Glossary of terms and concepts

In this section we have selected the most common definitions of concepts that are associated with wind energy.

Air brake — a brake whose action is based on the use of aerodynamic forces acting on the rotary part of the blades (see. Blades with a replaceable angle of attack).

Tower (mast, support) — is the support structure that provides accommodation of wind-head at a certain height; it is mounted on the foundation. Here are the main types of support: Cone, step, farm, and on braces. In addition there are support structures with advertising, service platform, and spiral staircases.

Wind engine (wind machine, wind-head) — a component of wind turbines, which houses the generator, wind wheel and propeller downwind orientation system (sometimes here placed the transmission, and the controller). Wind engine installed on the mast and connect by the cable to the controller, which is in the room for additional equipment.

Rotor diameter (the diameter of the rotor) — is the diameter of the circle described by the most remote from the axis of rotation of the blade propeller.

Wind turbine power curve (power characteristic of wind turbine) — is the dimension of the output power of the wind turbine from wind speed.

Energy efficiency of wind power (EEWP) — is the ratio of the mechanical energy developed by wind wheel to the total energy of the wind flow through the wind wheel. Most wind turbines EEWP varies between 0.3 and 0.45.

The blade of wind turbine — part of the propeller, creating torque. Commonly used composites, fiberglass, duralumin, wood or carbon fiber blades. The length of the blades have a small wind turbine typically ranges from 0.5 and 10 meters. In the industrial turbine blade length can reach 80 meters.

The nominal (rated) wind speed — the speed of the wind flow, which is the basis for the calculation of the nominal power of wind turbines. Usually ranges 8 and 14 m/s.

Rated power (rated power of wind turbines) — output power of wind turbine at the rated wind speed.

The overall efficiency of wind turbines — is the ratio of useful energy produced by wind turbine to the total energy of the wind flow through the wind wheel.

Wind Rose (Rose of wind speeds) — chart of the wind regime in this location, with the lengths of the rays radiating from the center in all directions, proportional to the duration of the wind in these areas

Speed of breakaway from the place (start wind speed) — is a minimal wind speed at which the wind wheel starts to spin without load.

The orientation system of a wind turbine — wind turbine complex devices, providing the installation of the wind wheel in the direction of the wind. As a rule, used mechanical (shank tail) or electronic (servo, speed sensors and wind direction, the servo controller).

The hub (hub) of the propeller — part of the propeller designed for fastening the blades to each other and the transmission torque main shaft of a wind turbine.

The average annual wind speed — сaverage wind speed over the year in a specific area, defined for a given height above ground level.

The average speed of the wind — the value of the horizontal component of the wind speed over a selected period of time determined by the ratio of the sum of the measured values of the instantaneous wind speed to the number of measurements.

This is only a small fraction of the terms and concepts that can be useful to you, so we will continue to work on this section.

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