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THE HISTORY OF WIND POWER-3
V. Ryan © 2005 - 2009
 
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With the development of electrical power, scientists and technologists developed ways of producing electricity through the use of wind generators (also known as turbines). Experiments took place in Russia, USA France Germany and Britain. Although these experiments showed that electricity could be produce, it was never in the amounts needed to meet the needs of industry or large numbers of people.
In the 1930s one of the largest experimental machines, called the Palmer-Putman machine was first used. This was capable of producing 1.25 megawatts of electricity. However, the materials available at the time reduced its efficiency greatly and made the machine difficult to maintain. It had 50 metre rotors which were the large compared to other designs.

   
 
   

After the Second World War the search for efficient wind power generators (turbines) restarted. In Denmark the Gedser Wind Turbine was developed and operated until the mid 1960s. This was 200 Kilowatt machine. The rotors had a set pitch (angle) to catch the wind more efficiently. The main body of the device was built in a similar way to that of the body of an aeroplane. Aeroplane technology was applied successfully to the device making it the most efficient device of its time. However, developments in the generation of electricity through wind power was slow in the 1950s and 1960s. This was because fossil fuels were relatively cheap.

   
 
   

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