What Are the Functions of Wind Turbine?

A wind turbine is a series of blades connected to a central rotor and angled to move when struck by sufficiently strong winds. As the blades move, they generate energy that can be used in a variety of applications from production of electricity to ventilation and atmospheric measurements. The blades of a turbine either radiate out from the center in a spoke-like pattern or wrap around the rotating portion of the turbine, depending on their use.

Clean Energy

• A wind farm utilizes multiple wind turbines to generate electricity.

  Wind energy makes use of turbines to produce electricity without producing waste or polluting the environment. With a design based on the traditional windmill, energy-producing wind turbines provide power when the wind turns the blades which, in turn, spin a shaft connected to a generator. Typically, turbines are erected in large numbers, close by and in areas known for consistently high winds to create what are known as wind farms. In large numbers, wind turbines can produce significant energy, but they lack the reliability of other energy sources.

Ventilation

• When the wind blows across turbines on the roofs of homes and buildings, the turbines turn and create a vacuuming effect. This process moves air from inside the ventilation system to the outside, drawing fresh air into the building from other parts of the home, such as open windows. Rooftop turbines also have the added benefit of cooling the interior of a building, as warmer air from inside rises and contributes to the turbine's turning, drawing cooler air into the structure from outside.

Measuring Wind Speed

• Turbines are an integral component in anemometers, which are devices used to measure wind speed. Measuring wind speed is a necessity for airports and heliports so that the safety of launching aircraft can be determined. It is also done by prospectors to determine the viability of a location for a wind farm.