1. Where are the winds?

2. KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

3. Where is the Wind?

4. Wind speed in Maryland

5. Wind Rose

6. Wind Varies Annually
Average annual wind speeds may vary as much as 25% from year to year

7. Wind Varies Seasonally

8. Wind Varies Instantaneously

9. Why do windmills need to be high in the sky??
The higher we get the more faster and cleaner the wind are.
As you move closer to the earth the friction with the surface of the earth causes the wind to slow down and to become more turbulent…bad things if you want to generate energy from the wind. The nacelle of most commercial wind turbines is around 100 meters.

10. Turbulent wind is bad wind
“Micro-Siting” refers to how a wind turbine is placed on a given property.
Trees and buildings are significant obstacles to the wind.
We can’t see it, but the region of disturbed flow downwind of an obstacle is twice the height of that obstacle and quite long. For example, a 30-ft tall house creates a region of turbulence that is 60 ft high and 600 ft long (2 football fields!).
This turbulence reduces power output from a wind turbine, and increases the stress and wear on that turbine.
THE SOLUTION  Place the turbine upwind of obstacles (in the prevailing wind direction), or use a tower twice the height of the obstacles, or both.

11. Turbulence
Top View
Side View

12. Work with a partner on this exercise
Work with a partner on this exercise. Please write on bottom of your drill – letter each answer
Where would you place a wind farm in Maryland?
Why?
Describe conditions necessary for a good wind farm.

13. Homework
Complete Recommendation Essay.