How Modern Windmills Work

Modern windmills harness energy very efficiently.

Modern windmills, or wind turbines, are becoming an increasingly popular form of harnessing wind energy to provide power. They can be seen across the nation, with some of the largest energy producers located in Texas.

Types

Whether ancient wind scooping devices, centuries-old Dutch windmills or the latest high-utility turbines, windmills all work on the same principles of converting the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical or electrical energy. .

Wind

Wind is a form of solar energy, caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the rotation of the earth and irregularities of the earth's surface. The U.S. Department of Power and Energy describes the operation of a windmill or turbine as working the opposite way from a fan: "Instead of using electricity to make wind, like a fan, wind turbines use wind to make electricity. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity."

Process

Each windmill consists of rotors that transform the wind's energy into rotational shaft energy. This energy moves the drive train, converting the energy into electricity in the generators. This electricity is then used to power machinery, stored in batteries, or transferred to residential power grids or utility companies.

References

• Wind-Power-Generator.Com: How Do Wind Turbines Work
• U.S. Department of Energy: How Wind Turbines Work

Resources

• American Wind Energy Association