For several years, environmental protection has attracted much interest and, consequently, several technologies have developed. This is the case of wind energy. Previously, we used this source of energy for pumping water or grinding wheat to make flour. Today, this energy source is still used to pump water but it is mainly used to produce electricity, without any adverse effect on the environment. The increase in operating costs for nuclear and fossil fuels have also allowed wind power to become much more competitive.
“The turbine Wind vertical developed by Canadian has more advantages. ”
Wind energy is used for a very long time. It is obtained when the wind pushes against a propeller slightly bent. This forces all to turn and pump well water or turns a generator to produce electricity. There are two types of wind turbines, vertical axis turbines and those horizontal axis. Most wind turbines are horizontal. They have some disadvantages, among others, the generator is located at the top of the tower, which makes difficult the maintenance and repair. The vertical wind turbine, developed by Canadians, has several advantages. First access to the generator and the main mechanical components are located at the foot of the tower. Moreover, no system to direct the turbine into the wind direction is required. This turbine is still developing, but it is anticipated that when fully functional, it will mean a significant commercial
Wind energy is extracted from the wind through a turbine and then be converted into electricity by a generator. The generator current is sinusoidal and when plugged into the electricity grid, its frequency must be the same as the power grid; is 60 Hertz. As the speed of the impeller determines the current frequency of the generator, it is necessary that the turbine rotates at a constant speed. For this reason, much of the energy is not extracted from the wind. Nowadays, it is very important that a device operates at a very high yield. The same principle applies to wind turbines. Furthermore, researchers have discovered that it is possible to extract more energy from the wind by correcting the current to obtain a sinusoidal current. Then, with the help of a converter, the current is transformed back into a sine wave but with a fixed frequency of 60 Hertz. This means that the turbine can turn almost any speed and thus extract more energy. Although the converter is often very complex and is expensive, the energy gain is worth the effort.
The question now, how much can cost a wind turbine? It costs just over $ 1.00 for each watt of power. A wind turbine system with a capacity of 10 kilowatts (kW) costs about 10 000.00 $ . In order for a wind turbine is economically viable, it must be installed in a region where the winds blow so intense. It is often advisable to conduct a study into the potential region to determine the strength and height of the wind for a whole year. The regions bordering the ocean as well as open spaces are usually ideal for extracting wind energy. In northern Canada, there are systems in place to generate electricity. Since the grid is not present in all communities, a diesel generator with a wind turbine is often used. This reduces operating costs of the diesel system.
Wind power also has disadvantages, including the unpredictability of the wind. For this reason, the utilities have great difficulty accepting this energy source. In most cases, a wind turbine is installed with a diesel generator or simply plugged into the mains. The wind turbine can not operate alone. Similarly, in some communities, the appearance of the turbine is very important. The turbines are often monumental in scale and thus it is difficult to accept such a unit within the population. The wind power is the only source of electricity whose deleterious ecological effects are almost nonexistent. This energy source does not emit harmful to the environment and moreover, it is as competitive as other sources of electricity. Nowadays, people are sensitized to the reduction of harmful gases on the environment. Therefore, wind energy represents a source of energy for the future of Canadians.
