Wind farm
Wind farms are home to wind power. Each wind farm is autonomously connected to the electric grid and takes up a very small amount of land in proportion to its renewable energy production capacity.
Wind turbine
Wind turbine 風力渦輪機
Wind turbines have been called “the windmills of the third millennium”. They use air currents in order to produce a valuable resource: electricity.
風力渦輪機被稱為「第三個千年的風車」。他們利用氣流來生產寶貴的資源：電力。
What is a wind turbine?
什麼是風力渦輪機？
A wind turbine, or wind generator or wind turbine generator, is a device that converts the kinetic energy of wind (a natural and renewable source) into electricity.
風力渦輪機，或稱風力發電機或風力渦輪發電機，是一種將風（自然和再生能源）的動能轉化為電能的裝置。
Whereas a ventilator or fan uses electricity to create wind, a wind turbine does the opposite: it harnesses the wind to make electricity.
通風機或風扇使用電力產生風，而風力渦輪機則相反：它利用風來發電。
And, the taller the turbine, the stronger the wind, as there are fewer obstacles in its path.
而且，渦輪機越高，風就越強，因為其路徑上的障礙物越少。
The turbine’s blades, which are like the propellors of an airplane or helicopter, use the aerodynamic force of the wind to turn a rotor, which spins a generator. This process produces electricity, which is usually fed into the grid.
渦輪機的葉片就像飛機或直升機的螺旋槳，利用風的空氣動力轉動轉子，從而帶動發電機旋轉。這個過程產生電力，通常會輸入電網。
The wind turbines that transfer electricity to the grid are either based on land (onshore) or at sea (offshore).
將電力傳輸到電網的風力渦輪機要么位於陸地（陸上），要么位於海上（近海）。
Conglomerations of wind turbines are known as wind farms.
風力渦輪機的聚集體稱為風電場。
In 2022 wind energy accounted for 7.33% of worldwide electricity generation.
2022年風能佔全球發電量的7.33% 。
This figure is increasing every year.
這個數字每年都在增加。
The growing popularity of wind energy is due to the fact that, unlike electricity produced from fossil fuels, it doesn’t pollute.
風能越來越受歡迎是因為它與化石燃料發電不同，它不會造成污染。
A wind turbine, from earth to sky
風力渦輪機，從地球到天空
風力渦輪機，從地球到天空
Types of wind turbine 風力發電機的類型
There are two basic types of wind turbine: horizontal axis and vertical axis.
風力渦輪機有兩種基本類型：水平軸和垂直軸。
Horizontal-axis wind turbines
水平軸風力發電機
Horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs) are the most common and efficient type of wind turbine. They typically have three blades and operate "upwind", which means that the blades face into the wind. This is because the head of the HAWT can pivot, thanks to the yaw system. (see How does a wind turbine work)
水平軸風力渦輪機 (HAWT) 是最常見、最高效的風力渦輪機類型。它們通常具有三個葉片並“逆風”運行，這意味著葉片面朝風。這是因為由於偏航系統，HAWT 的頭部可以樞轉。 （請參閱風力渦輪機如何運作）
The main components (such as the generator) are located at the top of the turbine.
主要零件（例如發電機）位於渦輪機的頂部。
Vertical-axis wind turbines
垂直軸風力發電機
As the name suggests, vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) have a vertical rotor shaft, and their appearance is very different from that of the more traditional HAWT.
顧名思義，垂直軸風力渦輪機 (VAWT) 具有垂直的轉子軸，其外觀與更傳統的 HAWT 非常不同。
VAWTs are omnidirectional, and so they don’t need to be adjusted in order to face the wind: this can be an asset in locations where the wind direction is very variable. They are, however, relatively rare as they are less efficient in terms of air resistance. The main components are located at the base of the turbine.
VAWT 是全向的，因此不需要為了迎風而進行調整：這在風向變化很大的地方可能是一種資產。然而，它們相對較少，因為它們在空氣阻力方面效率較低。主要部件位於渦輪機的底部。
What are the wind turbine’s main components?
風力發電機組的主要部件有哪些？
- The foundation 基金會
This is a large, heavy structural block of concrete in the ground that supports the entire turbine and the forces acting on it. In offshore turbines, the foundation is underwater.
這是地下的一個大型重型混凝土結構塊，支撐整個渦輪機和作用在其上的力。在海上渦輪機中，基礎位於水下。 - The tower 塔樓
The tower is usually made of steel, although wood (which is generally considered less harmful to the environment) can also be used. The tower usually has three sections and is assembled on-site. Its height varies, but it is generally the same as the diameter of the circle that the blades create when they spin. The tower also contains the power cables that connect the nacelle to the transformer on the ground.
塔通常由鋼製成，但也可以使用木材（通常被認為對環境危害較小）。該塔通常分為三部分，並在現場組裝。它的高度各不相同，但通常與葉片旋轉時形成的圓的直徑相同。該塔還包含將機艙連接到地面變壓器的電力電纜。 - The nacelle 機艙
The nacelle is located on top of the tower and can turn 360° on its own axis, depending on the direction of the wind. It is named after the part of the wing of an airplane that contains the jet engines. It houses the key mechanical elements: the gear box and generator.
機艙位於塔頂，可依風向繞自身軸線旋轉 360° 。它以包含噴氣發動機的飛機機翼部分命名。它容納了關鍵的機械元件：齒輪箱和發電機。 - The rotor and hub 轉子和輪轂
Rotors with two blades are cheaper and faster than three-blade rotors, but they are also noisier and they vibrate.
具有兩個葉片的轉子比三葉片轉子更便宜且速度更快，但它們也噪音更大並且振動。
As with the propellors on airplane, the hub is the nose that points forward at the center: the blades are attached to it, and it is in turn connected to the mechanical parts in the nacelle, which is located behind it.
與飛機上的螺旋槳一樣，輪轂是中心指向前方的機頭：葉片附著在其上，而輪轂又連接到位於其後面的機艙中的機械部件。 - The blades 刀片
These are located on top of the turbine. The average length is 170 feet (52 meters). Wind causes the air pressure on one side of the blade to decrease and the difference from the other side creates both lift and drag: when the lift is stronger than the drag, the rotor will spin.
它們位於渦輪機頂部。平均長度為 170 英尺（52 公尺）。風導致葉片一側的氣壓降低，與另一側的氣壓差產生升力和阻力：當升力大於阻力時，轉子就會旋轉。
How are windmills built? 風車是怎麼建造的？
The construction process is complicated and requires both coordination and precision. The assorted components are manufactured and then transported to the site. First, the tower must be assembled, after which the nacelle and its contents are placed on top of it, followed by the blades. Last, but not least, the utility box and electrical system are installed.
施工過程複雜，既需要協調又需要精確。各種組件被製造出來，然後運送到現場。首先，必須組裝塔架，然後將機艙及其內容物放置在其頂部，然後放置葉片。最後但並非最不重要的一點是安裝公用電箱和電氣系統。
This video gives an idea of the process.
該視頻介紹了該過程。
Media player
How does a wind turbine work?
風力渦輪機如何運作？
The process is quite simple. The rotor is activated by the wind. Its rotation is transmitted to an input shaft that powers an electric generator. This so-called yaw system enables the nacelle to be positioned based on the direction of the wind. The rotor starts working only when the wind speed is greater than 10 km/h, while the wind turbine shuts down at speeds of over 90 km/h, for safety reasons.
Basically, the wind’s kinetic energy is converted into mechanical energy by the rotor. A gear box transforms the blades’ slow rotations (between 18 and 25 per minute) into faster rotations (up to 1,800 per minute) that can power the electric generator. The electric generator converts the mechanical energy into electricity. A transformer transfers the electricity from one circuit to another (in this case the electric grid), modifying its characteristics.
Various control systems are located on the nacelle to continuously monitor the wind turbine’s operational parameters, thereby producing renewable energy safely and maximizing the efficiency of the wind farm.
FAQ
