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Wind Power Technologies
www.WindPowerTechnologies.com

2-Bladed Wind Turbines are Inefficient  and Provide a Return on Investment 
Significantly Lower to 3-Bladed Wind Turbine Generators

Out-dated, Inefficient 2-Bladed Wind Turbines Are Now "Extinct!" 

Why 3-Bladed Wind Turbine Generators are Far Superior and More Efficient than 2-Bladed Wind Turbines

The argument has been settled and the debate is over. 

Today's "modern" 3-bladed wind turbines represent the latest technological improvements in wind turbine generators, and are superior to the 20-30 year old technology that 2-bladed wind turbines represent.

First of all, it is important to remember that 2-bladed wind turbines may generate only about 90% of the power of a 3-bladed wind turbine of comparable size.  While a 2-bladed wind turbine saves the weight of one extra blade when compared with a 3-bladed wind turbine, engineers of the most efficient wind turbines have determined that the extra blade used on 3 bladed wind turbines provide the optimum wind turbine efficiency and wind turbine design for the "ideal" wind turbine generators of today.  

Secondly, the top-3 leading wind turbine manufacturers have standardized on the 3-bladed wind turbine.  They do not manufacture any 2-bladed wind turbines.  Plainly stated, a wind turbine with an even number of blades (2 blades or 4 blades) are NOT of optimum design or efficiency. In fact, this debate was settled years ago when the wind turbine engineers and designers began building wind turbines over 600 kW in power output.

The leading wind turbine manufacturers and their engineers have decided that 3 bladed wind turbines are the optimum number of wind turbine blades due to the stability of the wind turbine as well as the significant wind loads and stresses placed on a 2-bladed wind turbine.  A wind turbine that has an odd number of blades is similar to a disc when calculating the computational fluid dynamics of the wind turbine.  Engineers have learned that wind turbines that have an even number of blades - such as the 2 bladed wind turbines of the past - have stability problems for a machine with a stiff structure. The reason for this problem is simple, engineers recognized that when a 2-bladed wind turbine's top blade bends backwards - when the wind turbine's 2 blades are in the vertical position - since it is now generating the maximum power from the wind - that the lower or bottom blade is now aligned with the tower and the blade is hidden or blocked from the wind - and this generates a huge amount of stress and loads on the wind turbine and its' primary components such as the bearings, shaft, transmission etc.

Because of the extreme wind loads and stresses placed on 2-bladed wind turbines, the remaining 2-bladed wind turbine manufacturers have had to resort to a "teetered hub" that helps remove some of the stress and loads placed on 2-bladed wind turbines. While there are some very fine 2-bladed wind turbines, of smaller power output, the bottom line is, 3 bladed wind turbines are inherently better and more efficient than 2-bladed wind turbines.

For these reasons, community wind farm owners and developers, along with utility-scale wind farm owners and developers, would be wise to only consider 3-bladed wind turbines. 

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Wind Energy Magazine
www.WindEnergyMagazine.com

The Wind Energy Magazine website is now online!  

**** Premium advertising space now available. ****

  For ad rates or media kit, send email with information about your company, product(s) or 
service(s) that you want to advertise to:  sales@WindEnergyMagazine.com

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Wind Power Technologies
www.WindPowerTechnologies.com

The Ultimate Online Resource for 
Renewable Energy Project Development

• The U.S. added nearly 1,400 megawatts of new wind energy capacity during the second quarter of 2008. 
  

• New wind turbines this year will generate 7,500 megawatts of additional electricity which surpasses the 5,249 megawatts installed in 2007.
  

• Wind power accounted for more than one-third of the new electric generating capacity installed in the U.S. in 2007.
  

• The wind industry is projected to grow at a 45 percent pace for the second straight year.
  

• For every megawatt (MW) of wind energy produced, $1 million in economic development is generated. This includes revenue from planning, construction, etc. 
  

• Wind energy revitalizes rural communities by providing steady income through lease and royalty payments to farmers and other landowners.
  

• Supplemental income: It is estimated that the income to a landowner from a single utility-scale turbine is approximately $2000 per year. For a 250-acre farm with income from wind at $55 per acre, this translates into an annual income from wind leases of $14,000, with no more than 2-3 acres removed from production.
  

• Jobs: Wind energy resources bring needed jobs to rural communities and bolster farm incomes against bad weather. Worldwide, wind and solar industries are likely to be one of the main sources of new manufacturing jobs in the 21st century.
  

• Wind energy costs for consumers are low and stable. This is particularly beneficial for those on fixed incomes.
  

• As wind energy production becomes more efficient, costs will decline, while fossil fuel prices are expected to rise. 
  

• Wind energy is a widespread, inexhaustible resource: 46 of 50 states have wind resources that could be developed.
  

• WIND ENERGY GENERATES CARBON FREE ENERGY & POLLUTION FREE POWER!  Power generated from the wind reduces smog and eliminates a major source of acid rain.  Wind energy has the potential to reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions (one of the most potent of all Greenhouse Gas Emissions) by 1/3 in the U.S. and world Carbon Dioxide Emissions by 4%! 
  

• Potential for growth: Development of just 10% of 10 of the windiest states could provide more than enough energy to displace emissions from coal-fired power plants.
  

• Cleaner air means healthier air, especially for people with respiratory disabilities.
  

Wind Power Generation vs. Traditional Power Generation

Power generated from clean, green wind energy avoids numerous negative effects of traditional electricity generation from fossil fuels:

• Emissions of mercury or other heavy metals into the air

• Emissions associated with extracting and transporting fuels

• Lake and streambed acidification from acid rain or mining

• Water consumption associated with mining or electricity generation

• Production of toxic solid wastes, ash, or slurry

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The benefits of wind power generation go on - including the leading role wind energy provides in reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions into the atmosphere - the leading cause of climate change and global warming.  

Today, Carbon Dioxide Emissions in the United States approaches 6 billion metric tons/year.  

39% of these Carbon Dioxide Emissions are produced when electricity is generated from fossil fuels.

If the United States obtained 20% of its electricity from wind energy, the country could avoid putting 825 million metric tons of CO2 annually into the atmosphere by 2030, or a cumulative total of 7,600 million metric tons by 2030.

A relatively straightforward metric used to understand the carbon benefits of wind energy is that a single 1.5 MW wind turbine displaces 2,700 metric tons of CO2 per year compared with the current U.S. average utility fuel mix, or the equivalent of planting 4 square kilometers of forest every year according to AWEA 2007.

What is a Wind Resource Assessment?

A Wind Resource Assessment is defined as the process of characterizing the wind resources, wind characteristics and the site's wind energy potential for that specific site or geographical area.

NOTE:  FOR QUALIFIED LAND/RANCH OWNERS, WITH PROPERTY LOCATED IN AREAS WE ARE DEVELOPING NEW WIND FARMS, WE CAN  PERFORM THE WIND RESOURCE ASSESSMENT.

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Wind Power Generation Saves Water!

20% of our nation's electricity requirements can be generated with wind power generation by the year 2030 according to the Department of Energy. 

When we do, our nation will save over 4 Trillion gallons of water through 2030 through the displacement of typical electric power plants, such as fossil fuel power plants, that would have used vast amount of water. By switching to wind power generation for 20% of our nation's electrical requirements, we reduce overall water consumption by 17% in 2030.

See our website at:  www.WindPowerGeneration.com  for more information.

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The Economic and Environmental Benefits of Wind Power

According to the Department of Energy, our nation's electricity generation from wind power alone could top 20 percent of the total power generation mix by 2030. 

This would have the economic benefits of creating 500,000 jobs and generate more than $400 billion. 

Wind Power also reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions and other pollution by 25 percent than otherwise.

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Wind Power Generation:  Growing Fast!

United States — 50-Meter Wind Resource Map

Yearly Installed Wind Capacity Map

 

Texas Wind Power Map

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Wind Energy Terminology & Glossary

AC - Alternating Current 

Airfoil -The cross section profile of the leeward side of a wind generator blade. Designed to give low drag and good lift. Also found on an airplane wing. 

Air Gap - In a permanent magnet alternator, the distance between the magnets and the laminates. 

Alternating Current - Electricity that changes direction periodically. The period is measured in Cycles per Second (Hertz, Hz). 

Alternator - A device that produces Alternating Current from the rotation of a shaft. 

Amperage - A unit of electrical current, equal to Coulombs per second. This is the flow rate of electrons moving through a circuit, very roughly analogous to gallons per minute flowing from a faucet. 

Ampere-Hour - A measure of energy quantity, equal to amperes times hours. Also used to measure battery capacity. 

Anemometer - A device that measures wind speed. 

Angle of Attack - The angle of relative air flow to the blade chord. 

Annealing - A heat treatment process that makes Cold-rolled steel more suitable for forming and bending. 

Area of a Circle - Pi multiplied by the Radius squared. 

Armature - The moving part of an alternator, generator or motor. In many PM alternator designs, it carries the magnets and is attached to the blades and hub. Also called a Rotor. 

Axial Alternator - An alternator design where a flat disc carrying magnets on the face (the Armature) rotates near a flat disc carrying coils (the Stator). 

Axis - The centerline of a rotating object's movement. 

Balancing - With wind turbine blades, adjusting their weight and weight distribution through 2 axes so that all blades are the same. Unbalanced blades create damaging vibration. 

Battery - An electrochemical device for storing energy. 

Battery Bank - An array of Batteries connected in series, parallel, or both. 

Bearing - A device that transfers a force to structural supports. In a wind generator, bearings allow the Shaft to rotate freely, and allow the machine to Yaw into and out of the wind. 

Belt - A device for transferring power from a rotating shaft to a generator. Allows the use of Pulleys to change the ratio of shaft speed to and from the generator. 

Betz Limit -59.3 percent. This is the theoretical maximum efficiency at which a wind generator can operate, by slowing the wind down. If the wind generator slows the wind down too much, air piles up in front of the blades and is not used for extracting energy. 

Blade - The part of a wind generator rotor that catches the wind. 

Braking System - A device to slow a wind turbine's shaft speed down to safe levels electrically or mechanically. 

Bridge Rectifier - An array of diodes used to convert Alternating Current to Direct Current. Single-phase bridge rectifiers use 4 diodes, 3-phase bridge rectifiers use 6 diodes. 

Brushes - Devices for transferring power to or from a rotating object. Usually made of carbon-graphite. 

Ceramic Magnets - See Ferrite Magnets. 

Chord - The width of a wind turbine blade at a given location along the length. 

Coercivity--The amount of power needed to magnetize or demagnetize a permanent magnet. Measured in MegaGauss Oersted (mGO) 

Cogging - The cyclic physical resistance felt in some alternator designs from magnets passing the coils and gaps in the laminates. Detrimental to Start-up. 

Coil - A length of wire wound around a form in multiple turns. 

Cold-Rolled Steel - Steel processed by working at room temperatures. More expensive than hot-rolled steel. 

Commutator - The rotating part of a DC generator. 

Concave - A surface curved like the interior of a circle or sphere. 

Convex - A surface curved like the exterior of a circle or sphere. 

Current - See Amperage. 

Cut-In Wind Speed - The rotational speed at which an alternator or generator starts pushing electricity hard enough (has a high enough voltage) to make electricity flow in a circuit. 

Cycles per Second - Measured in Hertz. In electricity, it is the number of times an AC circuit reaches both minimum and maximum values in one second. 

Darrieus Wind Turbine - A Vertical Axis Wind Turbine design from the 1920s and 1930s by F.M. Darrieus, a French wind turbine designer. 

DC - Direct Current 

Delta - A 3-phase alternator wiring configuration in which all phases are connected in Series. 

Diameter - A straight line passing through the center of a circle, and ending on both edges. Equal to 2 times the Radius. 

Diode - A solid-state device that allows electricity to flow in only one direction. 

Downwind - Refers to a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine in which the hub and blades point away from the wind direction, the opposite of an Upwind turbine. 

Drag - In a wind generator, the force exerted on an object by moving air. Also refers to a type of wind generator or anemometer design that uses cups instead of a blades with airfoils. 

Dump Load - A device to which wind generator power flows when the system batteries are too full to accept more power, usually an electric heating element. This diversion is performed by a Shunt Regulator, and allows a Load to be kept on the Alternator or Generator. 

Duty Cycle - In a circuit, the ratio of off time to on time. 

Dynamo - A device that produces Direct Current from a rotating shaft. See Generator. 

Eddy Currents - Currents that flow in a substance from variations in magnetic induction. See also Lenz Effect. Laminates are used to prevent eddy currents, which cause physical and electrical resistance in an alternator or transformer, therefore wasting power. 

Efficiency - The ratio of energy output to energy input in a device. 

Electromagnet - A device made of wire coils that produces a magnetic field when electricity flows through the coils. 

Epoxy - A 2-part adhesive system consisting of resin and hardener. It does not start to harden until the elements are mixed together. NOT compatible with Fiberglas® Resin. 

Excitation - Using an electric current to create a magnetic field. See Electromagnet. 

Fatigue - Stress that causes material failure from repeated, cyclic vibration or stress. 

Ferrite Magnets - Also called Ceramic Magnets. Made of Strontium Ferrite. High Coercivity and Curie Temperature, low cost, but brittle and 4-5 times weaker than NdFeB magnets. 

Fiberglas® Resin--Another 2-part adhesive system, NOT compatible with Epoxy. Often used for making castings, since it is much cheaper than Epoxy. 

Freewheeling - a wind generator that is NOT connected to a Load is freewheeling, and in danger of self-destruction from overspeeding. 

Frequency - Refers to electric current - Also see Cycles per Second. 

Furling - The act of a wind generator Yawing out of the wind either horizontally or vertically to protect itself from high wind speeds. 

Furling Tail - A wind generator protection mechanism where the rotor shaft axis is offset horizontally from the yaw axis, and the tail boom is both offset horizontally and hinged diagonally, thus allowing the tail to fold up and in during high winds. This causes the blades to turn out of the wind, protecting the machine. 

Gauss - A unit of magnetic induction, equal to 1 Maxwell per square centimeter. Higher Gauss measurements mean more power can be induced to flow in an alternator. Gauss readings can be increased by putting steel behind magnets, stacking magnets, or using larger or higher-grade magnets. 

Gearing - Using a mechanical system of gears or belts and pulleys to increase or decrease shaft speed. Power losses from friction are inherent in any gearing system. 

Generator - A device that produces Direct Current from a rotating shaft. 

Governor - A device that regulates the speed of a rotating shaft, either electrically or mechanically. 

Guy Anchor - Attaches tower guy wires securely to the earth. 

Guy Radius - The distance between a wind turbine tower and the guy anchors. 

Guy Wire - Attaches a tower to a Guy Anchor and the ground. 

H-Rotor - A Vertical Axis Wind Turbine design. 

HAWT - Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine. 

Hertz - Frequency measurement. See Cycles per Second 

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine - A "normal" wind turbine design, in which the shaft is parallel to the ground, and the blades are perpendicular to the ground. 

Hub - The center of a wind generator rotor, which holds the blades in place and attaches to the shaft. 

Impedance - See Resistance. 

Induction - The production of a magnetic field by the proximity of a electric charge or the production of a magnetic field by proximity of an electric charge. 

Induction Motor - An AC motor in which the rotating armature has no electrical connections to it (ie no slip rings), and consists of alternating plates of aluminum and steel. 

Kilowatt - 1000 Watts (see Watt) 

kW - Kilowatt. 

Laminations--Electrical circuit core parts, found in motors, generators, alternators and transformers. When core parts are subjected to alternating electrical or magnetic fields, the buildup of Eddy Currents causes physical and electrical power loss. Laminations are made of thin strips of materials that make good temporary magnets and poor permanent magnets, and each strip is insulated electrically from the next. 

Leading Edge - The edge of a blade that faces toward the direction of rotation. 

Leeward - Away from the direction from which the wind blows. 

Lenz Effect - See also Eddy Currents. From H.F.E Lenz in 1833. Electromotive force is induced with variations in magnetic flux. It can be demonstrated physically in many different ways--for example dragging a strong magnet over an aluminum or copper plate, or shorting the terminals of a PM alternator and rotating the shaft by hand. Laminates are used to reduce power losses from this effect. 

Lift - The force exerted by moving air on asymmetrically-shaped wind generator blades at right angles to the direction of relative movement. Ideally, wind generator blades should produce high Lift and low Drag. 

Live - A circuit that is carrying electricity.  

Load - Something physical or electrical that absorbs energy. A wind generator that is connected to a battery bank is loaded. A disconnected wind generator is NOT loaded, so the blades are free to spin at very high speed without absorbing any energy from the wind, and it is in danger of destruction from overspeeding. 

Losses - Power that is harvested by a wind generator but is not transferred to a usable form. Losses can be from friction, electrical resistance, or other causes. 

Magnet - A body that attracts ferromagnetic materials. Can be a Permanent magnet, Temporary Magnet, or Electromagnet. 

Magnetite - A common Iron-containing mineral with ferromagnetic properties. 

Magnet Wire - The kind of wire always used in making electromagnets, alternators, generators and motors. Uses very thin enamel insulation to minimize thickness and maximize resistance to heat. 

Magnetic Circuit - The path in which magnetic flux flows from one magnet pole to the other. 

Magnetic Field - Magnetic fields are historically described in terms of their effect on electric charges. A moving electric charge, such as an electron, will accelerate in the presence of a magnetic field, causing it to change velocity and its direction of travel. An electrically charged particle moving in a magnetic field will experience a force (known as the Lorentz force) pushing it in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic field and the direction of motion. Also called magnetic flux. 

Maximum Energy Product - Determines how good a magnet that different materials can make. Technically, the amount of energy that a material can supply to an external magnetic circuit when operating within its demagnetization curve. 

MegaGauss Oersted - Magnetic force measurement, see Maximum Energy Product. 

MGOe - MegaGauss Oersted. 

Moment - A force attempting to produce motion around an axis. 

NdFeB - See Neodymium-Iron-Boron Magnet. 

Nacelle - The protective covering over the generator or motor at the top of a wind turbine tower. 

Neodymium-Iron-Boron Magnet - The composition of the most powerful Permanent Magnets known to man. The materials are mined, processed, and sintered into shape. Then, they are subjected to an extremely strong magnetic field and become Permanent Magnets. 

Ohm's Law - The basic math needed for nearly all electrical calculations. Please see a dictionary or Pocket Ref for all of the variations on Ohm's Law! E=I*R (voltage(E)=amperage(I)*resistance(R)), and all of the algebraic variations of this (I=E/R, R=E/I). Also, for DC circuits, Watts=Volts*Amps. For AC circuits, Watts=Amps * Volts * Cosine of phase angle theta. 

Open-Circuit Voltage - The voltage that a alternator or generator produces when it is NOT connected to a Load. 

Parallel - In DC electrical circuits such as a battery bank or solar panel array, this is a connection where all negative terminals are connected to each other, and all positive terminals are connected to each other. Voltage stays the same, but amperage is increased. In AC circuits such as a wind generator alternator, each parallel coil is connected to common supply wires, again increasing amperage but leaving voltage the same. Opposite of Series. See also Star. 

Permanent Magnet - A material that retains its magnetic properties after an external magnetic field is removed. 

Permanent Magnet Alternator - An Alternator that uses moving permanent magnets instead of Electromagnets to induce current in coils of wire. 

PM - Permanent Magnet. 

PMA - See Permanent Magnet Alternator. 

Phase - The timing of AC current cycles in different wires. 3-phase alternators produce current that is cyclically timed between 3 different wires and a common wire, while single phase produces it in only 1 wire and a common. In a 3-phase alternator, wire #1 receives a voltage peak, then wire #2 receives a peak, then wire #3.

Pillow Blocks - Bearings that support a horizontal shaft. 

Pitch - Setting Angle of an airfoil or blade. 

Poles - A way of picturing magnetic phenomena. All magnets are considered to be "dipoles", having both a North pole (which would point North if used in a compass) and a South pole (which would point South if used in a compass. In an alternator, generator, or motor the number of Poles is a measure of how many coils, permanent magnets or electromagnets are in the armature or stator. 

Prop - Propeller. 

Propeller - The spinning thing that makes an airplane move forward. Often incorrectly used to describe a wind turbine Rotor. 

Pulley - A device for transferring power when using Belts as Gearing. Changing to smaller or larger Pulleys changes the gear ratio, and can be used to make a shaft turn faster or slower than the shaft that is providing its power. 

Pulse Width Modulation - A regulation method based on Duty Cycle. At full power, a pulse-width-modulated circuit provides electricity 100 percent of the time. At half power, the PWM is on half the time and off half the time. The speed of this alternation is generally very fast. Used in both solar wind regulators to efficiently provide regulation. 

PWM - See Pulse Width Modulation. 

Radius - The distance between the center of a circle and the outside. 

Rare-Earth Magnets - See Neodymium-Iron-Boron magnets. 

Rated Power Output - Used by wind generator manufacturers to provide a baseline for measuring performance. Rated output may vary by manufacturer. For example, one manufacturer's 1500 watt turbine may produce that amount of power at a 30 mph windspeed, while another brand of 1500 watt turbine may not make 1500 Watts until it gets a 40 mph windspeed.  Read manufacturer's ratings statements very carefully. 

Rectifier - See Diode. 

Radial - An alternator design in which the armature magnets are attached to the outside circumference of a disc, with the stator coils mounted around the outside. 

Regulator - A device to adjust incoming power so as to avoid overcharging a battery bank. In solar power, the regulator generally just turns the solar array off when the batteries are full. With a wind generator, the regulator generally diverts all or part of the incoming power to a Dump Load when the batteries fill, thus keeping a Load on the wind generator so it will not Freewheel. 

Relay - An electromechanical switch that uses a small amount of incoming electricity to charge an electromagnet, which physically pulls down a connecting switch to complete a circuit. This allows a low-power circuit to divert the electricity in a high-power circuit. 

Resistance - The voltage per amp needed to make electricity flow through a wire. See Ohm's Law. 

Root - The area of a blade nearest to the hub. Generally the thickest and widest part of the blade. 
Rotor--1) The blade and hub assembly of a wind generator. 2) The disc part of a vehicle disc brake. 3) The armature of a permanent magnet alternator, which spins and contains permanent magnets. 

RPM - Revolutions Per Minute. The number of times a shaft completes a full revolution in one minute. 

Savonius - A vertical-axis wind turbine design by S.J. Savonius of Finland from the 1920s and 30s. Shaped like a barrel split from end to end and offset along the cut. They are drag machines, and thus give very low rpm but lots of torque. 

Series - In DC electrical circuits such as a battery bank or solar panel array, this is a connection where all the negative terminals are connected to the neighboring positive terminals. Voltage increases, but amperage stays the same. In AC circuits such as a wind generator alternator, each coil is connected to the one next to it, and so on, again increasing voltage but leaving amperage the same. Opposite of Parallel. See also Delta. 

Servo Motor - A motor used for motion control in robots, hard disc drives, etc. Generally designed more like an alternator than a standard motor, most Servos need special control circuitry to make them rotate electrically. Some can be used in reverse to generate alternating current. 

Setting Angle - The angle between the blade Chord and the plane of the blade's rotation. Also called Pitch or blade angle. A blade carved with a Twist has a different setting angle at the Tip than at the Root. 

Shaft - The rotating part in the center of a wind generator or motor that transfers power. 

Short Circuit - 1) Parts of a circuit connected together with only the impedance of the leads between them. 2) In wind generators, connecting the output leads directly together so as to heavily load a generator in high winds. This creates a "short" circuit path back to the generator, bypassing all other loads. 

Shunt - An electrical bypass circuit that proportionally divides current flow between the shunt and the shunted equipment. It also allows high current measurements with low-current equipment. 

Shunt Regulator - A bypass device for power not needed for charging batteries. When batteries are full, the regulator shunts all or part of the excess power to a Dump Load to protect the batteries from overcharging damage. 

Slip Ring - Devices used to transfer electricity to or from rotating parts. Used in wound-field alternators, motors, and in some wind generator yaw assemblies. 

Star - A coil connection scheme for 3 phase alternators and generators in which all 3 coil phases are connected in parallel--they all share a common connection. 

Start-Up - The windspeed at which a wind turbine rotor starts to rotate. It does not necessarily produce any power until it reaches cut-in speed. See Cut-in Wind Speed.

Stationary - With wind generator towers, a tower that does not tilt up and down. The tower must be climbed or accessed with a crane to install or service equipment at the top. 

Stator - The part of a motor, generator or alternator that does not rotate. In permanent magnet alternators it holds the coils and laminates. 

Tail - See Vane. The proper term is actually Vane, but Tail is commonly used. 

Tail Boom - A strut that holds the tail (Vane) to the wind generator frame. 

Tape Drive Motor - A type of permanent magnet DC motor often used as a generator in small wind generator systems. 

Taper - The change in wind turbine blade width (chord) along the length. 

Temporary Magnet - A material that shows magnetic properties only while exposed to an external magnetic field. 

Thrust - In a wind generator, wind forces pushing back against the rotor. Wind generator bearings must be designed to handle thrust or else they will fail. 

Thrust Bearing - A bearing that is designed to handle axial forces along the centerline of the shaft--in a wind generator, this is the force of the wind pushing back against the blades. 

Tilt-Up - A tower that is hinged at the base and tilted up into position using a gin pole and winch or vehicle. Wind turbines on tilt-up towers can be serviced on the ground, with no climbing required. 

Tip - The end of a wind generator blade farthest from the hub. 

Tip Speed Ratio -The ratio of how much faster than the windspeed that the blade tips are moving. Abbreviation TSR. 

Torque - Turning force, equal to force times radius. See also Moment. 

Tower - A structure that supports a wind generator, usually high in the air. 

Trailing Edge - The edge of a blade that faces away from the direction of rotation. 

Transformer - Multiple individual coils of wire wound on a laminate core. Transfers power from one circuit to another using magnetic induction. Usually used to step voltage up or down. Works only with AC current. 

TSR - Tip Speed Ratio. 

Turn - In winding stator coils, this is one loop of wire around a form. A coil will often be referred to by how many turns of a certain gauge wire are in each coil. 

Twist - In a wind generator blade, the difference in Pitch between the blade root and the blade tip. Generally, the twist allows more Pitch at the blade root for easier Startup, and less Pitch at the tip for better high-speed performance. 

Upwind - the direction in which a wind turbine generator faces into the wind. 

Vane - A large, flat piece of material used to align a wind turbine rotor correctly into the wind. Usually mounted vertically on the tail boom. Sometimes called a Tail. 

Variable Pitch - A type of wind turbine rotor where the attack angle of the blades can be adjusted either automatically or manually. 

VAWT - Vertical Axis Wind Turbine. 

Vertical Axis Wind Turbine - A wind generator design where the rotating shaft is perpendicular to the ground, and the cups or blades rotate parallel to the ground. 

Voltage - A measure of electrical potential difference. One volt is the potential difference needed in a circuit to make one Ampere flow, dissipating one Watt of heat. 

Volt-Amp - In an AC circuit, this is Volts * Amps, without factoring in the power factor, derived from the phase angle. 

Watt - One Joule of electrical energy per second. In DC circuits, Watts=Volts * Amps. In AC circuits, Watts=Volts * Amps * the cosine of the phase angle. See also Volt-Amp. 

Wild AC - Alternating Current that varies in Frequency. 

Wind Generator - A device that captures the force of the wind to provide rotational motion to produce power with an alternator or generator. 

Windmill - A device that uses wind power to mill grain into flour. But informally used as a synonym for wind generator or wind turbine, and to describe machines that pump water with wind power. 

Wind Turbine - A machine that captures the force of the wind. Called a Wind Generator when used to produce electricity. Called a Windmill when used to crush grain or pump water. 

Windward - Toward the direction from which the wind blows. 

Yaw - Rotation parallel to the ground. A wind generator Yaws to face winds coming from different directions. 

Yaw Axis--Vertical axis through the center of gravity. 

Some of the above information provided with our thanks by the Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 

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How we make and distribute electricity is changing! 

The electric power generation, transmission and distribution system (the electric "grid") is changing and evolving from the electric grid of the 19th and 20th centuries, which was inefficient, highly-polluting, very expensive and “dumb.”  

The "old" way of generating and distributing energy resembles this slide:

The carbon clock tracks total carbon dioxide emissions in metric tons since 1750.

Since 1750, humans have emitted over 5 trillion pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Roughly half of this has ended up in the oceans where it is beginning to damage the coral reefs. The other half is still in the atmosphere and causing global warming. Each pound of CO2 takes up as much space as a 500 pound person.

The formula (which should be good for a year or two) is:
C(t) = 2.58 ×1012 + 1240×t, where t is seconds since the start of 2007.

C is tonnes (metric tons) of carbon dioxide emissions.
2205 x C gives pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

That comes to over 43 billion tons/year or over 86 trillion pounds/year.

Carbon dioxide (2) = 1 carbon atom with 2 oxygen atoms.
Carbon has relative weight 12 and Oxygen 16.
So it takes only 12 pounds of carbon to make 12+16+16 = 44 pounds of CO2. 

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions Linked to 
the Loss of Polar Bears

Monty Goodell, MBA
Founder and Chairman
Renewable Energy Institute

The Renewable Energy Institute (REI) does not take a stand in the debate on global warming, and if there is global warming, is it "anthropogenic" or is it caused by the sun, or the sun's normal cycles.  Or, if there is " climate change," is it " global cooling" caused by the water vapor in the atmosphere?

At the Renewable Energy Institute, we are waiting for the "true" scientists who doing the real research, to provide us with the science and answers critically needed to formulate correct policy - and not the phony " scientists" who are following politically-motivated and profit-driven agendas of the United Nations and government leaders. These phony scientists are not interested in conducting real scientific research.  Their very livelihoods are dependent on the government grants to fund their phony research that have pre-determined conclusions before and "research" is conducted.  

Political-interference by governments, governmental agencies, and bureaucrats that hand out billions of tax-payers dollars to phony scientists to conduct "junk science" and research,  expect the conclusions that supports anthropogenic global warming, or climate change. 

When scientists conclude in their research that they find no evidence of anthropogenic climate change or global warming, they are summarily dismissed, and black-balled from their communities and colleagues, and never again receive funding or grants.  Grants and funding by government bureaucrats with politically-driven agendas to "scientists" expecting their pre-determined results and conclusions supporting anthropogenic global warming must stop.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2007

• the solar industry received $198 million in subsidies.

• the oil and natural gas industry collected $2.1 Billion in tax-payer subsidies.

• the coal industry coal received $3.2 Billion in tax-payer subsidies.

And since 1960:

• the nuclear industry has received nearly $70 billion in tax-payer incentives and tax-payer subsidies. 

Taxpayers have bankrolled the oil and gas industry, and the coal industry for 100 years now, and the nuclear industry for 50 years, to keep these dirty fuels and energy "cheap." Take away the tax-payer incentives and tax dollars, and we believe the real cost of gasoline, would be similar to the gasoline cost in Europe - $7.00 - $8.00/gallon!

In the meantime, our U.S. Military is spending billions of tax-payer dollars each year protecting the Straits of Hormuz where much of the world's crude oil is produced and shipped through the straits' international shipping lanes.  Each day, hundreds of "very large crude carriers" pass through the Straits of Hormuz carrying oil from OPEC and the Middle-East to the U.S. and many other countries. 

Isn't it time we take some of the tax-payer dollars supporting the nuclear, coal and oil and gas industries, and start incentivizing clean, renewable energy technologies that don't pollute or harm the environment in any way?  Isn't it time that America ends its reliance on non-sustainable energy sources and stop over $1 billion every day, to oil suppliers from foreign countries, and start putting this money in "solar on every rooftop?!?

Mercury Emissions from Coal Fired Power Plants Far More Harmful to the Planet and People than Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Regarding the harm being caused to our planet from energy use, far more harm is being done to the planet, as well as to people and plants and animals, particularly fish, from the mercury emissions from coal fired power plants than from the coal fired power plants' greenhouse gas emissions.  We surmise that if any polar bears have died as a result of an environmental problem, it was more likely from the high levels of mercury in their food chain, than from greenhouse gas emissions. 

The Renewable Energy Institute is supporting and advancing renewable energy technologies, as well as reducing and eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and the fossil-fuel problems related to America's oil addiction and ending our dependence on foreign oil.  The renewable energy technologies we support are already deemed to be economic, viable and practical. Solutions such as Solar Trigeneration energy systems (see www.SolarTrigeneration.com for more information) for any kind of facility or building - office buildings, shopping centers, data centers, university campuses, etc. 

Since 2003, a Solar Trigeneration energy system has been providing 100% of the power and energy for a 5,300 sq. ft. office building near downtown Los Angeles, and doing so without any connection to the electric grid, whether its 12 noon or 12 midnite!  

The Renewable Energy Institute is also involved in research and advocacy of "Net Zero Energy" (see: www.NetZeroEnergy.com for more information) and "Net Zero Energy Buildings" (see:  www.NetZeroEnergyBuildings.com for more information).  Net Zero Energy Buildings generate as much (or more) energy than they use, and export their excess power to the grid, which we believe needs to be updated into a "Transmission Superhighway."

Climate Change, Global Warming or Global Cooling?

The past 10 years indicates the opposite of "global warming" has occurred - that the "Earths Fever" has and that global cooling has taken place. 

Weather, on a daily basis, or even an annual basis, is not climate, and climate is not weather. 

"Climate change" is always taking place, from one day to the next, and one week to the next, as well as one year to the next. The planet's climate is an ever-evolving, changing and dynamic process.  

Again, researchers and scientists need to refrain from being political, and stay out of politics, and politicians need to stay out of the way of the scientists and researchers, and let them do their work.  Politicians, government leaders and bureaucrats scientists need true and accurate data and climate research from scientists that do not have a political agenda.

In the meantime, as there may still be 30 years of research before there are conclusive answers concerning anthropogenic climate change, can we "risk" 30 years of our children and grand children's future, should there is a link between climate change and greenhouse gas emissions?  Should we not err on the side of caution?

Hubbert's Peak Oil Predictions Now Proving True?

Marion King Hubbert was a geologist and scientist who worked at Shell Oil company's research lab in Houston, Texas.  Hubbert made several important contributions to geology, geophysics and petroleum geology.  Hubbert is most recognized for the "Hubbert Curve" and " Hubbert Peak Theory" which is now referred to as " Peak Oil. 

Hubbert's life work determined that the world has a finite amount of petroleum that can be produced.  (Similarly, there is a finite amount of coal.) Many scientists and engineers believe we have reached Hubbert's "peak oil" limit.  Hubbert's espouses that when 50% of domestic crude oil production has been reached, that there will be such significant upward demand on prices of the limited supplies of oil production, that the U.S. economy will experience severe economic, social, and political turmoil.

Hubbert's Peak Oil predictions have proven to be true and this is validated as the U.S. in the early 1970's produced about 60% of its' oil demand and imported 40%.  That equation has flipped since then, because our domestic oil production has been on the decline since 1970, so now, due to our declining domestic oil production, we have to import 60% of our oil supplies, to meet our country's oil/energy demands.

The Next Oil Shock Could be the "mother" of All Oil Shocks

How severe our economic calamity and next "oil shock" will depend upon a number of factors, including when this occurs, as well as the following:

1.  the dependence of the individual country upon its own crude oil production to meet its energy needs and to subsidize consumer imports; 

2.  the rate of relative decline in crude oil production; 

3.  the degree of difficulty encountered in replacing missing energy inputs; 

4.  the degree to which our country had prepared in advance for this inevitable geological and economic calamity.

Examples of past "oil shocks" and the economic and political calamities that followed:

United States: Our peak crude oil production of domestic oil occurred in 1970; the first "oil shock" and oil crisis followed in 1973 with the Arab/OPEC Oil Embargo.

Iran: Their peak crude oil production occurred in 1974; They had their islamic revolution 1979 that overturned government and replaced it with radical islam.

Soviet Union: Their peak crude oil production was in 1989; what happened next? 
Their country disintegrated and the collapse of the Soviet Union followed in 1991. 

Indonesia: Their peak crude oil production was in 1991; their financial and government crisis followed in 1997.

Iraq: Iraq's crude oil production was in 1989; they then invaded Kuwait (for their oil) in 1991.

Using Mr. Hubbert's predictions, that beginning around 2000  we would see peak (global) oil production, then, if the country's not weaning themselves off of their oil addiction, and had not begun making the switch to renewable energy, that the negative economic and political calamities would soon follow, including ever-increasing prices of energy that is from fossil fuels. 

Now is the time to begin weaning ourselves off of fossil fuels and making the transition to and increasing the use of renewable energy. If you don't believe in climate change, or global warming, GREAT! Join us in the switch to renewable energy and a fossil-free economy!

America's "Clear and Present Danger"

America Has INCREASED its' Dependence on Foreign 
Sources of Energy by 50% Since 1973.

America is even more "addicted" to foreign oil today, than we were in 1973 - 1974 when OPEC, Saudi Arabia and other suppliers from the Middle-East  stopped selling us their fossil fuels, and created a significant blow to our economy.

This Means that 65% of America's Energy Supplies are Now Imported from Suppliers from Foreign Countries.  

Simply put, about 65% of the gasoline in your car's gas tank, comes from a foreign country.

EVERY day, the U.S. must IMPORT over 13 million bbls of oil from foreign countries and foreign suppliers to meet demand. 

At $80/barrel of oil, this also means that $1,040,000,000.00 American Dollars leave our country, EVERY DAY, to foreign countries/suppliers of our fossil fuels, to pay for the energy we need. 

That's $1 Billion EVERY day leaving our economy, and going to support a foreign country's economy. 

Talk about our foreign trade deficit..... nearly $400 Billion each year, leaves our country to pay for our oil addiction and the energy we need.  To be exact, that's $379,600,000,000.00 American Dollars.

This is NOT acceptable.

America needs to quickly transition to Energy Independence. 

Renewable Energy is the Only Way America Can Achieve Energy Independence. 

Millions of new and sustainable American jobs would be created here at home, if we would end our addiction to foreign fossil fuels, and quickly transition to an economy based on renewable energy and renewable fuels, produced here in the U.S.A. 

The good news is that today, America already has all of the Renewable Energy Resources and Renewable Energy Technologies needed to make American Energy Independence a reality. 

According to Monty Goodell, Founder and Chairman of the Renewable Energy Institute, "our increased dependence and reliance on foreign energy supplies represents a Clear and Present Danger to our national security, our economy, and the lives and livelihood of every American. Energy - including the energy we use from imported fossil fuels, is the very "lifeblood" of the American economy as it is for every industrialized country.  An economy dies without it's lifeblood of energy. This Clear and Present Danger we face is far more serious than the problems related to greenhouse gas emissions.  And while greenhouse gas emissions are very serious issue, in the long-term, pales in comparison to America's vital national security interests and America's economic stability in the short term.  For this reason alone, America needs to transition away from its addiction to foreign energy supplies. And America's abundant renewable energy resources such as the energy we receive from the sun, and renewable energy technologies such as concentrated solar power (CSP) plants - can supply 100% of America's power requirements with a concentrating solar power plant measuring 75 miles by 75 miles, located in the Southwest U.S.  By generating America's power from concentrating solar power plants, America resolves its' short-term Clear and Present Danger as it relates to importing its energy from foreign countries, and the long-term problems relating to greenhouse gas emissions."

Continuing, Mr. Goodell states that "too many Americans have forgotten what happened to us in 1973, when the Arabs and OPEC brought the United States economy to a screeching halt during the OPEC Oil Embargo.  This happened because they (mainly the country of Saudi Arabia) disagreed with our foreign policy and is the reason why they "turned off the tap" of our need for their oil supplies. When Saudi Arabia and OPEC stopped the vital flow of oil to our country in 1973, they caused an "oil shock" that severely and negatively impacted our economy. 

Mr. Goodell's question for us to ponder is, "do these countries who sell us 60% of our daily energy requirements, like us and our foreign policy, or might they leverage our addiction to their fossil fuels, and turn off the tap to make us adjust or revise our foreign policy??  Like any addict, America's foreign policy may be held hostage to its addiction, and in this case, our addiction to foreign oil, may over-ride our national interests."

Have American's forgotten the gas shortages and long lines at 
their gas stations to get gas during the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973? 

"Apparently so."  Mr. Goodell states that "in 1973, America was 'addicted' and 'over the barrel' of foreign oil to the amount of 40%.  Forty percent of our energy 'needs' in 1973 came from countries - many of which didn't like us then, and I'm afraid, many of them still don't.  The difference between 1973 and today - is that today we receive 50% MORE foreign oil now than we did in 1973.  And now we know about the problems relating to greenhouse gas emissions that we didn't know then.  America needs to change course, and change course now, in terms of its' energy supplies and how we keep America's economy strong, without the threat of being held hostage to a middle-east tyrant or regime, that could once again, turn on us, and turn off our supply of foreign oil." 

Remember ????

" Sadly," Monty Goodell continues, " most Americans have forgotten the long lines of people waiting in their cars - lined up and waiting for gasoline at their nearby gas station, with lines that were many blocks long.  And, after waiting 4-5 hours, many even waiting overnight in many places, to finally take their turn to fill up their car with gasoline, only to find that the gas station had run out of gas." 

"Let me Repeat.... That was 1973 when we imported 40% of our daily energy requirements in the form of crude oil from overseas, and from foreign countries - and many of these from countries that don't like us.

Today, over 35 years later, America has yet to learn the lesson.  We cannot continue our reliance on energy from foreign countries that supply us with 60% of the crude oil that our refineries use as a feedstock for producing gasoline and diesel fuel for our cars and trucks comes from overseas. 

America is "over the barrel" and it's not our barrel, but the barrels of oil that we are addicted by and owned by other countries.  Why have we not learned the lessons we needed to learn in 1973 when we were cut-off from the vital energy supplies we need? 

Countries like China, are growing rapidly, and have an insatiable need for crude oil. China, with their booming economy, is increasingly growing in its clout and control over international supplies of crude oil - whether they do this through their ability to buy as much oil as they need on a daily basis, or whether they simply but American drilling rigs, technology, and explore and produce oil and gas from their own fields. China, is buying large amounts of oil for their country, and causing upward pricing on declining supplies. What happens if Russia, with all of their oil and natural gas, along with China and Venezuela, with or without the help of OPEC, decided to NOT sell oil to us????

To be sure, greenhouse gas emissions are a problem, and to some, greenhouse gas emissions are also a Clear and Present Danger, but not to the extent that it presents an imminent Clear and Present Danger. 

America's reliance for 60% of our energy "needs" coming from foreign suppliers is un-acceptable.

The "driver" to get America to begin reducing and eliminating fossil fuel use should be our nation's national security and the welfare and safety of its citizens. And this can all begin with developing and investing in our own renewable energy resources and renewable energy technologies, let's start by putting solar on every rooftop that has a clear and unobstructed view of the Southern sky. See www.RooftopPV.com  or  www.DistributedPV.com  for more information.  Let's create incentives begin with adopting a national "Feed In Tariff" as Germany did in 1990. 

We simply do NOT have the luxury of time on our hands.  We need to end our dependence and reliance on foreign fossil fuels, especially from countries that don't like us! We need to rapidly begin expanding renewable energy resources and renewable energy technologies from our vast and abundant renewable energy resources, such as; solar, solar energy systems, solar cogeneration, solar trigeneration, "solar on every roof," along with; Biomass Gasification, B100 Biodiesel, Biomethane, E100 Ethanol (from cellulosic, agricultural waste, sugar cane, etc., and NOT from corn), Geothermal Power Plants, Natural Wastewater Treatment, Synthesis Gas, Waste To Energy, Waste To Fuel and Wind Power Generation where it makes economic and environmental sense."   

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