How it Works
The idea to capture the energy from the wind is very old, and the wind mill shown
above is a prove that a grasp of elementary aerodynamics was a basic knowledge of
farmers several centuries ago.
The wind can be captured by proper design of the blades. Rotation can be maintained
for as long as there is an axial momentum on the shaft that is balanced by some
resistance (namely an electric generator). The simplest model consists of a
streamtube of air flowing through the rotor disk that looses speed and increases
pressure in the process.
More Physics
The ability to control three-dimensional unsteady separated flow could dramatically
improve both performance and life span of a wind turbine. Hence the interest in
sophisticated CFD methods.
Selected References
- Spera AD. (editor), Wind Turbine Technology, ASME Press, 1994.
- Hansen MOL. Aerodynamics of Wind Turbines, James and James
Science Publ. 2000 (ISBN 1-902916-06-9)
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