The Hindu Business Line : How a turbine works

TURBINE manufacturers in India study the wind potential at a site for at least 18 months, monitoring speeds both at peak and slack periods. Wind turbines can be put up only at locations that have steady to good wind. Once satisfied about a site's potential, they start marketing the location to their customers.

The Union Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources too studies the wind potential at various locations across the country.

According to information available on the Internet, the turbines are of two types: Horizontal and vertical axis design. The commonly used horizontal axis turbines have two or three blades. The turbines are operated "upwind," with the blades turned into the wind.

The taller the tower on which are mounted the blades, the hub and the other parts, the greater the ability of the turbine to capture more energy and generate more electricity.

The turbines capture the kinetic energy in the surface winds and convert it into mechanical power.

Wind passing over the turbine gives the blades a "lift" setting them rotating. The rotating blades spin a shaft, which moves a magnet in the generator. This creates electricity.

(Sourced from the Canadian Wind Energy Association's web site, http://www.canwea.ca/en/HowWindWorks.html), and the US Department of Energy's `Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Web site, (http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/wind_how.html)

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