There are more than 60,000 wind turbines installed across the United States. If you’ve ever driven along the countryside, you’ve probably come across these massive power generators.
These turbines generate enough power to provide enough electricity to 39 million homes across the country. They’re expected to produce a larger share of power to cut down on greenhouse gases.
Turbines are also used in the gas industry, for propulsion, and hydropower.
Have you ever wondered how turbines work to generate electricity? Let your curiosity guide you and read on to find how turbines work to create electricity.
The Basic Parts of a Turbine
Turbines are used in a variety of applications. The turbines that generate electricity have similar parts. They all have blades, a rotor shaft, and a generator.
The wind, water, or other initial force rotates the blades. That energy is transferred to the rotor shaft and then the generator.
The generator converts the force energy, or kinetic energy, and turns it into electric energy.
There are a lot of questions about wind turbines and how they work. For instance, what happens when there isn’t enough wind?
It depends on the wind turbine. Some wind turbines are designed with aerodynamic blades, so they don’t need much force to generate electricity.
Wind turbines have a cut-in speed. That’s the minimum amount of wind required to generate power. Generally speaking, wind turbines need speeds between 6-7 miles per hour. Speeds below the cut-in point aren’t enough to generate electricity.
They also have a cut-out speed. This is if conditions are so windy, the turbine has to stop working to protect itself from damage. Wind speeds above 50 miles per hour are generally the cut-out point.
These turbines have a nameplate capacity, which is a type of rating. This measures the amount of power a turbine generates with optimal wind speeds at all times.
Other Types of Turbines
There are turbines used in the gas industry, like what you’d find at Greenray turbines. These turbines provide enough power to push gas through pipelines.
With these turbines, air goes into the engine. It’s pressurized and sent to the combustion engine. The engine is like a combustion engine of a car.
The engine burns the air and fuel to create steam. The steam is under a lot of pressure and then sent to the turbine. The blades of the turbine spin to create power.
This technology is very similar to a jet engine turbine. The main difference is that jet engines have a nozzle after the turbine which provides the force to thrust forward.
Generate Electricity With Turbines
Turbines are powerful feats of engineering that are applied to so many different industries. They’re used to transport us across the country in hours.
Read Also: Why You Need Roof Cleaning Services To Make Your House Look Brand New
Turbine engines generate electricity and send natural gas to our homes. You now know how turbines work to do these incredible things.
Ready to learn more fun facts? Check out the other articles on this site today!