X-From_: tgray  Wed Dec 16 09:50:43 1992
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.biosph-l
Date:         Wed, 16 Dec 1992 09:51:34 PST
Reply-To:     Tom Gray <tgray@IGC.APC.ORG>
Comments:     Resent-From: Tom Gray <tgray@igc.apc.org>
Comments:     Originally-From: Tom Gray <tgray@igc.apc.org>
Comments:     Warning -- original Sender: tag was mail2conf@IGC.APC.ORG
From:         Tom Gray <tgray@IGC.APC.ORG>
Subject:      --Curacao Windfarm Sparks Debate

John Martinson <marty@equinox.unr.edu> writes:

 > I'm curious about the practice of using the term "wind turbine" in
 > describing what I would call wind mills as in the recent Curacao piece.
 > To me a turbine is a device which encloses a set of fins (radially
 > arranged) which are then typically set in motion of hot gases. Steam
 > turbines in power stations or turbo aircraft engines would be the
 > classical examples.  The distinction between older aircraft propeller
 > engines and modern turbos seems sufficiently illustrative.

I believe the analogy here is to hydro turbines, and it seems pretty sound
to me.  There's no doubt that your definition is correct, but I think it
is too limited to encompass the ways in which "turbine" is normally used.
If you disagree, please explain why hydro turbines are not called hydro
mills.

Also, "wind turbine," "wind turbine generator," "aerogenerator," "wind
machine," and a series of other terms have been coined to distinguish
modern wind electric turbines from older wind-driven systems which
delivered mechanical rather than electrical power and thus seem more like
mills driven by water power.  Admittedly, wind turbine is not exact (see below).

 > If the word "turbine" is used
 > when referring to conventional "propellor" wind MILLS, then what term
 > should be used for describing true wind turbines, i.e., fins enclosed
 > in a housing through which wind passes. These are not widely known
 > devices, however, they have been built (and are probably inadequately
 > researched) but I don't see what is gained in calling a WINDMILL a
 > WIND TURBINE.    John Martinson  Univ of Nevada, Reno

These are also typically called wind turbines.  I'm not sure why you are
focusing on the enclosure issue here.  The _American Heritage Dictionary_
defines "turbine" as "Any of various machines in which the kinetic energy
of a moving fluid is converted to useful rotational power by
the interaction of the fluid with a series of vanes arrayed about the
circumference of a wheel or cylinder."  No housing appears to be required.

As the chairman of the American Wind Energy Association's Terminology
Standards Subcommittee, I've pushed consistently for terms that are in
common usage to be taken up and formalized, rather than trying to force
people to use different terms than those already current.  This is such a
case.

The AWEA standard terminology deals with this issue by defining "wind
turbine" as follows:

"A rotating machine, including its support structure, for converting the
kinetic energy of the wind to another form of energy.  Often used
interchangeably with Wind Turbine Generator (WTG), though that term
properly applies to a wind turbine whose output is in the form of electric
power.  Other synonyms for wind electric turbine include aerogenerator,
Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS), Wind Turbine Generator System
(WTGS), wind machine, and wind system.  See Wind Energy Conversion System
(WECS), Wind Turbine Generator (WTG)."

(I was fighting a rear-guard action to obliterate WECS, by the way, which
was the Department of Energy's invention, and keep it from becoming
enshrined as the standard.  I am happy to say that I won the first round.)

Tom
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