How Do Wind Turbines Work?

04/28/2023

Generating electricity from wind power is generally considered to be efficient and very environmentally friendly. The constant expansion ensures that wind turbines are constantly being improved. But wind turbines differ from one another in terms of how they are built and how they function. For the generation of electricity on land and near the coast (off-shore), towers with a nacelle containing a rotor with a horizontally mounted gearbox are common. However, there are also wind turbines with vertical axes: these are often so-called small wind turbines, which are not so high and have a lower efficiency than a large turbine. These nevertheless have their justification, for example, in natural (protection) areas, where there is nearly no infrastructure, but where for example a parking machine must be supplied with electricity.

Why are tall wind turbines more efficient?

Despite different designs, all wind turbines work on the same principle: When the wind moves the turbine's rotor, the wind's kinetic energy is converted into mechanical energy. The rotor and the electricity generator are located inside the nacelle, which is movably attached to the tower so that it always turns in the direction of the wind and the rotor blades can be driven by the wind. The tower, the supporting element of a wind turbine, provides the necessary height, since here the wind blows more evenly and large rotor blades "harvest" more wind and therefore influence the efficiency of a wind turbine. Furthermore, the tower transfers the static and dynamic loads caused by the movements of the rotor blades and the wind direction tracking to the foundation.

Which components influence the efficiency of a wind turbine?

The rotor blades are one of the most important components of a wind turbine, as their aerodynamic shape and positioning affect the efficiency of the turbine and help to extract as much energy as possible from the wind, which sets the rotor in motion. This is then converted into rotation with the help of a shaft and a gearbox. The gearbox serves to increase the speed from the low speed shaft to the high speed shaft. The high-speed shaft then drives a generator. The generator converts the rotating motion into electrical energy, which is then fed into the power grid. There are different types of generators that can be used in wind turbines, such as synchronous or asynchronous generators. These operate at different speeds and outputs and are selected according to the requirements of the plant and the available wind energy.

Which components adjust the wind speed to the optimal energy production of the wind turbine?

Modern wind turbines are usually equipped with control systems and sensors. These, on the one hand, measure the wind and adjust the turbine's output accordingly and, on the other hand, optimize rotor speed and position to ensure maximum energy efficiency. The so-called pitch system automatically adjusts the rotor blades to regulate the turbine's output as wind speeds change and to adapt it to different weather conditions. In extreme weather conditions, such as hurricane-force gusts, the rotor blades can be stopped via the rotor brake and the turbine can be shut down completely.

In this way, it is possible to generate energy through the interaction of design, components and environmental conditions efficiently. Measurement solutions from imc Test & Measurement with corresponding hardware and software for data acquisition and data evaluation help to test and optimize wind turbines in this respect and to confirm their safety and environmental compatibility in accordance with standards.

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