Product name: wind turbine
Group name: wind catchers!
The wind catchers:
Julie Abd ElSayed (230287)
Nouran Alaa Eldin (234196)
Haneen Eid (235716)
Shimaa Muhamed (234302)
Nouran Haneen Julie Shimaa
Part 1 Gearbox Blades Yaw base
Part 2 Anemometer Hub Brake disc Generator
box
Part 3 main shaft Rotor Swivel shaft Lower mast
Part 4 Bed plate nacelle Upper mast Generator
Page 1|8
shaft
Part 5 Gear shaft
TASK DIVISION AMONG THE WIND CATCHERS
Have you ever looked out at a windy day and wondered how much energy goes to
waste? Throughout the years engineers have been searching for new innovative ways to
generate electricity in an ecofriendly way. One of the greatest ways invented is the wind turbine.
Wind turbines tend to harness all invisible force of wind and transform it into the marvelous
force of electricity. They function on a far bigger scale is to generate sufficient electricity to
power houses and businesses, making them basically modern windmills. The fundamental
principle of a wind turbine's operation is that wind energy is converted into electrical power by
the rotor blades, which work similarly to an airplane wing or a helicopter rotor blade. As the
wind passes over the blade, the air pressure on one side of it decreases. The variation in the
pressure of air on the two edges of the blade generates both lift and drag. Because the lift force is
Page 2|8
more than the drag force, the rotor revolves which is connected directly to generator. If not, the
connection is made through a gearbox—a shaft and set of gears—that enhances spinning and
makes the generator smaller in dimension. This translation of aerodynamic force into a
generator's spin generates electricity.
Wind turbine’s structure:
1. Tower: adds support to the structure of the turbine. Additionally, it raises the rotor to a height
where it can harness the greatest possible wind energy.
2. Rotor: The primary part of a wind turbine that transforms wind energy from kinetic energy to
mechanical energy
3. Blades: movement of the blades causes a lift and drag. The rotor spins as a result of the lift force
being greater than the drag force.
4. Nacelle: The housing at the top of the tower that stores critical components
5. Yaw system: to adjust the nacelle and blades so that they correspond with the direction of the
wind. It enables the wind turbine to benefit from the most wind available.
6. Anemometer: receives wind speed data and sends it to the controller.
7. Gearbox: its function is to accelerate the rotor's rotation, helping in improving the generator's
efficiency in producing energy.
8. Generator: it is attached to the rotating rotor, transforms the mechanical energy into electrical
energy.
Motive of choosing wind turbine:
Wind turbines are better than any other source of energy as the advantages of it are much more
than the disadvantages.
Page 3|8
Firstly, wind is compatible in the long term as wind surrounds us and can be used on a daily
basis. On the long run they provide great guarantee of regularity differentiating itself from the
solar energy.
Secondly, wind turbines have exquisite conversion from wind energy to electric energy.
According to statistics the efficiency of wind turbines ranges from 40% to 50% which is near to
theoretical level (59%).
Last but not least, the repair cost is way cheaper than any other source of energy, not to mention
that it does not require continuous repairing.
In conclusion, wind turbines produce no pollution hence, it is environmentally friendly.
Nowadays, wind turbines are almost everywhere leading to higher efficiency rate and less
contamination.
Function of wind turbines:
Wind turbine works by converting the kinetic energy gathered from the wind by using the blades
into mechanical energy which occurs when the blades rotate the rotor of the wind turbine, this
energy is then being converted into electrical energy using the generator attached to the rotor
with the help of the shaft. The generator converts the mechanical energy into AC current by
electromagnetic induction and then this energy is distributed to consumers using an electrical
grid. Wind turbines are also provided with a control system that ensures their optimal
performance by adjusting the angle of the blades and their direction of rotation. Wind turbines
are now considered a great alternative to fossil fuel energy production as it is a clean and
renewable source of energy with no greenhouse gas emissions.
Page 4|8
Materials of each part
The materials chosen depend on elements like
1) Weight: the lighter material makes the load on the tower and base lesser
2) Sustainability: using recyclable materials is important nowadays.
3) Cost: The cost-effectiveness and efficiency should be balanced while choosing materials.
4) Hardness: strong winds and harsh temperatures are some of the difficulties that wind turbines
must be able to face.
Name Material Quantity
Concrete, it’s very durable
and can be formed into large
Base (the foundation)
solid structures needed for One
wind turbine bases.
Mast Steel
One
Glass fiber-reinforced-
Blades plastic (GRP) and carbon Three
fiber.
Cast-iron and aluminum
Hub One
Steel, aluminum, copper,
Page 5|8
Nacelle and GRP One
Materials and quantities of each part
Steel, aluminum, and
Gearbox brass One
Steel, aluminum, fiber
Anemometer glass One but in some cases
could be two
Generator steel and copper One
Main shaft Steel One
Break disk steel One
Cast iron or aluminum Up to sixteen
Yaw motor
Steel Depending on the design
Breaks
Page 6|8
Pictures of wind turbines:
Page 7|8
References:
Ancona, D., & McVeigh, J. (2001). Wind turbine-materials and manufacturing fact sheet. Princeton
Energy Resources International, LLC, 19.
Brøndsted, P., Lilholt, H., & Lystrup, A. (2005). Composite materials for wind power turbine
blades. Annu. Rev. Mater. Res., 35, 505-538.
Design and Analysis of Wind Turbine Blade Hub using Aluminium Alloy AA 6061-T6
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.297
https://students.aiu.edu/submissions/profiles/resources/onlineBook/q7P4s5_renewable-energy-Wind-
Power.pdf
Kim, M. G., & Dalhoff, P. (2014). Yaw Systems for wind turbines – Overview of concepts, current
challenges and design methods. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 524, 012086.
https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/524/1/012086
Wind Energy Technologies Office. (n.d.). Energy.gov. https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/wind-
energy-technologies-office
Wind Energy-Renewable Energy and the Environment : Free download, borrow, and streaming :
Internet Archive. (2014, March 3). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/fe_Wind_Energy-
Renewable_Energy_and_the_Environment/page/n97/mode/2up?view=theater
Page 8|8
