How Much Energy Can A Giant Wind Turbine Generate? 

Overview

In vast grasslands and the blue sea border, the past white giant is a rotational blade with an elegant attitude; the modern version of the “windmill” is quietly changing the human energy map. As a landmark product of the new energy revolution, the power generation capacity of modern large-scale wind turbines has long broken through traditional cognition, and a single unit can meet the electricity needs of thousands of households.

First, the geometry of energy conversion across modern large-scale wind turbine design breakthroughs first reflected in the size of the leap.

The current mainstream 5 MW land-based model, for example, has a tower height equivalent to a 30-story building (120 meters) and a blade length close to the wingspan of a Boeing 747 (75 meters). When the three giant carbon fiber blades begin to rotate, the sweeping area reaches 18,000 square meters, equivalent to two and a half standard football fields. At the rated wind speed (usually 11-13m/s), the blade tip linear speed can reach 280 km/h, comparable to the speed of high-speed rail. This large size startling energy capture efficiency. According to Bates’ law, wind turbines can theoretically capture at most 59.3% of the kinetic energy in the wind. The actual conversion efficiency of modern three-blade horizontal shaft units can reach 45-50% through aerodynamic optimization. When the wind continues to blow at 12m/s, a single 5MW unit can produce 4,800 kWh of electricity per hour, enough to support 2,400 two-unit air conditioners running at the same time.

Second, dynamic password wind turbine power generation capacity of the actual output is not a fixed value, but changes with wind speed present exponential.

Its working curve can be divided into three stages: when the wind speed is cut in (3-4m/s), the micro power generation begins; After reaching the rated wind speed, enter the stable output area; Automatic shutdown protection when the cutting wind speed (25m/s) is encountered. This nonlinear feature makes annual power generation prediction an exact science. In a wind farm in northwest China, for example, the installation of 20 4 MW units, the annual average wind speed of 7.5 m/s, under the condition of single annual output, can reach 12 million degrees. This is equivalent to saving 4,000 tons of standard coal and reducing 11,000 tons of carbon dioxide. It is worth noting that because the average annual wind speed of offshore wind farms is 30% higher than that of onshore wind farms, the power generation of offshore units with the same power can be increased by more than 40%.

Third, the leap of materials science and technology breakthrough of energy control technology progress continues to refresh the record for generating electricity.

Using carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin blades, weight reduction of 40% and strength of 25%, Permanent magnet direct drive technology eliminates gearbox losses and improves unit efficiency by 5-8%. The LiDAR forward-looking wind measurement system can sense changes in wind conditions 20 seconds in advance and increase power generation by 2%. These innovations’ superposition effect is breathtaking. Siemens Gamesa’s latest 14MW offshore model, with a 222-meter impeller diameter, can generate 54 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year in typical North Sea wind conditions, enough to power 12,000 UK homes throughout the year. More remarkable is that China’s self-developed 16MW offshore giant, a single unit of annual power generation, exceeded 66 million degrees, setting a global record.

Fourth, from the microstructure deep unit internal energy mystery, the precision of energy conversion systems in an industrial miracle.

The doubly-fed induction generator converts the mechanical energy captured by the blade into 50Hz standard alternating current through intelligent converters. The yaw system follows the wind as accurately as a sunflower to ensure the maximum windward area. The variable paddle system is like a precise dance instructor, adjusting the blade Angle at any time to optimize the force. Special design of variable speed constant frequency technology, can let the generator speed within + / – 30% adaptive adjustment, safety protection unit, and maximum energy capture. The ring cabinet in the tower barrel acts as an energy dispatching center, boosting the generated electric energy to 35kV and then sending it to the grid. The entire system is highly digital, with thousands of sensors monitoring the “health” of each component in real-time.

Fifth, the economic benefit and ecological value from an economic perspective, the balance of modern large-scale fan of KWH cost has dropped to 0.2 0.3 yuan, less than traditional thermal power.

With a single 4MW unit, the investment can be recovered in about 6 years, and the net income of the following 15 years of operation can reach 80 million yuan. In terms of environmental protection, each unit can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 16,000 tons per year, equivalent to planting 86,000 trees. More forward-looking is the rise of the “wind +” pattern. In Inner Mongolia, grassland, grazing and light complementation are developed in the fan spacing area. In the coastal area of Jiangsu, the fan foundation has become an artificial fish reef. The Netherlands has even developed blades with photovoltaic coatings to achieve wind-solar power generation. This three-dimensional utilization increases energy output per unit of land by more than three times.

Standing at the top of the hundreds of meters high tower drum, overlooking the rotating blades, are writing a new energy legend. From Denmark’s Jutland Peninsula to China’s Fujian coast, these modern windmills are not only reshaping the landscape of energy production but also heralding a future of harmonious coexistence between man and nature. With the breakthrough of new technologies such as floating wind power and high-altitude wind energy capture, perhaps soon we will witness the birth of 20MW super fans when the annual power generation of a single unit breaks the 100 million-degree mark, and truly realize the energy miracle of “a gust of wind lights up a city.”