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L. D. Danny Harvey
harvey@geog.utoronto.ca
Wind Turbine
A wind turbine is a rotating
machine which converts
the kinetic energy in wind
into mechanical energy. If
the mechanical energy is
used directly by machinery,
such as a pump or
grinding stones, the
machine is usually called a
windmill. If the mechanical
energy is then converted to
electricity, the machine is
called a wind generator,
wind turbine, wind power
unit (WPU), wind energy
converter (WEC), or aero
generator.
Wind Flow Throw Wing
Figure 3.2a Breakdown of installed capacity
at the end of 2009
Figure 3.2b Capacity (MW) installed in 2009
T a b l3.1
Table e 1 Market
0 . 1 M ashares
r k e t s hofa rthe
e s oworlds
f t h e w leading
o r l d s wind
le a d in g
w i n d tmanufacturers.
turbine u r b i n e m a n u f a Source:
c t u r e r s . BTM
S o u r Consult
c e : B T MPress
Release,
C o n s u l March
t P r e s s 2007
R e le a s e , M a rc h 2 0 0 7 .
M ark et
Vendor S h a re in C o u n try
2006
V e s ta s 2 6 .5 D en m ark
G am esa 1 4 .6 S p a in
G E W in d 1 4 .6 U SA
E n e rc o n 1 4 .5 G e rm a n y
S u z lo n 7 .2 In d ia
S ie m a n s 6 .9 G e rm a n y
N o rd e x 3 .2 G e rm a n y
R epow er 3 .0 G e rm a n y
A c c o n ia 2 .6 S p a in
G o ld w in d 2 .6 C h in a
O th e rs 4 .3
Components of a Wind Turbine
Foundation
Tower
Rotor
Nacelle
Gearbox (usually)
High speed shaft
Generator
Control system, cooling unit, anemometer
Yaw mechanism
Wind Turbine Classification
Wind turbines can be
separated into two
types based by the
axis in which the
turbine rotates.
Vertical-axis turbines
are less frequently
used.
Types of Wind Turbine
Turbine characteristics
Synchronous
Asynchronous (induction)
Variable speed
Variable Speed Generators