05-05_lab

Name: Hudson Daniel Date: 12/1/23 School: Benjamin Russell Facilitator: Mrs. Freeman 5.05 Wind Energy Lab Part 1: Background Read Wind Turbines: the Bigger, the Better, linked on the task page. Then, answer the following questions. 1. What is hub height? Define hub height in your own words. Hub height is the vertical distance from the base of a wind turbine to the center of its rotor, crucial for accessing optimal wind speeds. Increasing hub height is a common strategy to enhance wind turbine efficiency and electricity generation in wind farms. 2. Why are turbine towers becoming taller? Turbine towers are becoming taller primarily to access higher and more consistent wind speeds at elevated altitudes. By increasing the hub height, wind turbines can capture stronger winds, which results in improved energy production and overall efficiency. Taller towers also help address environmental concerns and community aesthetics by placing the turbines above the normal line of sight and minimizing potential visual and noise impacts. 3. What is rotor diameter? Define rotor diameter in your own words. Rotor diameter refers to the total distance across the circular path traced by the tips of a wind turbine's blades as they rotate. In simpler terms, it is the diameter of the imaginary circle formed by the spinning blades. Rotor diameter is a crucial parameter in wind turbine design, as it directly influences the amount of wind the turbine can capture and convert into electricity. Larger rotor diameters generally indicate a greater swept area, allowing the turbine to harness more wind energy and generate higher power output. 4. What is the advantage of larger rotor diameters? Larger rotor diameters in wind turbines offer significant advantages, primarily by increasing the swept area exposed to the wind. This results in higher energy capture, improved performance in low wind conditions, and enhanced efficiency. The ability to generate electricity at lower wind speeds makes wind energy more accessible in various regions. Additionally, larger rotor diameters contribute to better wind farm design, reducing the impact of turbulence and optimizing the spacing of turbines. While initial costs may be higher, the long-term benefits in terms of increased energy yield and cost efficiency make larger rotor diameters a key factor in advancing the effectiveness of wind power. 5. Define capacity in your own words. Capacity, in a general sense, refers to the maximum amount that something can contain, hold, or produce. It is a measure of the potential or capability of a system, facility, or resource to perform a specific function or accommodate a certain quantity. In various contexts, capacity may relate to the volume of goods a storage facility can hold, the output of a production process, the number of people an auditorium can accommodate, or the power generation capability of an energy source. The term is versatile and used to describe the capability or limit of a system or entity in diverse fields.

Part 2: Research Directions: Go to the US Wind Turbine Database, linked on the task page. In the upper left corner, use the Search by Project Name search box to complete the chart for the listed projects. Start by entering a project name. Then, select the project from the results.

Project Name Number of turbines Year Online Total Rated Capacity (in MW) Hub Height Rotor Diameter Total Height Rated Capacity (in MW) Location (mountains, plains, offshore) Patterson Pass Project, CA 132 1985 13.1 16 24.6 32.6 0.065 mountain s Mesa Wind Farm 116 1983 30.0 22.8m 15.30m 30.4 .065 Mountain s Indian Mesa Project 1 2003 3.0 80 90 125 3 plains Lake Benton I 139 1998 107.3 53 48 77.10 .75 plains Peetz Table Wind Farm 33 2001 29.7 72 52 98.10 .9 plains North Dakota Wind II 14 2003 21 65 70.5 100.30 1.5 plains Courtenay Project 100 2016 200 80 100 130.10 2 plains Orangeville Wind 58 2013 84.2 80 100 130.10 1.62 plains Crescent Wind 60 2021 166.1 89 127 152.40 2.82 plains Azure Sky Wind Project 79 2022 350.1 108 149 182.60 4.8 plains Block Island Project 5 2016 30 106 150 181.10 6 offshore Directions: Answer the following questions below based on your research. 1. Based on your research, how have hub height, rotor diameter, and total height of wind turbines changed over time? hub height has a a large increase from 1985-2022. Roter diameter and total height have all increased significantly through the years 1985-2022 2. Based on your research, how have total rated capacity and rated capacity changed over time? they have both have increased significantly 3. Complete the following statement: As the rotor diameter of a wind turbine increases, its rated capacity also increases . 4. How has the number of wind turbines per project changed? Why do you think the number has changed? Support your answer with information from your research. the overall number of turbines has actually decreased because the sufficient o f each has increased. 5. Based on your research in this activity, describe the wind turbine projects of the future. Include information about the height, rotor diameter, number of turbines, capacity, and location in your answer. I beielve in the future the number of turbines for each project will decrease but the overall height, rotor diameter, capacity will continue to increase. I also think we will start to see more offshore due to it not being in the way if its on land and taking up space.