CHAPTER # 1
INTRODUCTION TO WINDMILLS
Chapter-1
INTRODUCTION TO WINDMILLS
1.1 HISTORY OF WINDMILLS
Windmills were introduced to the western-world in the 1100’s AD.
12th Century:
The first vertical axle windmills in Europe were recorded. These would have been post
mills. One such was constructed inn 1137 at Leicester. While English crusaders may have seen
the windmills of the Mid-East, the vertical axis post mills are of significantly different design
than those in Sistan. In England at the time, rights to waterpower sites were confined to
nobility and clergy, so wind power was an important resource to a new middle class.
13th Century:
Applications of wind mill in Europe from 13th century A.D. and afterward.
21st Century:
As the 21st century began, the fledgling commercial wind power industry began
expanding at a robust growth rate of about 30% per year, driven by the ready availability of
large wind resources, and falling costs due to improved technology and wind farm
management. The steady run-up in oil prices after 2003 led to increasing fears that peak oil was
imminent, further increasing interest in commercial wind power. Even though wind power
generates electricity rather than liquid fuels, and thus is not an immediate substitute for
petroleum in most applications (especially transport), fears over petroleum shortages only
added to the urgency to expand wind power.
1.2 DEFINITION
A windmill is a machine that is powered by the energy of the wind. It is designed to
convert the energy of the wind into more useful forms using rotating blades or sails.
The term also refers to the structure it is commonly built on. In much of Europe,
windmills served originally to grind grain (hence the “mill” derivation), though later
applications included pumping water and, more recently, generation of electricity.
Contemporary electricity-generating versions are referred to as wind turbines.
1.3 WORKING OF WINDMILL
Like old fashioned windmills, today’s wind machines use blades to collect the wind’s
kinetic energy. Windmill’s work because the slow down the speed of the wind. The wind
flows over the airfoil shaped lades causing lift, like the effect on airplane wings, causing
them to turn. The blades are connected to a drive shaft that turns an electric generator
to produce electricity. With the new wind machines, there is still the problem of what to
do when the wind isn’t blowing? At those times, other types of power plants must be
used to make electricity. The basic form of the windmill hasn’t changed since the first
century. A windmill has a set of blades or slats mounted on a central axis which is
designed to revolve as the slats are pushed by the wind as shown in Fig 1.1
Figure-1.1: Operating Dynamics of Windmills.
1.4 IMPORTANCE OF WINDMILLS
Wind power is the most cost-competitive renewable energy technology today, with
some utility scale wind farms producing energy at rates below fossil fuel power plants. If
we consider the true costs of energy - including national defense costs, environmental
damage costs, and the human cost of out fossil fuel use – wind energy and other forms
of renewable energy are in fact much cheaper than fossil fuels.
We have considerable wind resources in the tri-countries region. 500MW of wind, at a
35% efficiency rating (meaning they may only generate their full capacity 35% of the
time), would produce 1.53 billion kwh per year. If the much larger offshore wind
capacity is also utilized, the tri-countries region could conceivably become a net
renewable electricity exporter.
1.5 TYPES OF WINDMILLS
There are three types of windmills as given below:
1.5.1 Vertical Axis Windmills
1.5.2 Horizontal Axis Windmills
1.5.3 Fixed Windmills
1.5.1 Vertical Axis Windmills
The first practical windmills were the vertical axle windmills invented in eastern Persia,
as recorded by the Persian geographer Estakhri in the 9th century. The authenticity of an
earlier anecdote of a windmill involving the second caliph Omar (AD 634-644) is
questioned on the grounds of being a 10th century amendment.
Made of six to twelve sails covered in reed matting or cloth material, these windmills
were used to grind corn or draw up water, and quite different from the later European
versions as presented in Fig [Link] were widely used throughout the Caliphate by the
9th century and spread to Europe through Islamic Spain.
A similar type of vertical shaft windmill with rectangle blades, used for irrigation, can
also be found in 13th century China (during the Jurchen Jin Dynasty in the
north),introduced by the travels of Yelu Chucai to Turkestan in 1219.
Comparison between Ottawa Peace Tower and Cap-Chat Turbine
Figure-1.2
1.5.2 Horizontal Axis Windmill
A base frame supports a horizontal shaft having one or more wind driven members
secured thereon. Each of the wind driven members includes a shaft of light-weight framing and
plurality of elongated longitudinally extending light-weight vanes having wind engaging
surfaces. The vanes have a wind driving position on one side of the shaft and a return position
on the other, and light-weight wind deflectors disposed at the front of the frame protecting the
return position of the vanes from the wind.
The wind deflectors are angularly adjustable whereby the deflected wind flowing off the
longitudinal edges thereof is selectively directed against the vane surfaces in their driving
position. The shaft has an output for operating a selected driven apparatus such as a generator.
Fig 1.3 shows that how the base frames is rotatable supported on a pivot for selected
adjustment relative to the wind in different ways.
Figure-1.3
1.5.3 Fixed Windmills
Fixed windmills oriented to the prevailing wind were, for example, extensively used in the
Cyclades islands of Greece. The economies of power and transport allowed the use of these
‘offshore’ mills for grinding grain transported from the mainland and flour returned. A 1/10 th
share of the flour was paid to the miller in return for his service. This type would mount
triangular sails when in operation presented in the Fig 1.4
Figure-1.4
1.6 FACTORS AFFECTING THE OUTPUT
A wind turbine obtains it’s power input by converting the force of the wind into
a torque (turning force) acting on the rotor blades.
The amount of energy which the wind transfers to the rotor depends on:
1. The density of the air.
2. The rotor area.
3. The wind speed.
In other word you can get more energy:
1. The “heavier” the air.
2. The “bigger” the rotor.
3. The “higher” the wind speed.
If the wind speed is twice as high it contains eight times as much as energy.
1.7 ELECTRICITY CRISIS IN PAKISTAN AND IT’S SCENARIO
The demand/supply projection indicates that power shortage appeared from
2006, and would increase to 5500MW in the year 2010.
Estimated wind potential of Pakistan is about 131,800MW.
In June 2007, the power cuts in Pakistan lasted no more than 3 or 4 hours a day.
Today, in extremely hot weather, Pakistanis have to endure without electricity
for 8 to 10 hours a day. Industrial production is suffering, exports are down, jobs
are being lost, and the national economy is in a downward spiral. By all
indications, the power crisis in Pakistan is getting worse than ever.
1.7.1 Extended Load-Shedding
Extended electricity load shedding in Karachi’s five major industrial estates is
causing losses in billions of rupees as the production activity has fallen by about 50%.
KESC, Karachi’s power supply utility, is dealing with a shortfall of around 700MW
against a total demand of 2200MW. Almost all forms of power generation from fossil
fuel-fired thermal to hydroelectric to nuclear are down from a year ago. As a result of
daily rolling blackouts, the economy, major exports and overall employment are also
down and the daily wage earners are suffering. The KESC and PEPCO owe more than
Rs.10 billion to the independent power producers (IPPs) and paying them will help
bring them into full operation and ease the crisis at least partially.
1.8 DEVELOPMENT OF WINDMILL TEHNOLOGY
1.8.1 In Pakistan
In response to the warnings of energy crisis in Pakistan, President Musharraf’s
government recognized the need and the potential for renewable alternatives and, in
2006, created Alternative Energy development Board to pursue renewable energy. In
particular, AEDB is focusing on wind and solar as viable alternatives. AEDB is
facilitating setting up of small renewable energy projects in line with government’s
policy of promoting the use of renewable energy in the countries power generation
mix, says the board’s chief executive officer Mr. Arif Alauddin. AEDB has recently
issued Makwind power Private ltd (MPPL) a letter of Intent for the setting up of
50MW wind farm at Nooriabad in Sindh, as part of its efforts to facilitate700MW
wind energy by 2010.
1.8.2 In Other Countries
In northern Europe and Asia, on the other hand, wind turbine installations
increased steadily and also he rotor size and generation of electricity increased
through the 1980’s and [Link] 1.7 illustrates rotor size is direction proportional to
the electricity generation through Wind Turbines. Maximum the size of the rotor is,
as much electricity can be produced through Wind Turbines.
Fig:-1.7
1.9 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF WINDMILL
Advantages:
Compared to other energy sources, windmills are very kind to the environment.
Compared to power stations driven by coal they will save the environment for:
1. Carbon dioxide (CO2) 850,0g
2. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) 2,9g
3. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) 2,6g
4. Dust 0,1g
5. Cinders, and flying ashes 55,1g
The brand new windmills are today so competitive on good places, that the use of windmill
power is one of the cheapest methods to reduce the mission of carbon dioxide (CO 2) from the
production of electricity. Windmills have no form of emissions of gases and other harmful
substances. The wind which tries to press the blade speed a little longer up causes the
generator to start producing power on the net. When the speed of the wind has reached wind
power at 13-15 m/s the mill grants on its maximum at 500kW for a 500kW mill. Fig 1.8
illustrates the names of all the mechanical parts that plays vital role in building the Wind
Turbine.
Fig-1.8
Disadvantages:
Windmills are tall and they stand on places where the terrain is very open and free. Therefore,
there is also free outlook to the windmills.
If the wind speed has reached its maximum the mill is forced to reduce speed to not hurt the
mill’s machinery. It is a disadvantage that the windmills don’t have an engine with a greater
capacity.
The technology we use on windmill is very valuable and advanced; therefore the government
hesitates to exploit wind power. As shown on figure Fig 1.9, below, you can see that this
advanced technology.
Advanced Wind Turbine System with Labeled Essential Parts
Fig-1.9