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Wind Energy Basics (Wind Energy for Students). The Kidwind Project www.kidwind.org. What is Electricity?. Electricity is energy transported by the motion of electrons. **We do not make electricity, we CONVERT other energy sources into electrical energy**.
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Wind EnergyBasics (Wind Energy for Students) The Kidwind Project www.kidwind.org
What is Electricity? Electricity is energy transported by the motion of electrons **We do not make electricity, we CONVERT other energy sources into electrical energy** Conversion is the name of the game KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
How Does a Generator Work? KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
Where do we get our electricity? KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
1980’s California Wind Farm • Older Technology • + Higher RPMs • + Lower Elevations • + Lattice Towers • + Poorly Sited • = Bad News!
In the November-December Audubon Magazine, John Flicker, President of National Audubon Society, wrote a column stating that Audubon "strongly supports wind power as a clean alternative energy source," pointing to the link between global warming and the birds and other wildlife that scientist say it will kill.
Impacts of Wind Power:Noise • Modern turbines are relatively quiet • Rule of thumb – stay about 3x hub-height away from houses
Is wind power viable in our area? Areas with annual average wind speeds around 6.5 meters/second and greater at an 80-m height are generally considered to have a resource suitable for wind development.
Jacobs Turbine – 1920 - 1960 WinCharger – 1930s – 40s
Orientation Turbines can be categorized into two overarching classes based on the orientation of the rotor Vertical AxisHorizontal Axis
Large Wind Turbines • 450’ base to blade • Each blade 112’ • Span greater than 747 • 163+ tons total • Foundation 20+ feet deep • Rated at 1.5 – 5 megawatt • Supply at least 350 homes
Types of Electricity Generating Windmills • Small (10 kW) • Homes • Farms • Remote Applications • (e.g. water pumping, telecom sites, icemaking) • Intermediate • (10-250 kW) • Village Power • Hybrid Systems • Distributed Power • Large (250 kW - 2+MW) • Central Station Wind Farms • Distributed Power KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
Workers Blade 112’ long Nacelle 56 tons Tower 3 sections Wind Turbine Perspective KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
Public Relations/Organizing Support KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
Maintenance KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
Workers Blade 112’ long Nacelle 56 tons Tower 3 sections Wind Turbine Perspective
Wind Power is Fun! KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
The KidWind Project www.kidwind.org