Round, like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel.
Never ending or beginning,
On an ever spinning wheel
Like a snowball down a mountain
Or a carnaval balloon
Like a carousell that's turning
Running rings around the moon
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
Past the minutes on it's face
And the world is like an apple
Whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind
Windmills are fascinating... the visible set in motion by the invisible... a tiny fragment of energy torn from an infinite resource. It's almost like the hand of man trying to grasp the hand of God.
Enough philosophy. My class explored residential wind turbines this week. We learned how modern wind turbines with three blades are far more efficient than the old-style windmills of the American West, how to size up the power generating capability of a given turbine by the rotor length (r), standard atmospheric density (ρ) and the annual average wind speed (v).
When it comes to alternative energy, the Internet is a rich resource of information. Many reputable manufactures make the specifications of their turbines available to all. With so many vendors and installers available, it’s a good idea to find an independent source of information and advice.
As it turns out, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind and Water Power Program provides a wealth of information to those interested in energy freedom. You can check out their resources at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/
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