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Key Factors in a Wind Turbine Design

Wind turbines have been used to generate electricity since the late nineteenth century. As technology and machining methods improved, windmills became a more viable tool for generating larger amounts of electricity. Even as wind turbine development continues to evolve, some key components remain integral to their design.

  1. Bearing and Gearbox Design

    • The moving parts within a wind turbine are critical to its performance, so attention and care must be paid to the bearings within a turbine's drive shaft. Testing, research and development of more durable materials provides bearings and other drive shaft components that will cause and experience less wear than bearings made from older materials. The combination of gearbox components made from lighter compounds and improvements in lubrication, internal motion and bearing technology make more efficient turbines possible.

    Tower Height

    • Wind turbines are typically exposed to more intense wind at greater heights, so the tower on which the wind turbine rests is an important factor. A turbine tower needs to be constructed to reach the desired height without sacrificing stability or making its footprint larger than necessary.

    Rotor Size and Composition

    • In general, a rotor with more exposed surface area will be affected by the wind more than a smaller rotor. The size and material used to construct the rotor must be factored in, however, because heavier rotors require more wind speed or force in order to turn. Durable, lightweight alloys containing aluminum or lightweight carbon fiber allow larger turbine sizes while keeping the turbine's weight, resistance and friction minimal.

    Wind Availability

    • A wind turbine serves little purpose without wind, so wind prospecting is also an important step in the development of turbines. A turbine placed in areas where the wind blows in many directions needs to turn to face the oncoming winds. A turbine used in areas where the wind blows irregularly or sparsely needs to be designed and built from less expensive, more efficient materials to maximize the cost-effectiveness of the turbine.

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