Wind turbines are only growing bigger as their demand increases, but how big can they get? Learn the answer in our informative guide.
But in modern wind turbines, it turns a generator that creates electricity. This conversion from wind to rotational energy to electricity has defined wind turbines since their invention in the late 19th century. And there are three primary factors that...
Anemometers are used to monitor the safety of tall structures, control wind turbines, and to guide ships. They are used at most weather stations – from the Arctic through to desert regions. That’s because wind speed can indicate a change in weather patterns. For example, an approaching sto...
In short, many of our modern marvels are more advanced thanks to wind tunnels. But it was the dream of flight that first gave breath to these breezy machines. Next, you'll read how wind tunnels arrived on the scene and exactly how they work. Get a double-fisted grip on your hat first...
Slender, tall multi-vaned wind turbines made of metal were used in American ranches and homes for pumping water into the plumbing system of the house or into the watering trough of cattle. Palmer Cosslett Putnam conceived the first large-scale wind turbine in the US. It was capable of ...
When you talk about modern wind turbines, you're looking at two primary designs: horizontal-axis and vertical-axis.Vertical-axis wind turbines(VAWTs) are pretty rare. The only one currently in commercial production is the Darrieus turbine, which looks kind of like an egg beater. ...
But even with these challenges, modern wind turbines have made wind energy the most efficient and inexpensive source of electricity. Wind turbines already provide essential energy for communities around the world. And for many farmers, hosting a wind turbine can be a reliable source of additional ...
Photo: A selection of accelerometers used for testing wind turbines. Photo by David Parsons courtesy of US Department of Energy/National Renewable Energy Laboratory (US DOE/NREL).If you have a modern cellphone, MP3 player, or handheld games console, it probably has an accelerometer built into ...
Wind turbines come in two main forms -- vertical and horizontal. The horizontal variety, looking like giant propellers, is most commonly shown in advertising today. Vertical turbines look more like modern sculpture, almost like a giant egg beater set in a field. Both use modified airfoil designs...
Power lines and wind turbines, while essential components of modern infrastructure, are deadly obstacles for birds. Collisions with these structures arecommon and contribute to substantial migratory birdmortality every year. The Role of Pesticides and Pollution ...