TEXT 9 : GETTING ELECTRICITY FROM THE WIND

By the end of this unit, you should be able to: i) ii) iii) iv) Read and answer questions on a text Draw and label a diagram Write an interview Listen and complete a text

GETTING STARTED
Look at these pictures. 1. 2. 3.
4.

Tell what you can see in picture A. Tell what you can see in picture B. How are both pictures related? Do you think the wind is useful to us? List a few ways how the wind can help us carry out our daily activities.

PICTURE A

PICTURE B

TEXT 9 : GETTING ELECTRICITY FROM THE WIND

LETS READ
A. Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

Modern wind generators are very different from the old windmills. They are more like giant propellers with two or three blades, called rotors, mounted on top of tall towers of steel or concrete. The rotors turn a shaft, which drives an electric generator. The size of the blades and the height of the tower determine how much electricity the machine can generate. Wind generally gets stronger as you go higher, and the power of the wind you capture depends on the swept area of the blades. Double the length of the blades and the power increases four-fold. More important still is the speed of the wind if it blows twice as hard, there is eight times as much power to be had. However, wind generators do not need stormy weather. Most machines are designed to operate at wind speeds between Force 3 and Force 10 on the Beaufort scale 13 to 60 mph (21 to 97 km/h). Above Force 10 the machines will automatically shut down. Most machines are designed to produce much the same power throughout their working range, the blades automatically feathering as the wind increases. Therefore, it is better to have a steady output over a wide range of wind speeds than to be able to take advantage of the few really strong gusts. Wind generators must point in the right direction, either towards the wind or away from the wind. For this reason the rotor is mounted on a turntable and controlled by an electric motor connected to sensors. The sensors will tell the rotor which way to face. This problem of wind direction can be avoided completely if the blades are mounted vertically rather than horizontally. Then it does not matter where the wind is blowing.

TEXT 9 : GETTING ELECTRICITY FROM THE WIND

These vertical machines, called Darreius Turbines, have other advantages. The machinery that converts the power into electricity can be placed on the ground rather than at the top of a tower. The rotor is, therefore, subjected to less stress than in the horizontal - axis generators. A disadvantage is that they often need a push to get started, either by hand or by an electric motor.
Adapted from How is it Done The Readers Digest Association Limited, London 1990

COMPREHENSION CHECK
A. 1. Answer the questions below. Describe how modern wind generators look like? 2. State the function of the rotors.

TEXT 9 : GETTING ELECTRICITY FROM THE WIND

3.

What are the four features that determine the amount of electricity that generators can generate? i) iii) ii) iv)

4.

What is the function of the sensors in wind generators?

5.

Wind generators do not need a stormy weather. Why? ..

6.

Is it better for the blade to be mounted vertically than horizontally? Why? .. .

7.

What do you think will happen if the wind generators are not shut down when the wind speeds above Force 10? . .

8.

Do you think it is possible to use wind generators to produce electricity in Malaysia? Give reasons for your answer. . .

B.

Based on the text, complete the table below with the differences of the Darreius Turbines and Wind Generators. Darreius Turbines Wind Generators
. . .

1.
2. 3.

Blades are mounted on vertical 1. axis

2. 3.

TEXT 9 : GETTING ELECTRICITY FROM THE WIND

WORD POWER
A word sometimes may mean differently in different context. For example: Concrete definite, positive Concrete building material made by mixing cement with sand, gravel and water.

A. These words are found in the text. Find the meaning in context. Choose the best answer. 1. Generators A. Machine for producing electrical energy. B. Machine or apparatus that produces steam, gas, vapour, etc. C. Person who generates or originates. Determine A. Fix something precisely; decide. B. Find out something that is not known; calculate. C. Decide firmly that something will be done. Capture A. Take prisoner, seize, obtain by force or trickery. B. Act of capturing, thing or person captured. C. Absorb. Designed A. Prepared a design for. B. Intention or purpose. C. Established form of a product. Converts A. Gain extra points after scoring a try by kicking a goal. B. Change from one form or use to another. C. Change ones beliefs especially ones religion. Stress A. pressure or worry resulting from mental or physical distress. B. Extra force used in speaking a particular word or syllable. C. Force that acts on a thing or between parts of a thing and tends to pull or twist it out of shape.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

TEXT 9 : GETTING ELECTRICITY FROM THE WIND

words. B. Find the words in the text that has the same meaning in Column B. Complete Column A with the most appropriate words.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) j)

B Fixed on a support or in a frame (Para.1) A metal bar in an engine that causes a part to move (Para.1) Four times the number of (Para.2) Produce(Para.2) Work (Para.3) Fanning (Para.4) Constant (Para.4) Sudden strong wind (Para.4) Flat and level position(Para. 7) Unfavourable condition (Para.7)

LANGUAGE FOCUS
Prepositions A Preposition is a word that joins a Noun or a Pronoun to another word. For example: From starting at a particular place, position or condition You can see the river from the top of the hill.

The sentences in bold contain some wrong prepositions. Write the correct prepositions in the space provided. 1. They are more like giant propellers with two or three blades, called rotors, mounted in top by tall towers of steel or concrete. ..
TEXT 9 : GETTING ELECTRICITY FROM THE WIND

2.

Wind generally gets stronger as you go higher, and the power of the wind you capture depends for the swept area of the blades. .

3.

More important is the speed of the wind, by the power that can be extracted goes up as the wind speeds up. ..

4.

Most machines are designed to operate along wind speeds by Force 3 and Force 10 in the Beaufort Scale. ..

5.

It is better to have a steady output before a wide range of wind speeds than to be able to take advantage of the few really strong gusts.

6.

Wind generators must point out the right direction; either directly towards the wind or directly after it.
..

7.

For this reason the rotor is mounted under a turntable and controlled over an electric motor connected by sensors which tell it which way to face.

8.

Then it does not matter where the wind is blowing by.

Article The The definite article the is used when we speak of a particular person, thing or one already referred to. For example : The book you want is out of print. I dislike the fellow. Let us go to the club

TEXT 9 : GETTING ELECTRICITY FROM THE WIND

Look at the text. Identify sentences from the text that contain definite articles the. Write out the sentences. 1.
2. 3. 4. 5. ... 6. .. 7. .. 8. ..

LETS WRITE

You are a reporter from The Star. Conduct an interview with an Electrical Engineer from the Department of Science and Technology on How Solar Energy is Generated To Produce Electricity. Write out the interview. High temperature collector called solar furnaces generate large amounts of electricity. Many flat or slightly curved mirrors focus the suns rays on a target such as a piece of metal. Fluid such as water is pumped inside the target where it is heated. The steam or gas that results from heating the fluid carries heat energy to turbines that generate electricity.

TEXT 9 : GETTING ELECTRICITY FROM THE WIND

LETS EXPLORE
A Listen to a tape on How Turbines and Generators Create Electricity. As you listen, complete the text below. (See tape script at the back).

How Turbines and Generators Create Electricity Turbines consist of a series of (1) __________ one in (2) __________, of the other, which drive a (3) __________ when they (4) __________. The shaft in turn drives a (5) _________. Alternate fans always remain (6) __________. The

position and (7) _________ of these fans direct the pressurized (8) _________, or (9) _________ onto the rotating fans with the maximum possible force. At the end of the shaft is a large (10) _________, which is surrounded by a coil of wire, inside the generator. As the magnetic core rotates, it causes an electric current to flow through the wire coil.

B 1) 4)

Draw a picture of a wind generator and label the following: fan blades 2) 5) shaft tall tower 3) generator

TEXT 9 : GETTING ELECTRICITY FROM THE WIND

TAPESCRIPT
Listen to the text carefully. As you listen complete the text below.

How Turbines and Generators Create Electricity Turbines consist of a series of fans, one in front of the other, which drive a shaft when they rotate. The shaft in turn drives a generator. Alternate fans always remain stationary. The position and shape of these fans direct the pressurized steam, or water onto the rotating fans with the maximum possible force. At the end of the shaft is a large magnet, which is surrounded by a coil of wire, inside the generator. As the magnetic core rotates, it causes an electric current to flow through the wire coil.

TEXT 9 : GETTING ELECTRICITY FROM THE WIND

UNIT 1

GETTING ELECTRICITY FROM THE WIND

ANSWERS COMPREHENSION CHECK

A. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Comprehension questions: They are more like giant propellers with two or three blades, mounted on top of tall towers of steel or concrete. The rotors turn a shaft, which drives an electric generator. I) iii) The size of the blades The speed of the wind ii) (v) The height of the tower The power of the wind

The sensors tell the rotors which way to face the wind. Most machines are designed to operate at wind speeds. Yes - the problem of wind direction can be avoided. - Too much electricity is produced - The machines will become damaged * Any other possible answers

8.

Yes it can be built along the seaside where the wind is constant saves money using the renewable resources. No too expensive to build generators no constant supply of wind weather is not reliable

*Any other possible answers

B. Darreius Turbines 1. 2. 3. Blades are mounted on vertical axis 1. Wind Generators Blades are mounted on horizontal axis The generator is placed on a top of a tower. The rotor is subjected to more stress

The generating machine can be placed 2. on the ground. The rotor is subjected to less stress. 3.

TEXT 9 : GETTING ELECTRICITY FROM THE WIND

WORD POWER
A. 1. 4. B. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. A B mounted shaft four-fold generate work feathering steady gust horizontal disadvantage 2. 5. B B 3. 6. C C

LANGUAGE FOCUS
A. Prepositions 1. on, of 2. on 3. for 4. at, between, on 5. over 6. in, from 7. on, over, to 8. from

Article The 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. The size of the blades and the height of the tower determine how much electricity the machine can generate. ..the power of the wind you capture depends on the swept area of the blades. Double the length of the blades and the power increases four-fold. .. is the speed of the wind -.. much power to be had. .. the blades automatically feathering as the wind increases. For this reason the rotor is mounted on a turntable and controlled by an electric motor connected to sensors. The sensors will tell the rotor which way to face. Then it does not matter where the wind is blowing.

TEXT 9 : GETTING ELECTRICITY FROM THE WIND