A wind turbine is a device that converts the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy. Wind turbines are manufactured in a wide range of sizes. Wind turbines are desgined in either horizontal or vertical axes. Wind turns the propeller-like blades of a turbine around a rotor, which spins a generator, which creates electricity. The below video by US department of energy explains the working principle of Wind Turbines.
Types of Wind Turbines
Wind turbines are broadly classified into two main types.
Horizontal Axis Turbines
Horizontal turbines usually have three blades. As name implies these are horizontal and they operate “upwind,” with the turbine pivoting at the top of the tower so the blades face into the wind.
Vertical Axis Turbines
These are omnidirectional turbines that don’t need to be adjusted to point into the wind to operate.