How does a wind turbine make energy from wind?

Wind turbines use blades to collect the wind’s kinetic energy. Wind flows over the blades creating lift (similar to the effect on airplane wings), which causes the blades to turn. The blades are connected to a drive shaft that turns an electric generator, which produces (generates) electricity.

What is the most common type of wind turbine?

horizontal-axis wind turbines
There are two types of wind turbines: the horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs) and vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs). HAWTs are the most common type of wind turbine.

How much energy does a wind turbine produce?

The mean turbine capacity in the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (USWTDB) is 1.67 megawatts (MW). At a 33% capacity factor, that average turbine would generate over 402,000 kWh per month – enough for over 460 average U.S. homes.

What is a wind turbine and how does it work?

A turbine is a rotary device that extracts energy from the motion of a fluid – in this case, the gases that make up our atmosphere – and converts that energy into useful work. Imagine a fan, but reversed. Instead of using electricity to power a fan’s blades, a wind turbine uses the power of wind to generate electricity.

How do yaw motors work on wind turbines?

The yaw motors power the yaw drive, which rotates the nacelle on upwind turbines to keep them facing the wind when the wind direction changes. Most turbines have three blades which are made mostly of fiberglass. When wind flows across the blade, the air pressure on one side of the blade decreases.

How does a direct drive wind turbine work?

Direct-drive turbines simplify nacelle systems and can increase efficiency and reliability by avoiding gearbox issues. They work by connecting the rotor directly to the generator to generate electricity. The wind vane measures wind direction and communicates with the yaw drive to orient the turbine properly with respect to the wind.

How many kilowatts is a wind turbine?

Large wind turbines, most often used by utilities to provide power to a grid, range from 100 kilowatts to several megawatts. These utility-scale turbines are often grouped together in wind farms to produce large amounts of electricity.