Harnessing Wind Harnessing Wind EnergyEnergy

Hayley Norris Dept. of Chemical Hayley Norris Dept. of Chemical EngineeringEngineering

The University of Texas at AustinThe University of Texas at Austin

Why Wind?Why Wind?

Wind PowerWind Power No ambient air pollutionNo ambient air pollution No fuel neededNo fuel needed Unlimited wind supplyUnlimited wind supply

Installed wind capacity sharply Installed wind capacity sharply increasingincreasing 2002 – 4,685 MW2002 – 4,685 MW 2005 – 9,149 MW 2005 – 9,149 MW U.S. % increase in 3 yrs = 95%U.S. % increase in 3 yrs = 95% Global capacity (2005) = 35,000 MWGlobal capacity (2005) = 35,000 MW

A Brief History of WindA Brief History of Wind

Western wind technology begins 1180 Western wind technology begins 1180 with the first Dutch wind millwith the first Dutch wind mill

Windmills seem to have fueled great Windmills seem to have fueled great social upheavals and thus social social upheavals and thus social activismactivism Early English windmill pioneersEarly English windmill pioneers 1970s 1970s Now??Now??

Early windmills-lightened physical loadEarly windmills-lightened physical load Grind grain, shred tobacco, pump waterGrind grain, shred tobacco, pump water

Modern Wind TurbinesModern Wind Turbines

Wind Potential - USWind Potential - US Wind class of 3 or better for current Wind class of 3 or better for current

technologiestechnologies Based on average wind speed and wind Based on average wind speed and wind

power densitypower density 6% of US land area class 3 or better6% of US land area class 3 or better

Can supply 1 ½ current electricity Can supply 1 ½ current electricity consumptionconsumption

US electricity consumption (2003)US electricity consumption (2003) 3.669 billion kWh3.669 billion kWh

If tapped all of US good wind potentialIf tapped all of US good wind potential 5.504 billion kWh produced5.504 billion kWh produced

Texas Wind Potential Texas Wind Potential MapMap

Classes: Green-3, Yellow-4, Orange-5, Red-6

Texas Wind PotentialTexas Wind Potential

Best regions for wind developmentBest regions for wind development Panhandle and W. TXPanhandle and W. TX

Potential electrical generation of Potential electrical generation of these regionsthese regions 1.143 billion kWh1.143 billion kWh

Wind can generate 493% of current Wind can generate 493% of current electrical consumption in TXelectrical consumption in TX

Wind Turbine Main Wind Turbine Main Components Components

RotorRotor Only part uniquely manufactured for Only part uniquely manufactured for

wind powerwind power Transmission systemTransmission system GeneratorGenerator Yaw systemYaw system Control systemControl system

Blade DesignBlade Design Aerodynamic lift drives Aerodynamic lift drives

turbineturbine Constant tip-speed ratioConstant tip-speed ratio

Higher tip-speed, more noiseHigher tip-speed, more noise Important concept: as radius Important concept: as radius

increases, blade speed increases, blade speed increasesincreases

Taper and twist bladesTaper and twist blades Twist – optimizes liftTwist – optimizes lift Taper – constant lift along Taper – constant lift along

lengthlength Better torque for self-startingBetter torque for self-starting

Turbines CurrentlyTurbines Currently

3 blades3 blades Best efficiencyBest efficiency Aesthetically pleasingAesthetically pleasing Minimal fluctuationsMinimal fluctuations

Self-startingSelf-starting Fiberglass bladesFiberglass blades

Strong, inexpensiveStrong, inexpensive Good fatigue Good fatigue

characteristicscharacteristics Carbon fiber if price Carbon fiber if price

decreasesdecreases

ConclusionsConclusions

Plenty of wind energy around to Plenty of wind energy around to support world’s electricity needs support world’s electricity needs cleanlycleanly

Horizontal-axis turbines most Horizontal-axis turbines most commercially viablecommercially viable

Blade design based on complex Blade design based on complex aerodynamicsaerodynamics

Current turbine designCurrent turbine design Taper and twist bladesTaper and twist blades 3 blades3 blades FiberglassFiberglass