| Wind power is the fastest growing renewable energy | | | | converts the untamed electricity to usable DC power. |
| platform in the world. Ah, but just how do wind | | | | To maximize energy production, the turbine platform |
| turbines work. Well, you have to understand the key | | | | is fairly sophisticated. The turbine is not stationary at |
| components. | | | | the top of the supporting pole. Instead, it sits on a |
| At its core, a wind turbine converts the energy in | | | | bearing that allows the turbine to rotate towards the |
| wind into usable electricity. Wind, of course, is a form | | | | direction of the wind. This obviously makes it much |
| of solar energy. As the sun heats surfaces at | | | | more efficient. |
| different rates, hot air rises and cooler air rushes in | | | | To make sure the rotation is done correctly, all |
| to fill the gap. This rushing process is wind. A turbine | | | | horizontal turbines come with a tail. Often called a |
| positioned in the appropriate area catches this wind. | | | | boom or vane, the tail looks like something you |
| As you might imagine, the first key component of | | | | would find on a model airplane. It is a pole out the |
| the wind turbine is the blade. In modern horizontal | | | | rear of the turbine. At the end is a flat, vertical |
| turbines, there are usually three blades. The blades | | | | surface. This surface automatically turns towards the |
| are often made of a plastic and fiberglass composite, | | | | wind, which causes the blades on the other end of |
| but some are still wood. The blades are concave, but | | | | the turbine to do so also. |
| off center to catch the wind and spin efficiently. | | | | To the surprise of many, wind turbines are also built |
| The blades are connected to a double rotor | | | | with a breaking system. Why brakes? Well, you may |
| assembly. The blade rotor is connected to the blades | | | | need to work on the turbine or turn it off if very |
| and spins as they catch wind. The blade rotor is then | | | | high winds are expected. The brakes are often |
| connected to a magnet rotor through a pulley | | | | electrical in nature. The essentially break the current |
| assembly on larger turbines or directly on smaller | | | | being fed from the turbine. They are not a way of |
| ones for homes. | | | | stopping the blades from turning. |
| The magnet rotor does not turn anything. Instead, it | | | | Wind power is growing in popularity and is proving to |
| spins around a magnetic alternator. This creates a | | | | be a valuable energy source. This is particularly true |
| magnetic field. As it passes over the wires of the | | | | for rural or underdeveloped areas. The next time you |
| alternator, an electrical charge is created. The | | | | see a wind turbine, you can tell the people with you |
| electrical charge is then fed to a controller that | | | | exactly how it works. |