1. As wind velocity reaches a threshold, the cut-in speed of a turbine, the kinetic energy of the wind will be converted into mechanical energy by the rotation of rotor blades attached to a shaft. These rotor blades utilize an air foil design, so they have a similar shape to an air plane wing.
a. The rotor and blade size are matched to the capacity of the generator. If the wind velocity is too strong, the capacity of the generator may be exceeded, and the generator will avoid the destructive wind by:
> yawing (moving the rotor and nacelle out of wind) b. Some electricity may be supplied to the turbine in order to spin the rotor before a cut in speed is reached.
2. The mechanical energy is transferred to the shaft which is attached to a generator in the nacelle.
3. The generator in its simplest form contains a conductor in the form of a wire coil and permanent magnets. A voltage is induced when the permanent magnets are rotated by the shaft within the conducting coil. This voltage drives electric current.
4. The electric current produces alternating current which will be sent through an inverter to match the alternating current of the local electric grid.
a. The alternating current produced by the turbine cannot be sent straight through the local electric lines because it must match the AC current of LIPA exactly at the right voltage to allow for safe usage of electricity by the next user.
5. Through the use of net metering, if a turbine produces more electricity than necessary, it will be stored on the grid as credits which an owner can draw from if the turbine is not producing enough power. At the end of the year LIPA will write the owner a check for the wholesale price of excess energy produced.
Wind Power
