What price wind power

Journal Article · · Eng., Cornell Q.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7313433

Shepherd, D G

The feasibility of wind power systems depends on an assessment of the total cost over a time period and the net useful energy produced. Although initial costs of equipment are high, the economic gap will decrease as conventional fuel prices increase. Wind power, which has the advantage of using an unlimited and free energy source, can benefit from the new materials and the better knowledge of aerodynamics, vibration analysis, and automatic control now available. Rotor diameters for wind turbines can be calculated for areas by using the average wind velocity and allowing for an attainable efficiency of 40 percent. Large-size turbines would be required for most areas of the United States. Designs for wind-powered systems must take into account the effects of wind-speed variation. Two basic wind turbines are (1) lift or drag, and (2) horizontal- or vertical-axis. Although the vertical-axis design has many advantages, wind turbines for the near future will be propeller-type and produce no more than 2000 kW. Ideas for concentrating wind energy focus on the kinetic energy of vortices. Variable-speed transmissions or variable-pitch blades and either a standby or storage system will be needed. Proposals for major systems call for large windmill parks. Small-scale proposals range from isolated warning lights, pumping, and power generation in remote areas of the world. Wind energy converted into thermal energy by a paddlewheel or simple generator might be used for space or water heating or, with absorption refrigeration for air conditioning. (DCK)

• OSTI ID: 7313433
• Journal Information: Eng., Cornell Q.; (United States), Journal Name: Eng., Cornell Q.; (United States) Vol. 11:3; ISSN ECQUA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
170600 -- Wind Energy Engineering
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299003* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation-- Other-- (-1989)
AVAILABILITY
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EQUIPMENT
POWER
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TUNNELS
USES
VIABILITY
WIND
WIND POWER
WIND POWER PLANTS
WIND TUNNELS
WIND TURBINES