Wind Power

 

Wind is flow of air through the earth’s atmosphere caused by the difference in pressure. Since the earth surface’s is made of different land and water formations the sun warms the earth’s surface unevenly, warming the Equator more than the poles. This heating causes warm air to expand and rise creating an area of low pressure. Air from surrounding areas moves in to fill this space and this movement of air is wind.Two factors are necessary to specify wind: speed and direction. The strength of the wind can be measured using the Beauford scale which is an empirical measure worked out by British naval commander  Sir Francis Beauford around 1805.

Sea Breezes

Coastal areas - like Puerto Vallarta - are affected by land and sea breezes. During the day, the air above the land heats up more quickly than the air over water. The warm air over the land expands and rises, and the heavier, cooler air rushes in to take its place, creating wind. At night the opposite happens as the air over land cools more rapidly thus reversing the flow of air from mountains to sea.

Harnessing the Wind

The energy of the wind has been harnessed for quite some time. Think as early as 5000 B.C. when wind energy propelled boats along the Nile River. Simple windmills have been used since 200 B.C. by the Chinese to pump water, while vertical axis windmills with woven reed sails were being used to grind grain in the Middle East and Persia.

By the 11^th century they were used for food production in the Middle East and the idea was taken to Europe by merchants. Its design was designed and adapted to drain lakes and marshes in Rhine River Delta. This technology was then taken by settlers to the New World in the late 19^th century and it was used to pump water for farms and ranches, grind wheat and corn, cut wood at sawmills, and later, to generate electricity for homes and industry.

Electricity was generated by wind mills in rural areas by late 1920’s. And it was in the 1930’s where the use of windmills began its decline as power lines transported electricity to rural areas.

Wind Turbines

Nowadays, wind energy is mainly used to generate electricity. It is a renewable energy source because as long as the sun shines there will be plenty of wind.

Modern wind turbines resemble old wind mills. Materials used are quite different but they work on the same principle. The wind flows over large blades - which are around a rotor- creating lift, like the effect on airplane wings, this causes them to turn. The blades are connected to a drive shaft that turns an electric generator to produce electricity. The stronger the wind, the more electricity produced. When installed in a home windy days are best to do laundry and charge batteries. It is also highly recommended to buy energy saving products. Look for the Energy Star label whenever buying appliances and electronics.

There two types of wind turbines: Horizontal-axis turbines and Vertical-axis turbines.

Horizontal-axis wind turbines: They look like old windmills and are the most common. The can power from a single house to several homes depending on the size and nubmer of wind turbines . There two types of domestic-sized wind turbine:
Mast Mounted: These are free standing and are erected in a suitably exposed position, often around 2.5 kW to 6kW.
Roof Mounted: These are smaller than the mast mounted systems and can be installed on the roof of a home where there is a suitable wind source. Often these are around 1kW to 2kW in size.

Vertical-axis wind turbines: Their blades go from top to bottom. They make up only a very small share of wind machines used today. The most common type is the Darreieus wind turbine, named after the French engineer Georges Darreieus who patented the design in 1931.

Wind Power

The environmental impact of wind power has overall less impact than other energy sources. Windmills have a small foot print relative to the amount of electricity it can produce. Wind turbines do not release emissions that pollute the air or water and do not require water for cooling. By using this type of energy, reliance on fossil fuels declines to produce electricity thus reducing carbon monoxide emissions as well as water usage in fossil fuel power plants.

Wind Power around the world statistics

Globally, China is largest producer of wind generated electricity. China, USA, Germany, Spain and India are the leading countries in wind power generation. All together they make up for 74% of the total wind power generated electricity around the globe. In Europe, Germany is ahead over other European countries. By the first half of 2011 USA added 2,252 MW which represents a 90% increase from that same period in 2010. But it seems it’s not getting closer to the increase they had in 2009 when they gained momentum installing a total of 10GW.

The global growth for this year is expected to reach 240GW which represents only a 3% of global demand.

Wind Power in Mexico

Cannon Power Group will invest 2,500 million dollars in Mexico in a wind farm project that includes two new wind farms in Quintana Roo and Zacatecas; it also includes the expansion of the existing La Rumorosa wind park located in Baja California. La Rumorosa was the first wind farm in Mexico and it was developed by the same group. They found a very strategic location in Baja California, Mexico, just 15 miles south of the border. This site is being leased from the Ejido Aubanel Vallejo “a region widely known as one of the best wind resource areas in North America”.

This site is like not many others as wind peaks during periods when demand for electricity is very high, this is from mid-afternoon to early evening.

“They expect to develop 300 – 500MW” of clean power at this site to later export this electricity across the border into California in the US. “And help improve overall air quality in the region” – California, United Estates-.

Another state in our country ideal for developing wind farms is Oaxaca. Jalisco will see an investment of 100 million dollars from private companies that will interconnect to Federal Commission of Electricity -CFE- to later sell it to industries to develop a wind farm project by the end of 2011. It will be located in Ojuelos county.

It is expected to produce 180GW yearly. That translates into powering 125 000 homes and slashing 102 000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere.

 

Considerations.

There are a few things to take into consideration before considering a wind turbine installation.

Are there any large obstacles like buildings, trees or hills near your home?

Small domestic wind turbines work best in exposed locations, without turbulence caused by these types of obstacles.

Is your home in a windy area?

To be effective you need an average of no less than 5m/s

IS your home located away from the Grid (CFE)? Small domestic wind systems are particularly suitable for use in remote locations where electricity is unavailable.

Do you need city and/or HOA permits?

Depending on where you live you may need one or the other, in some cases both. You do not want to end up buying a system to later find out that the HOA regulations won’t allow you to install it.

At Arkitektonika we’ll make going to wind power a breeze. Get in touch with us to help you determine if a domestic wind turbine is suitable for you.

Cell 322 105 2856

Info.arkitektonika@yahoo.com

For more info visit:

Sources:

Pronto Jalisco contará con su primer parque eólico

http://www.mexicohazalgo.org/tag/energia-eolica/

Nueva inversión para aumentar generación de energía eólica en México.

http://www.mexicohazalgo.org/tag/energia-eolica/

http://www.cannonpowergroup.com/wind/projects/bajacalifornia-wind/

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/wind_animation.html

Read more about the Beauford scale at : http://www.mountwashington.org/education/center/arcade/wind/beaufort.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale