How to use a Gold in Wind Turbines - Essay Example

This report focuses on wind turbines, their design and how they can be redesigned using gold in order to increase their efficiency. Introduction The use of wind turbines to harness wind power is not a new technology. It is a concept that has been in operation since as the 7th century. To date, the wind turbines have become a familiar picture with their purpose being simple: to harvest the energy possessed by wind. Wind turbines differ in size depending on the required amount of energy. All wind turbines are made up of 4 major parts; rotor blades, nacelle unit, base and tower ((Energy Center of Wisconsin 1).

However, due to the technological advancements, various changes are been made in the design and choice of components in an attempt to increase its efficiency. The following report explains how gold can be used in a wind turbine in order to increase its efficiency. Breakdown of the major parts of a wind turbine As stated earlier, wind turbines come in different sizes depending on the energy requirements. There are four crucial parts that are essential in any wind turbine. These are rotor blades, nacelle, support tower and the foundation/base as shown in the following figure.

Figure 1: The major components of a wind turbine system (Alternative energy eMagazine 7) 1. . Rotation of the blades makes the turbine rotate thus capturing the kinetic energy contained in the wind (Energy Center of Wisconsin 2). 2. The Nacelle This part can be referred to as the ‘engine system’ of the wind turbine. It houses the generator and the gearbox that are connected to the rotor blades through a shaft and system of gears. The gears are used to increase the rotation speed of the blades.

Rotation of the blades results in rotation of the generator. The generator converts the kinetic energy possessed in the wind into electrical energy (Energy Center of Wisconsin 3). 3. Support Tower They are elevated a few feet from the ground and are used to hoist the rotor blades and the nacelle unit to heights where there is likely to be little barriers to wind motion. The most common design is a round steel cylinder. It also houses the electrical conduits and also contains a ladder running outside it to provide access to the rotor blades and nacelle unit for maintenance and repair services (Energy Center of Wisconsin 4). 4. Base/Foundation The base is constructed using concrete that is reinforced with steel bars.

The foundation holds the entire system in position thus is constructed with utmost caution. Choice of Materials for each component 1. Rotor Blades As stated earlier, the blades may be made from fiberglass, plastic, or metal. Regardless of the material used, the blades must be designed to capture the maximum surface area of the wind. They are also designed using a light weight material that is also durable and corrosion resistant. For this reason, most blades are made from reinforced plastic and fiberglass (Layton 5). 2. Nacelle unit In this unit, the major components are the generator and the gear box