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A Brief History Of Wind Turbines
from http://www.wind-power-generation.com/

A wind turbine is a rotating machine that converts the kinetic energy inherent in the wind into mechanical energy force. When certain machinery like a pump or grinding stone or wheel uses that mechanical energy in a direct manner then it is called a windmill. But if this mechanical energy is first converted into electricity, then the machine is commonly called a wind turbine or a wind energy converter amongst other things.

As far as we know, the very first wind machines were used twenty-two centuries ago in Persia for the grinding up of grain. The Romans then began to use the same method for the same result around 250 A.D.. The Dutch employed windmills to drain water from low-lying areas in the Rhine River delta.

Windmills were first used to produce electricity around 1888. And the first such windmill or wind turbine was built and used by Charles Brush in Cleveland, Ohio. About ten years later, some 72 wind turbines were being used to produce electricity between the ranges of 5 kilowatt to 25 kilowatt. By the 1930s windmills could be typically found being used on farms in the United States to produce electricity.

Perhaps you've seen old, wooden windmills on a trip through rural or farmland areas. Some were used strictly for pumping water out of the ground, while other systems provided a farm or ranch their electricity source where conventional power lines were not available in an area. The older version were often made from wood and some metal parts, while newer versions were metal constructions. Either way, they performed the same basic tasks.

There are two types of wind turbines. The first is called a HAWT, or Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine.

The HAWT houses an electric generator and the main rotator shaft at the top of a tower. To produce electricity, both need to be pointed into the wind. Using a wind vane is usually enough for this purpose in the case of smaller turbines, but for large turbines, a servo motor coupled with a wind sensor is used to point into the wind. The rotation of the blades is controlled by a gearbox which increases the rotational speed of the blades as and when required. The turbine is usually pointed in the upwind direction so as to protect it from the turbulence created by the tower. Sometimes downwind machines are also built to reduce the problem of turbulence. These machines prevent the use of additional mechanisms in order to keep the turbine in line with the wind. This allows the blades to be bent during high winds.

The VAWT (Vertical Axis Wind Turbine) type naturally have a vertically aligned shaft. The most important advantage of this type of turbine is that there is no need for the turbine to be pointed into the wind for effectiveness. These wind turbines are generally used on sites that exhibit a variable wind direction. A wind force from any direction can be used by this device.

On a vertical axis system both the gearbox and the generator can be placed near the ground as there is no need for a tower to have support. Another advantage is that the gearbox and the generator are accessible for any needed maintenance.

A wind turbine's purpose is to utilize the wind energy existing at any particular location. Designers and builders use aerodynamic modeling for the determining the various control systems to be used, number of blades, the shapes and angle of the blades, and the optimum height of the tower. A power line is often run to another location, such as a utility room or electrical vault to connect to a house or other building's main power system through a electrical panel, and any power regulation electronics as necessary.

The modern wind turbine is primarily used for conversion of wind energy into electricity energy. To complete this goal, the wind turbine has three major components: the rotor component, the generator component, and the structural component. Almost 20% of the cost of the wind turbine is taken up by the rotor component, while an approximate 35% of the cost is consumed by the generator unit. 15% of the cost of the wind turbine is taken up the structural component.

These days' environmental activists are championing the use of wind turbines, for the production of electricity as they are environment friendly and if at all, release only a minimal amount of pollutants.When compared to other electricity producing techniques, this aspect is extremely minimal and highly advantageous in its simplicity. Outside of minimal maintenance, wind turbines are an effective means to produce electricity over a period of many years without complete dependence upon an electrical grid with its rising costs. There are a myriad of available systems and components for the DIY person as well as complete kits that require just basic construction and adaptation to an existing electrical system. Both home and commercial applications are gaining popularity as an alternative means of power generation.

For additional answers, articles, videos, please visit http://www.wind-power-generation.com/