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  • wind power: which fields to study/research

    macnamania

    Member

    Updated: Oct 26, 2024
    Views: 1.1K
    Hi,
    I'm currently starting the process of applying to graduate school and my head is swimming with all the possibilities. My undergrad background is in physics, so no matter what I'll have to take some pre-graduate level engineering courses to "catch up".

    I am most interested in renewable energy, particularly wind power and appropriate technologies.

    I am not sure whether I should be looking at civil programs or mechanical programs, and once I choose a particular program, which sort of research should I be looking for within the program?

    I would appreciate any sort of input on the matters
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  • macnamania

    Member • Aug 23, 2009

    Hi,
    I'm currently starting the process of applying to graduate school and my head is swimming with all the possibilities. My undergrad background is in physics, so no matter what I'll have to take some pre-graduate level engineering courses to "catch up".

    I am most interested in renewable energy, particularly wind power and appropriate technologies.

    I am not sure whether I should be looking at civil programs or mechanical programs, (or maybe environmental?) and once I choose a particular program, which sort of research should I be looking for within the program?

    I would appreciate any sort of input on the matters
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  • macnamania

    Member • Aug 23, 2009

    shoot, network timed out so I reposted, and now there are two of these posts.
    oops,
    sorry for the repost
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  • Kaustubh Katdare

    Administrator • Aug 23, 2009

    No worries. Threads merged 😀
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  • SAHIL SHARMA

    Member • Aug 25, 2009

    Work out on making wind mill,consult wiki......
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  • gohm

    Member • Aug 26, 2009

    For designing alternate energy generation sources, it requires several fields of engineering. Decide which field interests you the most & that you have talent for. Focus on green technology.
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  • macnamania

    Member • Aug 26, 2009

    hmm, maybe I wasn't clear enough in my question.

    For those of you working in the wind power sector, which fields of engineering did you study? which types of engineering did your peers study? and what were the foci within those fields?

    "green technology" isn't really a research focus in those words, I'm looking for a translation into cut and dry engineering terms that are used among the professors like "fluid dynamics", "turbulance modelling" "robotics"
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  • sindhu sati

    Member • Aug 27, 2009

    [FONT=&quot]VAWTs (#-Link-Snipped-#) are both efficient and quiet, making them more suitable for energy production in residential areas than previous wind-based renewable energy technologies. Many current VAWT models resemble eggbeaters, with two blades attached to a central shaft, which is in turn anchored in a power generator. Others have a number of large, flat blades protruding from the central axis; and still others have a helix of extremely light plastic surrounding the axis. They typically stand between two and five feet in height and the best ones are able to attain 30 – 60% efficiency, depending on where they are located.

    [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]#-Link-Snipped-# have rotors which face either upwind or downwind of the tower. Most horizontal axis wind turbines are upwind wind turbines. Designed with an inflexible rotor set far away from the tower, these turbines take advantage of the full brunt force of the wind. Unfortunately, this puts more pressure on the tower and support mechanisms must be constructed so that damage is not incurred. Conversely, downwind wind turbines follow the wind passively, allowing the rotor and blades to be more flexible, which relieves pressure on the tower. Unfortunately, the rotor passing through the wind shade of the tower causes noticeable variations in wind power. For these reasons, of the two, upwind wind turbines are generally viewed as more efficient.

    [/FONT]
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  • jhbalaji

    Member • Aug 28, 2009

    All the best mate...
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  • mulwa

    Member • Oct 9, 2009

    I think your most appropriate field is mechanical engineering.
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