General Principles of Intellectual Property: Concepts of Intellectual Proper...
Wind and wave energy
1.
2.
3. What is wind energy?
Wind energy is a form of solar energy. Winds
are caused by the uneven heating of the
atmosphere by the sun, the irregularities of the
earth's surface, and rotation of the earth. Wind
flow patterns are modified by the earth's
terrain, bodies of water, and vegetation. This
wind flow is harvested by modern wind
turbines, can be used to generate electricity.
4. How is wind energy processed?
Wind turbines convert the kinetic
energy in the wind into
mechanical energy. This
mechanical energy can be used
for specific tasks or a generator
can convert this mechanical
energy into electricity to power
homes, businesses, schools etc.
First wind spins the windmill blades. As the blades
spin, mechanical energy is processed through the
low-speed shaft and then into the gearbox. The
high-speed shaft then collects the energy and
sends it to the generator where it is stored for a
while and then sent down the tower to the
transformer. The transformer changes the
mechanical energy into electrical energy and sends
them out to power lines.
5. What is wave energy?
Wave energy is the energy produced by moving
waves or tides. Waves are caused by moving winds
over the surface of the ocean. There are many parts
of the world where wind blow consistently enough
and with enough force to keep maintaining on going
waves. Waves are also caused by tectonic activity
under the earth`s crust. Areas with rich wave power
include western coasts of Scotland, northern
Canada, southern Africa, Australia, and the
northwestern coasts of the United States.
6. How is wave energy processed?
The kinetic energy of waves are
captured in a way similar to capturing
wind energy. They also use turbines
except these turbines are located under
water.
Wave is also processed in a similar way
as well. First the push of the waves Tower
spins the rotor blades. The mechanical
energy passes through the nacelle Nacelle
(low-speed shaft, gearbox, high-speed
shaft, generator). Then it travels up
the tower to get to the transformer.
Then finally, the transformer sends the
newly generated electricity to the
electrical power plant it is connected
to. The power plant then sends it to us Rotor blades
through power lines.
7. The advantages of wind energy
Advantages of wind energy
• Wind power is free (after the initial production and installation)
• Wind power is clean (no pollution or carbon dioxide after the initial setup,
apart from the emissions produced to manufacture, transport, erect and
maintain them)
• Wind is a renewable and sustainable resource. We can use as much as we can
today and there will still be more tomorrow.
• Wind power will become cheaper than fossil fuel in the next few years (when
the price of carbon is added to coal and oil).
• Wind turbines are self sufficient, just place them and watch them spin! (low
maintenance, few moving parts, easy to repair)
• Wind prices won't inflate like today's gas prices.
• The land beneath can still be used for farming.
• Also one wind turbine takes up a smaller spot of land than a factory
• Wind turbines are a great resource to generate energy in remote locations,
such as mountain communities and remote countryside. Wind turbines can be
a range of different sizes in order to support varying population levels
8. Disadvantages of wind energy
• The main disadvantage regarding wind power is down to the
winds unreliability factor. In many areas, the winds strength is
too low to support a wind turbine or wind farm, and this is
where the use of solar power or geothermal power could be
great alternatives
• Wind turbine construction can be very expensive and costly to
surrounding wildlife during the build process
• Protests usually confront any proposed wind farm
development. People feel the countryside should be left in
tact for everyone to enjoy it's beauty
• The noise pollution from commercial wind turbines is
sometimes similar to a small jet engine
9. Advantages of wave energy
• Tidal energy is renewable
• The energy produced is clean and non polluting
• There is no carbon dioxide or any other by-products released. It produces no
greenhouse gases or other waste
• It is a renewable energy that will help reduce our reliance on the burning of fossil
fuels
• There are two tides every day and they can be relied on. The energy is there for the
taking.
• So the electricity supply is constant and efficient.
• Once you've built it, the energy is free because it comes from the ocean's power
• It needs no fuel
• It produces electricity reliably
• Not expensive to maintain
• Tides are definitely predictable
• Offshore turbines and vertical-axis turbines are not ruinously expensive to build
and do not have a large environmental impact
• A plant is expected to be in production for 75 to 100 years
• Uses an abundant, inexpensive fuel source (water) to generate power
• May protect coastline against damage from high storm tides
10. Disadvantages of wave energy
• Effects on marine life during construction phases
• Expensive to construct
• The dams and barrages sometimes interfere with shipping
• Barrages affect fish migration and other wildlife- many fish
like salmon swim up to the barrages and are killed by the
spinning turbines. Fish ladders may be used to allow passage
for the fish, but these are never 100% effective. Barrages may
also destroy the habitat of the wildlife living near it
• Affects the lives of the people who rely on fishing for a means
of living
• There are few suitable sites for tidal barrages
11. How it would power a house
Even though wind and wave energy have some
disadvantages, they could still power a house in
efficient ways. Wind energy, when converted to
electrical energy, can power just about anything in a
house from your toaster to your T.V. Wind and wave
energy are converted into electrical energy and sent
to homes through a power plant. The energy that
your home receives is the same that you would
receive from a nuclear or coal power plant, it is just
processed in a more cheaper and eco-friendly way.
12. Glossary
solar energy: light and heat from the sun
kinetic energy: energy of an object is the energy which it
possesses due to its motion
mechanical energy: whenever a force acts upon an object
and causes it to be displaced
electrical energy: the presence and flow of an electric charge
power lines: poles that connect power plants to homes
gearbox: machine consists of a power source and a power
transmission system
generator: machine that converts mechanical energy into
other energy forms
tectonic activity: movement of the tectonic plates under the
earth`s crust
13. Glossary
(continued)
Power plant: industrial facility for the
generation of electric power
Nacelle: hold the gearbox, high and low
speed shaft, the generator and transformer
geothermal power: the power of heat energy
from under ground
Fossil fuels: fuels formed by natural
processes
