Wind Energy & Turbine Technology

This course is the first course in a series of four courses designed to cover the history, economics, politics, regulations and future of wind energy in the U.S. and elsewhere. Topics include basic wind turbine construction including; civil engineering, site locations, design features and specifications. The mechanical and electrical components of the wind turbine will be explained. Students will be able to explain how the blades on a wind turbine create lift and how that lift turns the rotor and creates electrical power. There are three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week.

This course is the second course in a series of four courses and is designed to cover the identification and analysis of the components, gearboxes and other mechanical systems that make up subsystems of modern wind turbines. Students will be able to identify types and specifications of different types of fasteners, the effects of torque on the fasteners and how lubricants are used in the components of a wind turbine. The conversion and transfer of energy from the wind through the power train of a wind turbine will be illustrated and explained. There are one hour of lecture and four hours of laboratory per week.