4/7/2014 Aerodynamics of Wind Turbines: Lift

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Aerodynamics of Wind Turbines: Lift
The rot or consist ing of t he rot or blades and t he hub are placed upwind of t he
t ower and t he nacelle on most modern wind t urbines. This is primarily done
because t he air current behind t he t ower is very irregular (t urbulent ).
What makes the rotor turn?
The answer seems
obvious - t he wind.
But act ually, it is a
bit more complicat ed
t han just t he air
molecules hit t ing t he
front of t he rot or
blades. Modern wind
t urbines borrow
t echnologies known
from aeroplanes and
helicopt ers, plus a few advanced t ricks of t heir own, because wind t urbines
act ually work in a very different environment wit h changing wind speeds and
changing wind direct ions.
Lift
Have a look at t he
animat ion of t he cut -off
profile (cross sect ion) of
t he wing of an aircraft . The reason why an aeroplane can fly is t hat t he air
sliding along t he upper surface of t he wing will move fast er t han on t he lower
surface.
This means t hat t he pressure will be lowest on t he upper surface. This creat es
t he lift , i.e. t he force pulling upwards t hat enables t he plane t o fly.
The lift is perpendicular t o t he direct ion of t he wind. The lift phenomenon
has been well known for cent uries t o people who do roofing work: They know
from experience t hat roof mat erial on t he lee side of t he roof (t he side not
facing t he wind) is t orn off quickly, if t he roofing mat erial is not properly
at t ached t o it s subst ruct ure.
Copyright 1997-2003 Danish Wind Industry Association
Updated 1 June 2003
http://www.windpower.org/en/tour/wtrb/lif t.htm
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