that
produces Direct Current from a rotating shaft. See Generator. Eddy Currents -
Currents that flow in a substance from variations in magnetic induction. See
also Lenz Effect. Laminates are used to prevent eddy currents, which cause
physical and electrical resistance in an alternator or transformer, therefore
wasting power. Efficiency - The ratio
of energy output to energy input in a device. Electromagnet - A
device made of wire coils that produces a magnetic field when electricity flows
through the coils. Epoxy - A 2-part
adhesive system consisting of resin and hardener. It does not start to harden
until the elements are mixed together. NOT compatible with Fiberglas® Resin. Excitation - Using an
electric current to create a magnetic field. See Electromagnet. Fatigue - Stress that
causes material failure from repeated, cyclic vibration or stress. Ferrite Magnets - Also
called Ceramic Magnets. Made of Strontium Ferrite. High Coercivity and Curie
Temperature, low cost, but brittle and 4-5 times weaker than NdFeB magnets. Fiberglas®
Resin--Another 2-part adhesive system, NOT compatible with Epoxy. Often used for
making castings, since it is much cheaper than Epoxy. Freewheeling - a wind
generator that is NOT connected to a Load is freewheeling, and in danger of
self-destruction from overspeeding. Frequency - Refers to
electric current - Also see Cycles per Second. Furling - The act of a
wind generator Yawing out of the wind either horizontally or vertically to
protect itself from high wind speeds. Furling Tail - A wind
generator protection mechanism where the rotor shaft axis is offset horizontally
from the yaw axis, and the tail boom is both offset horizontally and hinged
diagonally, thus allowing the tail to fold up and in during high winds. This
causes the blades to turn out of the wind, protecting the machine. Gauss - A unit of
magnetic induction, equal to 1 Maxwell per square centimeter. Higher Gauss
measurements mean more power can be induced to flow in an alternator. Gauss
readings can be increased by putting steel behind magnets, stacking magnets, or
using larger or higher-grade magnets. Gearing - Using a
mechanical system of gears or belts and pulleys to increase or decrease shaft
speed. Power losses from friction are inherent in any gearing system. Generator - A device
that produces Direct Current from a rotating shaft. Governor - A device
that regulates the speed of a rotating shaft, either electrically or
mechanically. Guy Anchor - Attaches
tower guy wires securely to the earth. Guy Radius - The
distance between a wind turbine tower and the guy anchors. Guy Wire - Attaches a
tower to a Guy Anchor and the ground. H-Rotor - A Vertical
Axis Wind Turbine design. HAWT - Horizontal Axis
Wind Turbine. Hertz - Frequency
measurement. See Cycles per Second Horizontal Axis Wind
Turbine - A "normal" wind turbine design, in which the shaft is
parallel to the ground, and the blades are perpendicular to the ground. Hub - The center of a
wind generator rotor, which holds the blades in place and attaches to the shaft. Impedance - See
Resistance. Induction - The
production of a magnetic field by the proximity of a electric charge or the
production of a magnetic field by proximity of an electric charge. Induction Motor - An
AC motor in which the rotating armature has no electrical connections to it (ie
no slip rings), and consists of alternating plates of aluminum and steel. Kilowatt - 1000 Watts
(see Watt) kW - Kilowatt. Laminations--Electrical
circuit core parts, found in motors, generators, alternators and transformers.
When core parts are subjected to alternating electrical or magnetic fields, the
buildup of Eddy Currents causes physical and electrical power loss. Laminations
are made of thin strips of materials that make good temporary magnets and poor
permanent magnets, and each strip is insulated electrically from the next. Leading Edge - The
edge of a blade that faces toward the direction of rotation. Leeward - Away from
the direction from which the wind blows. Lenz Effect - See also
Eddy Currents. From H.F.E Lenz in 1833. Electromotive force is induced with
variations in magnetic flux. It can be demonstrated physically in many different
ways--for example dragging a strong magnet over an aluminum or copper plate, or
shorting the terminals of a PM alternator and rotating the shaft by hand.
Laminates are used to reduce power losses from this effect. Lift - The force
exerted by moving air on asymmetrically-shaped wind generator blades at right
angles to the direction of relative movement. Ideally, wind generator blades
should produce high Lift and low Drag. Live - A circuit that
is carrying electricity. Load - Something
physical or electrical that absorbs energy. A wind generator that is connected
to a battery bank is loaded. A disconnected wind generator is NOT loaded, so the
blades are free to spin at very high speed without absorbing any energy from the
wind, and it is in danger of destruction from overspeeding. Losses - Power that is
harvested by a wind generator but is not transferred to a usable form. Losses
can be from friction, electrical resistance, or other causes. Magnet - A body that
attracts ferromagnetic materials. Can be a Permanent magnet, Temporary Magnet,
or Electromagnet. Magnetite - A common
Iron-containing mineral with ferromagnetic properties. Magnet Wire - The kind
of wire always used in making electromagnets, alternators, generators and
motors. Uses very thin enamel insulation to minimize thickness and maximize
resistance to heat. Magnetic Circuit - The
path in which magnetic flux flows from one magnet pole to the other. Magnetic Field -
Magnetic fields are historically described in terms of their effect on electric
charges. A moving electric charge, such as an electron, will accelerate in the
presence of a magnetic field, causing it to change velocity and its direction of
travel. An electrically charged particle moving in a magnetic field will
experience a force (known as the Lorentz force) pushing it in a direction
perpendicular to the magnetic field and the direction of motion. Also called
magnetic flux. Maximum Energy Product
- Determines how good a magnet that different materials can make. Technically,
the amount of energy that a material can supply to an external magnetic circuit
when operating within its demagnetization curve. MegaGauss Oersted -
Magnetic force measurement, see Maximum Energy Product. MGOe - MegaGauss
Oersted. Moment - A force
attempting to produce motion around an axis. NdFeB - See
Neodymium-Iron-Boron Magnet. Nacelle - The
protective covering over the generator or motor at the top of a wind turbine
tower. Neodymium-Iron-Boron
Magnet - The composition of the most powerful Permanent Magnets known to man.
The materials are mined, processed, and sintered into shape. Then, they are
subjected to an extremely strong magnetic field and become Permanent Magnets. Ohm's Law - The basic
math needed for nearly all electrical calculations. Please see a dictionary or
Pocket Ref for all of the variations on Ohm's Law! E=I*R (voltage(E)=amperage(I)*resistance(R)),
and all of the algebraic variations of this (I=E/R, R=E/I). Also, for DC
circuits, Watts=Volts*Amps. For AC circuits, Watts=Amps * Volts * Cosine of
phase angle theta. Open-Circuit Voltage -
The voltage that a alternator or generator produces when it is NOT connected to
a Load. Parallel - In DC
electrical circuits such as a battery bank or solar panel array, this is a
connection where all negative terminals are connected to each other, and all
positive terminals are connected to each other. Voltage stays the same, but
amperage is increased. In AC circuits such as a wind generator alternator, each
parallel coil is connected to common supply wires, again increasing amperage but
leaving voltage the same. Opposite of Series. See also Star. Permanent Magnet - A
material that retains its magnetic properties after an external magnetic field
is removed. Permanent Magnet
Alternator - An Alternator that uses moving permanent magnets instead of
Electromagnets to induce current in coils of wire. PM - Permanent Magnet. PMA - See Permanent
Magnet Alternator. Phase - The timing of AC current cycles in different wires. 3-phase alternators produce current that is cyclically timed between 3 different wires and a common wire, while single phase produces it in only 1 wire and a common. In a 3-phase alternator, wire #1 receives a voltage peak, then wire #2 receives a peak, then wire #3. Pillow Blocks -
Bearings that support a horizontal shaft. Pitch - Setting Angle
of an airfoil or blade. Poles - A way of
picturing magnetic phenomena. All magnets are considered to be
"dipoles", having both a North pole (which would point North if used
in a compass) and a South pole (which would point South if used in a compass. In
an alternator, generator, or motor the number of Poles is a measure of how many
coils, permanent magnets or electromagnets are in the armature or stator. Prop - Propeller. Propeller - The
spinning thing that makes an airplane move forward. Often incorrectly used to
describe a wind turbine Rotor. Pulley - A device for
transferring power when using Belts as Gearing. Changing to smaller or larger
Pulleys changes the gear ratio, and can be used to make a shaft turn faster or
slower than the shaft that is providing its power. Pulse Width Modulation
- A regulation method based on Duty Cycle. At full power, a
pulse-width-modulated circuit provides electricity 100 percent of the time. At
half power, the PWM is on half the time and off half the time. The speed of this
alternation is generally very fast. Used in both solar wind regulators to
efficiently provide regulation. PWM - See Pulse Width
Modulation. Radius - The distance
between the center of a circle and the outside. Rare-Earth Magnets -
See Neodymium-Iron-Boron magnets. Rated Power Output -
Used by wind generator manufacturers to provide a baseline for measuring
performance. Rated output may vary by manufacturer. For example, one
manufacturer's 1500 watt turbine may produce that amount of power at a 30 mph
windspeed, while another brand of 1500 watt turbine may not make 1500 Watts
until it gets a 40 mph windspeed. Read manufacturer's ratings statements
very carefully. Rectifier - See Diode. Radial - An alternator
design in which the armature magnets are attached to the outside circumference
of a disc, with the stator coils mounted around the outside. Regulator - A device
to adjust incoming power so as to avoid overcharging a battery bank. In solar
power, the regulator generally just turns the solar array off when the batteries
are full. With a wind generator, the regulator generally diverts all or part of
the incoming power to a Dump Load when the batteries fill, thus keeping a Load
on the wind generator so it will not Freewheel. Relay - An
electromechanical switch that uses a small amount of incoming electricity to
charge an electromagnet, which physically pulls down a connecting switch to
complete a circuit. This allows a low-power circuit to divert the electricity in
a high-power circuit. Resistance - The
voltage per amp needed to make electricity flow through a wire. See Ohm's Law. Root - The area of a
blade nearest to the hub. Generally the thickest and widest part of the blade. RPM - Revolutions Per
Minute. The number of times a shaft completes a full revolution in one minute. Savonius - A
vertical-axis wind turbine design by S.J. Savonius of Finland from the 1920s and
30s. Shaped like a barrel split from end to end and offset along the cut. They
are drag machines, and thus give very low rpm but lots of torque. Series - In DC
electrical circuits such as a battery bank or solar panel array, this is a
connection where all the negative terminals are connected to the neighboring
positive terminals. Voltage increases, but amperage stays the same. In AC
circuits such as a wind generator alternator, each coil is connected to the one
next to it, and so on, again increasing voltage but leaving amperage the same.
Opposite of Parallel. See also Delta. Servo Motor - A motor
used for motion control in robots, hard disc drives, etc. Generally designed
more like an alternator than a standard motor, most Servos need special control
circuitry to make them rotate electrically. Some can be used in reverse to
generate alternating current. Setting Angle - The
angle between the blade Chord and the plane of the blade's rotation. Also called
Pitch or blade angle. A blade carved with a Twist has a different setting angle
at the Tip than at the Root. Shaft - The rotating
part in the center of a wind generator or motor that transfers power. Short Circuit - 1)
Parts of a circuit connected together with only the impedance of the leads
between them. 2) In wind generators, connecting the output leads directly
together so as to heavily load a generator in high winds. This creates a
"short" circuit path back to the generator, bypassing all other loads. Shunt - An electrical
bypass circuit that proportionally divides current flow between the shunt and
the shunted equipment. It also allows high current measurements with low-current
equipment. Shunt Regulator - A
bypass device for power not needed for charging batteries. When batteries are
full, the regulator shunts all or part of the excess power to a Dump Load to
protect the batteries from overcharging damage. Slip Ring - Devices
used to transfer electricity to or from rotating parts. Used in wound-field
alternators, motors, and in some wind generator yaw assemblies. Star - A coil
connection scheme for 3 phase alternators and generators in which all 3 coil
phases are connected in parallel--they all share a common connection. Start-Up - The
windspeed at which a wind turbine rotor starts to rotate. It does not
necessarily produce any power until it reaches cut-in speed. See Cut-in Wind
Speed. Stationary - With wind
generator towers, a tower that does not tilt up and down. The tower must be
climbed or accessed with a crane to install or service equipment at the top. Stator - The part of a
motor, generator or alternator that does not rotate. In permanent magnet
alternators it holds the coils and laminates. Tail - See Vane. The
proper term is actually Vane, but Tail is commonly used. Tail Boom - A strut
that holds the tail (Vane) to the wind generator frame. Tape Drive Motor - A
type of permanent magnet DC motor often used as a generator in small wind
generator systems. Taper - The change in
wind turbine blade width (chord) along the length. Temporary Magnet - A
material that shows magnetic properties only while exposed to an external
magnetic field. Thrust - In a wind
generator, wind forces pushing back against the rotor. Wind generator bearings
must be designed to handle thrust or else they will fail. Thrust Bearing - A
bearing that is designed to handle axial forces along the centerline of the
shaft--in a wind generator, this is the force of the wind pushing back against
the blades. Tilt-Up - A tower that
is hinged at the base and tilted up into position using a gin pole and winch or
vehicle. Wind turbines on tilt-up towers can be serviced on the ground, with no
climbing required. Tip - The end of a
wind generator blade farthest from the hub. Tip Speed Ratio -The
ratio of how much faster than the windspeed that the blade tips are moving.
Abbreviation TSR. Torque - Turning
force, equal to force times radius. See also Moment. Tower - A structure
that supports a wind generator, usually high in the air. Trailing Edge - The
edge of a blade that faces away from the direction of rotation. Transformer - Multiple
individual coils of wire wound on a laminate core. Transfers power from one
circuit to another using magnetic induction. Usually used to step voltage up or
down. Works only with AC current. TSR - Tip Speed Ratio. Turn - In winding
stator coils, this is one loop of wire around a form. A coil will often be
referred to by how many turns of a certain gauge wire are in each coil. Twist - In a wind
generator blade, the difference in Pitch between the blade root and the blade
tip. Generally, the twist allows more Pitch at the blade root for easier
Startup, and less Pitch at the tip for better high-speed performance. Upwind - the direction
in which a wind turbine generator faces into the wind. Vane - A large, flat
piece of material used to align a wind turbine rotor correctly into the wind.
Usually mounted vertically on the tail boom. Sometimes called a Tail. Variable Pitch - A
type of wind turbine rotor where the attack angle of the blades can be adjusted
either automatically or manually. VAWT - Vertical Axis
Wind Turbine. Vertical Axis Wind
Turbine - A wind generator design where the rotating shaft is perpendicular to
the ground, and the cups or blades rotate parallel to the ground. Voltage - A measure of
electrical potential difference. One volt is the potential difference needed in
a circuit to make one Ampere flow, dissipating one Watt of heat. Volt-Amp - In an AC circuit, this is Volts * Amps, without factoring in the power factor, derived from the phase angle. Watt - One Joule of
electrical energy per second. In DC circuits, Watts=Volts * Amps. In AC
circuits, Watts=Volts * Amps * the cosine of the phase angle. See also Volt-Amp. Wild AC - Alternating
Current that varies in Frequency. Wind Generator - A
device that captures the force of the wind to provide rotational motion to
produce power with an alternator or generator. Windmill - A device
that uses wind power to mill grain into flour. But informally used as a synonym
for wind generator or wind turbine, and to describe machines that pump water
with wind power. Wind Turbine - A
machine that captures the force of the wind. Called a Wind Generator when used
to produce electricity. Called a Windmill when used to crush grain or pump
water. Windward - Toward the
direction from which the wind blows. Yaw - Rotation
parallel to the ground. A wind generator Yaws to face winds coming from
different directions. Yaw Axis--Vertical
axis through the center of gravity. Some of the above information provided with our thanks by the Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
We support the Renewable Energy Institute by donating a portion of our profits to the Renewable Energy Institute in their efforts to reduce fossil fuel use through renewable energy and their goals to end pollution from Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The Renewable Energy Institute is "Changing The Way The World Makes and Uses Energy by Providing Research & Development, Funding and Resources That Create Pollution Free Power, Carbon Free Energy & Renewable Energy Technologies" Renewable Energy Institute
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Wind
Resource Assessment Tel. (806) 576 - 1100 Email: info@WindResourceAssessment.com
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