{"id":19400,"key":"Wind_energy_conversion_system","title":"Wind energy conversion system","latest":{"id":1208668,"timestamp":"2025-11-28T00:36:55Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"{{Topic notice}}\n\nA '''wind energy conversion system''' (WECS),<ref>[http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/W/AE_wind_energy_conversion_system.html Wind energy conversion system]</ref> or '''wind energy harvester'''<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20150415055904/http://saeaero.saejournals.org:80/content/1/1/883.abstract Wind energy harvesting]</ref> is a machine that, [[Wind power|powered by the energy of the wind]], generates mechanical energy that can be used to directly power machinery (mill, pump,...) or to power an electrical generator for making electricity.<ref>[http://www.photius.com/energy/glossaryw.html WECS as device generating mechanical energy]</ref> The term can thus refer to [[windmill]]s, [[windpump]]s as well as [[wind turbine]]s.\n\n== Operation ==\n\nThe conversion of the energy of the wind into more useful forms can be done using a rotor fitted with blades or sails. Note that a suitable location needs to be chosen for the WECS, preferably an open area<ref>[http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2009/01/18/home-wind-turbine-prove-to-be-less-efficient/ Wind turbines in urbanised areas only 5% efficient]</ref> Also, some general locations lend themselves far better than others for WECS. See [[Wind power#Determining the local wind energy levels|Wind power]]\n\n== Windmills ==\n\n{{Excerpt|Windmills}}\n\n== Windpumps ==\n\n{{Excerpt|Windpumps}}\n\n== Wind turbines ==\n\n{{Main|Wind turbine}}\n\nThe most modern generations of windmills are more properly called [[wind turbine]]s, or wind generators, and are primarily used to generate [[electricity]] and electrical energy. Modern windmills are designed to convert the energy of the wind into electricity. The largest wind turbines can generate up to 6MW of power (for comparison a modern [[fossil fuel power plant]] generates between 500 and 1,300MW).\n\nWith increasing environmental concern, and approaching limits to [[fossil fuel]] consumption, [[wind power]] has regained interest as a [[renewable energy]] source. It is increasingly becoming more useful and sufficient in providing energy for many areas of the world, especially in temperate climates.\n\nWind Turbine systems have a competitively high Energy Return on Investment (EROI) estimated to be around 36.5:1. (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)\n\nTo generate enough power for a family, the tower and the blades need to be sufficiently large. See [[Domestic energy consumption]]\n\n== Kite Systems ==\n\nKite systems convert the wind's kinetic energy to other forms of energy: mechanical energy, motion of mass, noise, electricity, potential energy, tension, heat, light. Kite systems convert the energy of the wind; such energy may be employed to do general works genera and practical works. [http://www.energykitesystems.net Energy Kite Systems]. A kite system consists of wings coupled with tensioned tethers interacting with a media, say air or water; the wing(s) of a kite system may be seen as anchors relative to each other.\n\n== See also ==\n\n* windmill sail\n* [[Comparison of bladed rotors for WECS]]\n* [[Solar energy conversion system]]\n\n== References ==\n\n<references />\n\n== External links ==\n\n* [[Wikipedia:Wind energy conversion system]]\n* http://web.archive.org/web/20160602153822/http://peswiki.com/energy/Directory:Wind\n* http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Home_Generation:Wind_Turbine\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n| keywords = Energy production, energy, Sustainable technologies, Wind power, Electrical engineering, Renewable energy, Energy conversion, Energy conservation, Energy efficiency\n| sdg = SDG07 Affordable and clean energy\n| description = Wind energy systems convert natural power into electricity. Appropedia explains their history, parts, and uses for homes and farms.\n}}\n\n[[Category:Energy production]]\n[[Category:Energy]]\n[[Category:Sustainable technologies]]\n[[Category:Wind power]]\n[[Category:Electrical engineering]]\n[[Category:Renewable energy]]\n[[Category:Energy efficiency]]"}