Design of an urban silent wind turbine. St. Petersburg scientists have invented a safe wind generator in the shape of an airplane turbine. Wind turbine sizes

A modern kinetic wind generator allows you to take advantage of the power of air currents, converting it into electricity. For this purpose there are factory and homemade models devices that are used both in industry and in private households.

We will tell you how wind turbines of this type are designed, and introduce you to the features of the device and design options. The article we have proposed shows the weak and strengths wind power plant. Self-made masters they will find it here useful diagrams and assembly recommendations.

The operation of a wind generator is based on the transformation of the kinetic energy of the wind into the mechanical energy of the rotor, which is then converted into electricity.

The principle of operation is quite simple: the rotation of the blades fixed to the axis of the device leads to circular movements of the rotor generator, thereby generating electricity.

Wind energy is one of the most promising sectors of renewable energy. Modern designs allow you to cost-effectively use the power of air currents, using it to generate electricity

The resulting unstable alternating current “drains” into the controller, where it is converted into direct voltage that can charge the batteries. From there, the power is supplied to the inverter, where it is transformed into an alternating voltage with an indicator of 220/380 V, which is supplied to consumers.

The power of a wind generator directly depends on the power of the air flow (N), calculated according to the formula N=pSV 3 /2, where V is the wind speed, S is the working area, p is the air density.

Wind generator device

Various versions of wind generators differ significantly from each other.

The wind is the form solar energy. Winds are caused by uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the irregular structure of the earth's surface and its rotation. Wind flow trajectories are changed by the landscape of the earth, bodies of water and vegetation. People use wind or wind energy for many purposes: sailing, kite flying, and even generating electricity. The terms "wind energy" and "wind power" describe the process of using wind to generate mechanical energy or electricity. Wind turbines (wind generators) convert the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy, which can be used for a number of specific tasks, such as grinding grain or pumping water.

So how do wind turbines produce electricity? Simply put, a wind turbine works opposite a fan. Instead of using electricity to create wind, like a fan, wind turbines use wind to create electricity. The wind turns the blades, which rotate a shaft connected to a generator that produces electricity.

This overhead view of a "wind power plant" shows how a group of wind turbines can produce electricity for consumer grids. Through transmission and distribution lines, it reaches homes, businesses, schools, and so on.

Types wind turbines

Modern turbines fall into two main groups: horizontal-axis and vertical-axis, similar to the Darrieus “beater” model, named after its French inventor. Horizontal axis turbines typically have two or three blades. These three-bladed turbines operate "upwind", with the blades facing the wind.

The 3.6 megawatt GE Wind Energy turbine is one of the largest ever installed:

Turbines bigger size more effective. And in terms of price too.

Wind turbine sizes

The size range of "service" scale turbines extends from 100 kilowatts to several megawatts. Large turbines are grouped together into “wind farms” that supply wholesale electricity to the grid.

Small single turbines below 100 kW are used to power homes, telecommunications antennas or power water pumps. Small turbines are sometimes used in conjunction with diesel generators, batteries and solar panels. These systems are called "hybrid wind systems" and are used in remote locations where connection to the electrical grid is not possible.

Inside a wind turbine

Anemometer	Anemometer	Measures wind speed and transmits speed data to the controller.
Blades	Blades	Most turbines have either two or three blades. The wind passing through the blades causes them to “fly up” and rotate.
Brake	Brake	Disc brake, with mechanical, electrical or hydraulic drive to stop the rotor in critical situations.
Controller	Controller	The control controller starts the machine at wind speeds of approximately 8...16 mph and shuts down the machine at approximately 55 mph. Turbines do not operate at wind speeds above 55 mph because strong winds can destroy them.
Gear box	Transmission	Mechanically connects the low-speed turbine shaft to the high-speed one, increasing the rotation speed from 30...60 rpm to 1000...1800 rpm, that is, up to the speed required by most generators to generate electricity. The gearbox is an expensive (and heavy) part of a wind turbine, and engineers are exploring "direct drive" generators that operate at lower rotational speeds and don't need gearboxes.
Generator	Generator	Typically a standard induction generator that produces electricity alternating current frequency 60 Hertz (for the USA).
High-speed shaft	High speed shaft	Powers the generator.
Low-speed shaft	Low speed shaft	The rotor rotates this shaft at a speed of about 30...60 revolutions per minute.
Nacelle	Gondola	The nacelle is located at the top of the tower and contains the gearbox, low and high speed shafts, generator, control controller and brake. Some gondolas are large enough for a helicopter to land on.
Pitch	Blade rotation	Blades Turn toward or at an angle to the wind to control the speed of the rotor and prevent it from spinning in winds that are too strong or too weak to generate electricity.
Rotor	Rotor	The blades and hub together are called the rotor.
Tower	Tower	The towers are made of steel pipe(shown here), concrete or have an openwork design. Because wind speed increases with height, taller towers allow turbines to capture more wind energy and produce more electricity.
Wind direction	Direction of the wind	There are so-called “against the wind” turbines, because during operation they are turned “facing” the wind. Other turbines are designed to operate on the "leeward" side, facing away from the wind.
Wind Vane	Vane	Detects the wind direction and transmits data to the control controller to orient the turbine according to the wind direction.
Yaw drive	Nacelle drive	Upwind turbines must be pointed into the wind and the nacelle drive is used to correct the rotor direction as the wind direction changes. Downwind turbines do not require rotor drive, since the wind blows at their “back”.

Regarding the blades (with a horizontal axis), I liked the article from the magazine “Modelist-Constructor”, 1993, No. 8. http://publ.lib.ru/ARCHIVES/M/%27%27Modelist-konstruktor%27%27/%27%27MK%27%27,1993,N08.%5Bdjv-002%5D.zip It is clearly written there and principle of operation and how to do it.
Rather than watching such press, it is better to read (thoughtfully) Fateev’s book “Wind Engines and Wind Turbines”
Regarding industrial wind turbines dzen +1 [B] Three blades as a compromise between On the one hand, the desire to ensure the structural strength of the blades and reduce dynamic loads, to reduce the cost of wind turbines by reducing the number of blades, to ensure permissible level aerodynamic noise and vibrations, increasing with increasing speed of movement of the ends of the blades and, on the other hand, the desire to increase the efficiency of the wind turbine, which increases with increasing wind turbine speed and the number of blades. [I] Textbook “Wind engines and wind turbines” Fateeva E.M.
A 3-blade turbine has a constant moment of inertia relative to the orientation axis, independent of the position of the blades, therefore no vibrations occur when the windmill is oriented. The 2-bladed one shakes when orienting.
RE: Why 3 blades / Vitaly71 Well, first of all, the efficiency is the highest for a single blade, but it is dynamically unbalanced. And the sound of a two-blade is blatant, but a three-blade is the latter with a high coefficient, since increasing the blade beyond 3...5 DOES NOT CHANGE the efficiency, but it strongly reduces the SPEED of rotation, which means material consumption
Depending on the speed of the windmill, for maximum KIEV, there is an optimal fill factor of the wind turbine and it depends little on the number of blades; an ideal turbine is an infinite number of infinitely narrow blades. The most balanced are 3, 6, 12, 18, ..., 3 is the minimum number.
But the sound of the two-blade blade didn’t bother me, even though I sharpened the wrong edge through inattention.
is this about a gigawatt??? But ordinary (uncaught) wind also causes a wide range of sound vibrations (INF included), chaotically pressing on leaves, tree branches, windows and walls of buildings. And even in an open field, the wind presses on a person’s ears. Thunderstorms and earthquakes are also generators of infrasound. Insects and some plants (tumbleweeds) can be carried away by air currents. Ban all this urgently!!! :)))
Yes, this is nonsense, rumors that were financially supported in the 80s by the owners of thermal power plants. The problem with megawatt windmills is that birds (especially in the cold) stick around and crap around them, and if there are holes inside, they try to build nests inside. I've seen nests in windmills myself.
Good afternoon, gentlemen. Your conversations are interesting, but I apologize, I have a question, has anyone assembled a Gorlov turbine (http://www.quietrevolution.com/), I did it, but it doesn’t turn even in strong winds, if anyone knows what the secret is (there’s a twist somewhere) I don’t know where)
Looks like another person wants to step on a rake. There is a simple truth, confirmed theoretically and practically, more than once - all verticals are made for beauty, but not for work.
This so-called throat turbine - a regular Darrieus rotor, twisted into a spiral to reduce sudden short-term loads. But in addition to reducing the loads, the KIEV drops greatly and therefore, in order for it to spin, you need to make very high-quality blades and have a strong wind. Well, it’s good to use it only for beauty or to promote some investors for money.
That is, no one knows what it takes to make it spin?
High-quality blades and strong winds.
The profile of the blades must be precise; flat strips will not work. Plus there is a good wind and it needs to be accelerated to operating speed; the turbine itself will not accelerate even in good wind. Against a windmill with a horizontal axis, its CIV is almost 3 times smaller. It looks beautiful, nothing to say :)
airfoil of the wing? And for acceleration you can use a Savonius rotor.
It has been proven by calculations and practice that the profile of the blade (chord) should be close to ideal, the front plane reflecting the wind flow along the angle of attack where it is created overpressure may be flat, but the rear plane of the blade, in order to create a greater difference in air pressure behind the blade than in front of it, must be convex, unevenly creating rarefied air masses. Maybe what’s wrong?
Yes, look at any atlas of aerodynamic profiles and see what kind of profiles they are.
Yes, I'm aware of them.
In large turbines (relatively speaking), the blades are controlled indirectly, from the outside. At least in Crimea, at wind farms, control was from a personal computer, depending on the load, speed, etc.

Endless "eureka"

Remember the Greek inventor and mathematician Archimedes, who exclaimed “eureka! (I found it!)” when he discovered the fundamental law of hydrostatics? From ancient times to the present, humanity has been in an eternal search for new discoveries. The field of conquest of wind energy has not been left out. The new generation wind generator haunts both scientists and practicing engineers. The eternal search gives its beneficial results and from time to time at some point globe the silence of the invention is broken by a joyful exclamation - “Eureka”!

This time the hero of the day was an old American, 89 years old, World War II veteran Raymond Green from California, who had been puzzling over the problem of improvement for many years. existing species wind turbines. Finally, he managed to create a wind generator that is almost silent and safe for man's flying friends. The brainchild he invented, weighing 20 kg, in one fell swoop solves a bunch of problems that faced the wind generator of the old modification.

What are the fundamental differences between the invented installation? The most important thing is that it does not have rotating blades with outside. Everything in it is hidden in a casing, which protects the birds from death. The second significant difference is that the new design makes it possible to use blades with a small span, which helps reduce noise.

Unfortunately, this is where the acquaintance with the new unit ends. We cannot know as much as the inventor himself knows about his brainchild until the product is introduced into mass production. The author of the project is convinced that in two years this will happen and geologists in distant research camps, doctors in military hospitals in third world countries, affected people from natural disaster zones, and residents of remote remote villages will use the electricity of his invention.

Possible impossibilities

Have you ever thought about the question why wind energy is used only by daredevils and zealous craftsmen? That is, not everyone in need is at risk of engaging in this type of electricity generation. Yes, because wind power itself in its previous modifications is large in size, difficult to install, and not entirely convenient to operate (try climbing to the height of the mast and repairing the generator). And the rotating blades make a lot of noise and are dangerous for birds. And there’s no getting around it, the high price.

These problems remain a thing of the past with the advent of a new generation of wind generators. There are several types of them and we talked about one of them in the first section of this article. The second representative of a number of new products is a gearless wind generator, in which energy is generated by the “tips” of the blades. There is no traditional shaft from the propeller to the generator, and the electricity is taken from the propeller rim.

Its rotor in the form of a ferromagnetic rim is mounted on the wings of a wind wheel. It is simple in design, easy to manufacture and install. But the placement of permanent magnets at the ends of the impeller makes it much heavier, which reduces the overall efficiency of the installation. But the unit is easy to use, because simple design does not require undue attention. Such wind generators can operate anywhere under any climatic conditions.

What seemed impossible yesterday is becoming an everyday reality today.

Wind generator submits to intellectuals

From a long distance, it does not look at all like a wind generator, but most likely like a water tower of an unusual shape for such a structure. If you get closer, you will see the slow rotation of the blades. The vertical shaft rotates completely silently.

One American company in Arizona, under the leadership of engineer Mazur, is going to mass-produce such a giant turbine. According to his calculations, it alone should supply so much electricity that it would be enough for a metropolis of 750 thousand homes. In 2007, the engineer set himself a goal - to repeatedly increase the efficiency of a wind generator on the vertical axis and has been approaching his goal all these years.

The inventor worked in two directions: first, to make the blades capture the air flow as much as possible, and second, to reduce the friction of the wind blade support to zero. A huge vertical rotor must perform the first task, and a rotating magnetic levitation turbine must perform the second.

The second task needs to be discussed in more detail. Frictionless rotation is achieved through magnetic levitation, which we discussed in the article about the principles of operation of wind generators in the section entitled “Creators of New Possibilities.” When rotating, the entire vertical rotor block rises on its axis and does not touch the lower support bearing at all. It is installed only for start, to accelerate the turbine. As soon as it picks up speed, it becomes, as it were, weightless and comes off the bearing. As a result, friction is reduced to zero, except for the friction of the turbine itself with the air. The efficiency immediately jumps up.

The giant turbine is very sensitive and reacts to the slightest breeze. This ability to rise during rotation due to magnetic levitation has long occupied the planet's scientists and inventive minds. This is a phenomenon in which any thing or object, having weight, comes off the surface and floats in space without any application of repulsive force. The flight of birds is no longer levitation.

Vertical wind generators with the levitating ability of the rotor have now captured the thoughts of engineers and inventors. And now the first results are already evident. In Mazur's project, a “floating” rotor on a magnetic levitation is visible, and instead of a generator, a linear synchronous motor is installed. A magnetic levitation wind generator with many blades captures the air flow as much as possible and, according to scientists, such a turbine will generate electricity at a fabulously meager price - less than a cent per kilowatt-hour.

Onipka rotor - wind generator for low and medium wind speeds:

A wind turbine is the main part of a wind generator, which has a turbine as a device that serves as a receiver of wind energy. One of the options for such devices is a cylinder-shaped housing, internal space which the blades are located.

Wind installations made on the basis of wind turbines are characterized by higher efficiency compared to bladed ones, as well as simplicity of design and reliability in operation.

Main characteristics

As with any technical device, so with an air turbine, the parameters that classify its capabilities, as well as providing information about a particular model, are its technical characteristics.

The main technical characteristics for such devices are:

Rated output power, measured in kW.
The rated rectified voltage that the generator produces at a certain rotor speed of the installation.
The frequency of the generated voltage, measured in Hz.
The rotor rotation frequency, in operating mode, at which the rated rectified voltage is created. Measured in revolutions per minute.
The rated speed at which a wind turbine meets its declared power. Measured in revolutions per minute.
Stealth speed is measured in revolutions per minute and classifies the maximum ability of the unit to operate at a certain speed.
An operating mode in which a particular device model is capable of operating for a specified time (long-term, cyclic, short-term, etc.).
The level of noise (sound) produced during operation of a particular model is measured in dB.
Device efficiency.
Type of cooling of components and mechanisms.
Method of installation and assembly.
Dimensions.
Unit weight.

Design features of a wind turbine

Wind generators equipped with a wind turbine are a cylinder with blades inside. The presence of an external contour around the blades provides them with protection from foreign objects and living organisms getting into them.

The absence of the need for a tail section (for orientation relative to the wind direction) reduces the weight and dimensions of the device, and also facilitates installation and operation. The body, in the form of a cylinder, is independently oriented in the direction of wind flows, and, essentially working as a nozzle, increases the pressure on the installed blades, thereby increasing the efficiency of the wind generator.

How to calculate correctly

The main indicator that determines the choice of a particular model is the ability to generate electrical energy, which is measured in kilowatt hours per unit time.

The amount of energy generated is directly related to the power of the installation, which is the main technical characteristics unit, therefore the calculation of the wind turbine determines its geometric dimensions, the number of blades to be installed and the installation height above the ground.

The power of the electrical generator, which determines the ability of the wind turbine to generate electricity, depends on the wind flow, the power of which, in accordance with the efficiency of the turbine, can be calculated using the formula:

P=KxRxV 3 xS/2

P – air flow power;

K – coefficient taking into account the efficiency of the turbine, has a value from 0.2 to 0.5 units;

R – air density, is 1.225 kg/m3 (at normal atmospheric pressure);

V - air flow speed, measured in m/s;

S – coverage area of the wind turbine (wind flow operating with the installation).

From the above formula it is clear that the power of the wind flow, and, consequently, the power of the generator, directly depends on the diameter of the wind turbine (S= π R 2).

Knowing the speed of air flow at the installation site and its diameter, it is possible to determine the power of the installation and its ability to generate electrical energy.

Types of wind turbines

Although it was initially believed that a wind installation with a wind turbine involves its installation only in a horizontal plane, which characterizes wind generators with a horizontal axis of rotation, however, designers have developed new versions of such devices, which are:

Vertical axis wind turbine

In installations of this type, the turbine cylinder is located vertically, and the blades are in a plane perpendicular to the surface of the earth.

The operation of wind turbines with a vertical axis of rotation is similar to the operation of devices with a horizontal axis of rotation.

Wind turbine without blades

Presence of blades on wind turbines various designs, leads to the fact that their installation requires significant areas, even if these are wind turbines located in a rigid housing. In this regard, a new direction in the development of wind turbines has been the construction of similar devices using wind turbines that do not have blades.

This design consists of a pillar with metal disks inside. The discs are mounted on the shaft and located parallel to each other, with special gaskets installed between them. When air hits the gaskets, they begin to move and give a certain and directed impulse to the metal disks, under the influence of which the disks begin to rotate. Under the influence of the rotational movement of the disks, the rod begins to rotate, which in turn transmits its rotational motion to the generator shaft.

Wind turbine for roof

Interest in the ability to provide oneself with free electrical energy, without creating problems for others, even in a city, led to the development of a wind turbine design that can be installed on the roof of any building.

Such an installation has small overall dimensions, light weight, and is practically silent during operation. The outer body of the device is made in the form of a snail, which allows you to increase the wind flow in the desired direction and orient yourself in space in accordance with its direction.

Popular models and brands

Among the variety of wind turbines produced in different technically developed countries, the most popular are the following:

Turbine developed by company specialists Fiddler(USA), is intended for individual use and involves installation on the roof of a residential building or other structure for individual use.

This model is equipped with an electronic unit, with the help of which, using special mobile applications, it is possible to monitor the operation of the device from a remote distance.

The wind turbine is paired with a battery installed inside the building . Fastening elements require installation on the roof ridge, which increases the amount of wind flow captured by the turbine. The noise level during operation of the device is kept to a minimum, which makes it possible not to create discomfort for residents living inside the building on which the unit is mounted.

- The turbine model “Liam F1” was developed in Holland by The Archimedes, is lightweight (up to 80.0 kg) and is intended to be installed on the roof of a building or other free-standing support. The design of the receiving unit, in the form of a snail, allows you to increase the efficiency of the wind turbine and always be in the plane of movement of wind flows.
- The noise level during operation is very low, which allows installation in any convenient place.
- Average prices
  
  Equipment used in alternative energy, including wind turbines, is not cheap. This is due to the fact that, as a rule, new models are produced in a piece version, and what has already been supplied is not a stream, is not sold en masse, which is due to the fact that this method energy generation has not yet found widespread use among users.
  
  The cost of the above installations is:
  - The “Liam F1” model is sold in the European Union and America, its cost is from 4000.0 euros.
  - There is no data on the cost of the model from the American company Fiddler, but due to its configuration and the supply of similar devices on the market, we can confidently say that the installation price is no lower than that of Dutch developers.
  Advantages and disadvantages
  
  The simplicity and reliability of wind generators made using a wind turbine are not the only advantages of these units. In addition, the advantages of using wind turbines include:
  - Ability to work in low wind flows, with a speed of 2.0 m/s.
  - High sensitivity to wind currents.
  - Ability to work at strong, hurricane speeds of air flows, up to 60.0 m/s.
  - With the same overall dimensions, a wind generator equipped with a turbine, has more power and higher efficiency compared to bladed units.
  - Turbine is safe technical device for the animal world living in the place where the unit is installed (birds, bats).
  - When the turbine operates, infrasound is not produced, which is harmful to humans and animals.
  - Lower cost compared to blade designs.
  - Ease of execution installation work, due to the assembly of the main elements in the factory.
  - Simplicity and ease of maintenance.
  - Long service life.
  The disadvantages of such devices are:
  - Wind is an atmospheric phenomenon that is beyond human control, so it is impossible to predict, over a long period, the strength of its flow and direction of movement;
  - Due to the variability of the strength of the wind flow, it is necessary to provide significant electrical capacities for storing the generated energy;
  - High cost of a set of equipment;
  - Before installing high-power wind turbines, it is necessary to carry out calculations economic feasibility in connection with the wind map of the selected region.
  Where can I buy
  
  A wind generator, and accordingly a separate element from this installation, which is a wind turbine, is a specific product. Therefore, it is best, if you want to purchase such equipment, to contact a company that specializes in the implementation of just such installations.
  
  Choosing such an organization will allow you to avoid mistakes when selecting the required model; in addition, specialists will be able to provide assistance with the installation and subsequent maintenance of the purchased unit.
  
  In addition, you can use Internet resources, where a wide range of companies are presented that offer products for sale in this particular segment of devices, but these are usually products of Chinese manufacturers, the quality of which has many complaints. In addition, when purchasing complex equipment, such as wind turbines, via the Internet, there is no opportunity to return low-quality goods and receive qualified assistance.
  
  Due to the fact that it is quite difficult to make a wind turbine located in a closed space (cylinder), this is done by professional designers and engineers, you can make a turbine for a wind turbine with a vertical axis of rotation with your own hands, using improvised means.
  
  To do this you will need the following materials:
  1. A pipe made of durable plastic of the largest diameter, from what is available.
  2. Sheet plywood with a thickness of 10.0 - 12.0 mm;
  3. Wood screws;
  4. Metal pin with a diameter of 12.0 – 16.0 mm;
  5. Nuts and washers corresponding in diameter to the existing stud;
  6. Car hub, complete with bearing.
  and tool:
  1. Cutting tools: hacksaw, grinder with cutting wheels, jigsaw, knife;
  2. Grinding tools: grinder with grinding wheels, files, sandpaper;
  3. Kit wrenches and screwdrivers;
  4. Screwdriver.
  The design that should be obtained as a result of the work done, and the diagram of its operation, are presented in the diagram below:

The work is performed as follows:
- A blank is made from an existing pipe; for this, the pipe is cut to the required length (about 1.0 meters), after which it is cut along its axis. The result is 2 equal in length and length of the arc, halves.
- Two circles are cut from plywood, in accordance with the diameter of the pipe, after which, according to their diameter, they are divided into two parts. The result is four blanks in the form of a semicircle.
- Plywood blanks are installed inside the pipe blanks, at the top and bottom of each of them. Fastening will be done using self-tapping screws. The result is two half-barrels.
- The resulting half-barrels are connected to each other in such a way that they overlap one another. In addition, in places of overlap, it is necessary to select a segment (not shown in the diagram) so that they seem to fit inside each other. The depth of the selected segment is at least 50.0 mm, the length can be arbitrary.
- 2 circles with a diameter of 100.0 mm are cut out of plywood, which are also secured with the help of frosts at the top and bottom of the half-barrels being connected. The result is a rigidly connected structure.
- In the middle of the resulting imaginary circle, and this should be the point where the segments are selected (on top of the fixed plywood circles), a hole is made in accordance with the diameter of the existing pin. Holes are made in the upper and lower parts of the workpieces.
- A pin is inserted into the holes, which is secured in the assembled structure by installing washers and nuts.
- For an existing automobile hub, a sleeve is made in accordance with the inner diameter of the bearing and the diameter of the stud. The bushing is pressed into the bearing, after which a pin is put on it, which is additionally secured with nuts.
For complete readiness of the wind installation, it is necessary to install a pulley on the stud below the location of the hub, through which the rotational movement from the turbine will be transmitted to the electric generator, and install the assembled turbine in the place chosen for installation.

Wind turbines have been used as a source of electricity for decades. For the first time, people began to exploit such structures when they harnessed the power of nature and began to build mills. Today, turbine-type wind generators of the third generation are used to produce electricity. Moreover, the structures themselves have recently acquired increasingly unusual forms.

A modern wind turbine consists of the following elements:

Anemometer. It is responsible for measuring wind speed and transmits relevant information to the wind turbine controller.
Blades. The wind hitting these elements causes them to rotate. As a result, a turbine is activated, which generates electricity.
Brake. It is complemented by mechanical, hydraulic and other drives. The braking system in a wind turbine is necessary to stop the rotor in critical situations.
Controller. Responsible for managing the entire installation. It automatically starts and stops wind turbines.
Induction generator. The device generates electricity. It is complemented by a high-speed shaft.
Gondola. It is located at the top of the wind turbine. The nacelle housing houses most of the unit's design components, including the brake and controller.

Depending on the type of design, the wind turbine can be supplemented with other elements. In particular, modern installations are equipped with a fairing that catches the wind and enhances the power of the latter.

Advantages of turbines

Wind turbine modern type has the following advantages in comparison with its predecessors:

Capable of working at high speed wind. Modern turbines operate when wind flows exceed critical values (25–60 m/sec).
Does not create infrasonic waves. Wind turbines of previous generations had this drawback.
Easy installation. The basis of the design is created in production. Individual elements are installed on site and the gondola is mounted on the mast.
Application innovative materials. They not only increase the service life of the installation, but also ensure ease of installation.

Wind turbines are mainly installed along the sea and ocean coasts or directly on the water. This approach makes it possible to achieve almost year-round operation of the turbine.

Modern developments

The disadvantages that blade installations have include the following:

they disrupt the natural thermal balance;
relatively low efficiency, not exceeding 30%;
occupy a large area;
pose a danger to birds.

These shortcomings force developers around the world to look for new technological solutions to produce wind energy. Among the latest achievements are:

1. Soaring turbine.

Structurally, it resembles balloon, filled with helium. Inside, a turbine with three blades is installed on a horizontal axis. Such a system is currently in use in Alaska. The floating turbine is located at a height inaccessible to modern wind turbines. Such a system is capable of functioning almost autonomously (personnel participation is minimized).

2. Vertical turbines.

Their blades follow the arrangement of fish fins. Due to this design, turbines are able to generate a sufficient amount of electricity while being at a close distance from each other. Length vertical installations is 9 m. For efficient work The system requires the installation of at least two closely spaced turbines. According to preliminary studies, new type installations, in comparison with blade analogues, generate 10 times more electricity, occupying the same area.

3. Carbon "stems".

Implemented in the UAE new project on generating clean electricity. It involves the installation of 1,203 carbon “stems” on a 20-meter base. The height of this structure is 55 m. Each separate element systems are located at a distance of 10 m from each other.

The thickness of an individual stem at the base is 30 m. Inside they are layers consisting of alternating electrodes and piezoelectric material. Under pressure, the latter generates electricity. Energy occurs when the stems sway in the wind. This system produces the same amount of electricity as other wind turbines occupying the same area.

Tunisian scientists created something similar. Their system differs from the carbon stems used in the UAE in that at the top there is a silent generator, reminiscent of a satellite dish.

In Holland, they proposed installing a small structure on each house that can generate electricity under the influence of wind power. This wind generator has a turbine that follows the shape of a snail's shell. It captures the wind flow, turns around and changes the direction of its movement. The productivity of such a wind generator reaches 80% of the theoretical indicators that such installations could potentially demonstrate.

IN last years developments have appeared designed for installation on sailing vessels. In general, the number of systems that can replace bladed wind generators is constantly increasing. Perhaps in the future they will be able to solve all the problems facing wind energy.