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A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N · O · P · Q · R · S · T · U · V · W · X · Y · Z   entire Web this site upwind wind turbine WIND TURBINE PAGES ON THIS SITE base blades braking constant-speed wind turbine cut-in speed cut-out speed Darrieus turbine design tip speed ratio downwind wind turbine drag environmental impact feather furling horizontal-axis wind turbine hub height leading edge mean power output micro wind turbine nacelle noise pitch control power coefficient power curve power density projected area rated capacity Savonius turbine solidity stalling swept area tip speed ratio tower height trailing edge variable-speed wind turbine vertical-axis wind turbine wind wind farm wind power curve wind power density wind power profile wind resource evaluation wind rose wind speed wind speed duration curve wind speed frequency curve wind speed profile wind turbine yaw zone of visual influence A type of wind turbine in which the rotor faces the wind. The basic advantage of upwind designs is that one avoids the wind shade behind the tower. By far the vast majority of wind turbines have this design. On the other hand, there is also some wind shade in front of the tower, i.e. the wind starts bending away from the tower before it reaches the tower itself, even if the tower is round and smooth. Therefore, each time the rotor passes the tower, the power from the wind turbine drops slightly. The basic drawback of upwind designs is that the rotor needs to be made rather inflexible, and placed at some distance from the tower (as some manufacturers have found out to their cost). In addition an upwind machine needs a yaw mechanism to keep the rotor facing the wind. Compare with downwind wind turbine.    • WIND POWER Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Science Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP