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Fans to turn the turbines and turbines to power the fans. Sounds a bit like perpetual energy or evolution doesn't it except that, instead of the sun being the ultimate source of energy to drive the process, there are Beltway bandits and tax payers to drive the fans and turbines.
I read a study recently that coordinating the facing of the fans across multiple wind farms can be useful in reducing net energy production losses. Effectively the wake is redirected so that it is favorable to the next wind farm.
I read a study recently that coordinating the facing of the fans across multiple wind farms can be useful in reducing net energy production losses. Effectively the wake is redirected so that it is favorable to the next wind farm.
"Nearly 90 percent of U.S. wind farms are located within 25 miles of another wind farm -- and often much closer." Interesting stuff.
Wind farms are clustered close together because the resource is not homogeneously spread across the country. Turbines are space to avoid turbulence associated with upwind turbines.
Wind farms are clustered close together because the resource is not homogeneously spread across the country. Turbines are space to avoid turbulence associated with upwind turbines.
Yes they're geographically dependent, much like hydroelectric Dams. I suspect this type of research may allow wind turbines to be packed more densely.
An interesting conundrum developed in the upper Midwest this winter, of course I'm referring to the much publicized "Polar Vortex" Where the vast majority of wind farms shutdown due to the extreme cold. Makes for an question .....If climate change is resulting in colder winters so we have to install wind farms to combat climate change BUT it's too cold to run wind farms what are you going to do?????????
An interesting conundrum developed in the upper Midwest this winter, of course I'm referring to the much publicized "Polar Vortex" Where the vast majority of wind farms shutdown due to the extreme cold. Makes for an question .....If climate change is resulting in colder winters so we have to install wind farms to combat climate change BUT it's too cold to run wind farms what are you going to do?????????
An interesting conundrum developed in the upper Midwest this winter, of course I'm referring to the much publicized "Polar Vortex" Where the vast majority of wind farms shutdown due to the extreme cold. Makes for an question .....If climate change is resulting in colder winters so we have to install wind farms to combat climate change BUT it's too cold to run wind farms what are you going to do?????????
Yeah but how often does that happen? The robust engineering solution to energy generation should be to have a diverse mix of sources, with most preferably being renewables. Wind turbines when it blows, solar panels when it shines, then crank up the nuclear plants or use hydroelectric dams or power storage to fill in the gaps. No one solution is going to fit every locale. Dams can pump water uphill for energy storage, then release it when more power is needed. Generating plants can create renewable fuels during periods of excess. There are many possible mixes that provide reliable, economical energy and don't abandon the drive toward 100% renewables.
I read a study recently that coordinating the facing of the fans across multiple wind farms can be useful in reducing net energy production losses. Effectively the wake is redirected so that it is favorable to the next wind farm.
"Nearly 90 percent of U.S. wind farms are located within 25 miles of another wind farm -- and often much closer." Interesting stuff.
It is not quite that simple. The wake effect that is so dramatic is the huge amount of angular momentum that is imparted to the downwind air. If you have ever seen smoke going through a wind turbine, the downwind vortex is immense. That effect is not just from a farm, but from a single turbine. Airplane wings have mechanism in place to keep all air flow laminar and it is similar with a turbine - it will be most efficient with smooth flowing air. So any turbulence, including a vortex from upwind mills, will be detrimental to a downwind mill. There is a limit on what can be done due to the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics - basically, extracting energy from a system (the atmosphere) comes at a cost, and part of that cost is turbulence. If the air has smoothed out over a 25 mile downwind course, there must be a corresponding loss in air speed, which means less energy to extract. It is just physics - wind has a finite amount of energy in it, and it costs something each time it goes through a mill.
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