|
Words |
Definition |
|
Anemometer
|
Sensor measuring the wind speed and giving this information to control command system
|
|
Avoided CO2
|
Wind energy doesn't produce any CO2 ; quantity of CO2 emission in classic electricity production is evaluated
at 443 g per
kWh.
This ratio is used to calculate the avoided CO2 emission if wind turbines replace
polluting power production units.
|
|
Capacity factor
|
Ratio, over a defined period, between positive production and maximal production capacity
(depending on nominal power).
|
|
EQU-Home
|
Theoretical number of homes powered by the wind farm production (a home uses about
2500
kWh/year)
|
|
Hub
|
Rotor axle driving the generator
|
|
Kilowatt (kW)
|
Power unit (not to be confused with
kWh, an energy unit)
|
|
Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
|
Energy unit : energy supplied or consumed during 1 hour by a 1 kW power device . A standard European home consumes between 6 and 10 kWh per
day. 1000 kWh = 1 MWh.
|
|
m/s
|
Unit for wind speed : meter per second (10 m/s = 36 km/h =
19.4
knots)
|
|
Mast
|
Element supporting the nacelle and the rotor blade
|
|
Nacelle
|
Covering of the mechanical and electrical elements at the top of the mast
|
|
Nominal power
|
Maximal electrical power supplied by the wind turbine in normal conditions of use
|
|
Power Curve |
Graph giving the wind turbine power
relative to the wind speed (a feature of the machine) |
| Radioactive waste |
Nuclear plants produce different types of waste ; production ratio is estimated
at 3g per MWh (classes B and C).
This ratio is used to calculate the quantity of radioactive waste that could be saved if wind production replaces nuclear production(Source B.Chabot, ADEME) |
|
Rotor blade |
Mechanical element that
captures energy from the wind |
|
Site |
Place where many wind
turbines are situated , making up one or several wind farms |
|
Wind farm |
Several wind turbines in a given place or site, connected to the electrical grid |
| Wind vane |
Sensor measuring the wind direction and giving this information to control command system |
| Yaw mechanism |
Motorised system that places the nacelle and rotor blade facing
wind. |
© Environment and Energy Control Agency