Monday, October 29, 2007

Wind turbine


A wind turbine is a machine that converts the kinetic energy in wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used directly by machinery, such as a pump or grinding stones, the machine is usually called a windmill. If the mechanical energy is then converted to electricity, the machine is called a wind generator, wind turbine, or wind energy converter (WEC).
This article discusses the energy-conversion machinery. See the broader article on wind power for more on turbine placement, economics, public concerns, and controversy: in particular, see the wind energy section of that article for an understanding of the temporal distribution of wind energy and how that affects wind-turbine design. See environmental concerns with electricity generation for discussion of environmental problems with wind-energy production.
For a machine that generates wind, see Fan (mechanical). For an unusual way to induce a voltage using an aerosol of ionised water, see vaneless ion wind generator.

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