Image description
The image shows the internal structure of the nacelle of a wind turbine illustrated from side and directed with the blades to the left.
The nacelle is the most important part that covers the rotor and the electric generator through an outer shell, and is located at the top of the fixed pylon or the tower of a wind turbine.
The support tower, which is high enough for the nacelle to stand in the wind direction, here is reduced and highlighted below the nacelle, center, by a vertical and narrow rectangle, outlined by oblique and parallel lines.
On the left edge are the rotor blades that are rotated by the wind force, being set in motion based on the principle of the electric motor, only in this case, the kinetic energy of the wind is transformed by the generator into electricity.
The blades here have been cut to present the nacelle in detail, and are marked on the left, top and bottom, with a vertical and narrow rectangle, filled with oblique and parallel lines.
They frame the rotor rendered embossed in the center, positioned between the muzzle of the nacelle at the left end, rendered domed with oblique and parallel lines and the top and bottom blades.
The rotor blades are fixed to the tower by the rotor axis, which connects the rotor to the generator, this axis being rendered by a small, horizontal rectangle, filled with dotted texture, located between the rotor and the gearbox.
The gearbox is represented on the center of the nacelle, between the axis of the rotor and the generator, as an embossed square.
It transmits the mechanical energy given by the rotor speed to the generator which converts this mechanical energy into electric current.
The generator is shown on the right edge of the nacelle, marked by a horizontal rectangle, with the corners cut, embossed.
General information
After the discovery of the utility of the electric current, interest in its generation methods increased. At first, electricity was only available in places where there were individual power generators. For this reason, it was necessary to create an electricity generation and distribution infrastructure to ensure the supply of electricity to a wider area. The infrastructure has been created and so we have electricity in almost all populated areas of the Earth. This infrastructure is called an electricity grid. The main components of the electricity grid are the power plants in which the current is produced, the transformer stations that adjust the voltage according to the needs of the consumers, and the cables through which all elements of the grid are interconnected. Also, through the cables, the current reaches the consumers.
Power plants are of many kinds, depending on the energy they use to produce electricity. Thus, we distinguish: thermal power plants, hydropower plants, wind power plants and nuclear power plants. All power plants have as their main component electric generators, which convert mechanical energy into electricity.
Wind force is an alternative energy resource. It can be converted into electricity using wind power plants. Wind turbines take wind energy and turn it into rotational motion, and rotational motion is transmitted to electric generators.
The main components of a wind turbine are: the blades and the rotor, respectively those which rotate at the action of the wind; the axis, the one that takes the rotational motion of the rotor and transmits it to the electric generators; electric generators, respectively those items that produce electricity.
As with photovoltaic panels, the energy generated can be stored in batteries, or it can be introduced into the national electricity grid. The only drawback of wind power plants is that they can only be operated in areas where winds are present most of the time.
Did you know that modern wind turbines automatically adjust their position depending on the direction of the wind? This technology is also used by photovoltaic parks, where panels are automatically positioned in the direction where sun exposure is higher. Through this process, natural energy losses are lower and electricity production is higher.
The world’s largest wind farm is located in the United States and houses over six hundred turbines.
Bibliography
- https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energie_eolian%C4%83#Top_%C8%9B%C4%83ri_energie_eolian%C4%83
- http://www.termo.utcluj.ro/regenerabile/6_4.pdf
- https://blog.romstal.ro/ce-sunt-turbinele-eoliene-si-cum-functioneaza/
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