7 Terms
Contributors in Wind energy
Wind energy
Gearing
Energy; Wind energy
Using a mechanical system of gears or belts and pulleys to increase or decrease shaft speed. Power losses from friction are inherent in any gearing system.
Governor
Energy; Wind energy
A device that regulates the speed of a rotating shaft, either electrically or mechanically.
Drag
Energy; Wind energy
In a wind generator, the force exerted on an object by moving air. Also refers to a type of wind generator or anemometer design that uses cups instead of a blades with airfoils.
Cycles per second
Energy; Wind energy
Measured in Hertz. In electricity, it is the number of times an AC circuit reaches both minimum and maximum values in one second.
Cut-in
Energy; Wind energy
The rotational speed at which an alternator or generator starts pushing electricity hard enough (has a high enough voltage) to make electricity flow in a circuit.