Scientists Aim to Boost Efficiency of Wind Farms
Vocabulary
Direction: Read each word and let the student repeat it.
turbulence
[ˈtɜːrbjələns] (noun)
– a series of sudden and violent changes in the direction that air or water is moving in
ex.During the flight, we experienced severe turbulence.
turbulence
[ˈtɜːrbjələns] (noun)
– a series of sudden and violent changes in the direction that air or water is moving in
ex.During the flight, we experienced severe turbulence.
sustainable
[səˈsteɪnəbl] (adjective)
– involving the use of natural products and energy in a way that does not harm the environment
ex.We need to develop a sustainable system of cutting down on pollution.
[səˈsteɪnəbl] (adjective)
– involving the use of natural products and energy in a way that does not harm the environment
ex.We need to develop a sustainable system of cutting down on pollution.
wake
[weɪk] (noun)
– the track left by a moving body
ex.His car was so fast that all the rest were left in his wake.
[weɪk] (noun)
– the track left by a moving body
ex.His car was so fast that all the rest were left in his wake.
monitor
[ˈmɑːnɪtər] (noun)
– to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time
ex.Their movements were constantly monitored by the police.
[ˈmɑːnɪtər] (noun)
– to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time
ex.Their movements were constantly monitored by the police.
viability
[ˌvaɪəˈbɪləti] (noun)
– the fact that something can be done and can be successful
ex.We have to check the commercial viability of this product.
[ˌvaɪəˈbɪləti] (noun)
– the fact that something can be done and can be successful
ex.We have to check the commercial viability of this product.
Article READING
Direction: Read each paragraph and let the student repeat it.
Scientists Aim to Boost Efficiency of Wind Farms
Modern wind turbines usually operate in groups or so-called “wind farms,” some of them with more than 100 turbines. But the air turbulence they create decreases their overall efficiency. Scientists at Vanderbilt University are trying to solve this problem.Wind energy is cheap and sustainable, and the number of installed wind turbines is rising everywhere in the world.According to the U.S. Department of Energy, wind turbines now supply nearly 5 percent of electrical power in the United States.The average efficiency of wind turbines is about 50 percent. But because of the turbulence they create, their interactions with each other in a wind farm tends to lower that number.Observing what they call the “conversation” of three turbines placed in a wind tunnel, scientists at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, are trying to find a way to reduce the adverse effects of the wake turbulences.Engineering professor Doug Adams, the team leader, says the turbine blades are fitted with sensors.“We use that sensor to track the motion, to do motion tracking of the blade but monitor also what we call the dynamic response. So every time a blade moves we are monitoring it and that tells us something about that conversation that is happening from one turbine to the next,” says he.Adams says the sensors feed data to computers, which constantly adjust the rotors’ blades – compensating for the loss of energy due to the wake effect. The benefit comes not only in increased output but also in the reduction of wear on the turbine’s mechanical parts. Savings of only 2 to 3 cents per kilowatt hour, he says, could mean a lot for turbine operators.“That is a game changer from the standpoint of the viability of wind energy. It becomes absolutely competitive with the fossil fuels that we rely on today. Without subsidies it starts to become cost-competitive,” says he.Adams says mutually-adjustable turbines could lead to wind farms producing more energy with smaller numbers of units, while reduction of fatigue may prolong their usefulness by as much as 10 years.
Questions
Direction: Ask the students the questions, and give the answers.
- 1What is the main problem of “wind farms”?
- 2What are the most important qualities of wind turbines?
- 3How are scientists trying to reduce the effects of the turbulences?
- 4What changes could bring mutually-adjustable turbines?
“The air turbulence they create decreases their overall efficiency.”
“Wind energy is cheap and sustainable.”
“Sensors feed data to computers, which constantly adjust the rotors’ blades – compensating for the loss of energy due to the wake effect.”
They “could lead to wind farms producing more energy with smaller numbers of units, while reduction of fatigue may prolong their usefulness by as much as 10 years.”
Discussion
Direction: Discuss the topics.
- 1What do you think about wind turbines?
- 2Which source of clean energy do you think is the best? Why?
- 3Would you buy an electric car? Why or why not?
Follow-up question1: Do you think they are the future of electricity?
Follow-up question2: Are wind turbines widely used in your country? Why or why not?
Follow-up question3: What is the main disadvantage of wind turbines?
Follow-up question2: Are wind turbines widely used in your country? Why or why not?
Follow-up question3: What is the main disadvantage of wind turbines?
Follow-up question1: Do you consider nuclear energy to be clean? Why or why not?
Follow-up question2: Is pollution a big problem in your country?
Follow-up question3: In what ways is your country fighting against pollution?
Follow-up question2: Is pollution a big problem in your country?
Follow-up question3: In what ways is your country fighting against pollution?
Follow-up question1: What do you think is the best alternative to fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas)? Why?
Follow-up question2: Do you prefer to use public transportation or a personal vehicle to move around? Why?
Follow-up question3: In what ways are you saving energy in your house?
Follow-up question2: Do you prefer to use public transportation or a personal vehicle to move around? Why?
Follow-up question3: In what ways are you saving energy in your house?
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