Text 3. Wind Energy

Wind can be used to do work. The kinetic energy of the wind can be changed into other forms of energy, either mechanical energy or electrical energy. When a boat lifts a sail, it is using wind energy to push it through the water. This is one form of work. Farmers have been using wind energy for many years to pump water from wells using windmills. In Holland, windmills have been used for centuries to pump water from low-lying areas. Wind is also used to turn large grinding stones to grind wheat or corn, just like a water wheel is turned by water power. Today, the wind is also used to make electricity. Blowing wind spins the blades on a wind turbine. This device is called a wind turbine and not a windmill. A windmill grinds or mills grain, or is used to pump water. The blades of the turbine are attached to a hub that is mounted on a turning shaft. The shaft goes through a gear transmission box where the turning speed is increased. The transmission is attached to a high speed shaft which turns a generator that makes electricity. If the wind gets too high, the turbine has a brake that will keep the blades from turning too fast and being damaged. You can use a single smaller wind turbine to power a home or a school. The small turbine makes enough energy for a house. The only problem with wind is that it is not windy all the time. In order for a wind turbine to work efficiently, wind speeds usually must be above 12 to 14 miles per hour. Wind has to be this speed to turn the turbines fast enough to generate electricity. The turbines usually produce about 50 to 300 kilowatts of electricity each. A kilowatt is 1,000 watts (kilo means 1,000). You can light ten 100 watt light bulbs with 1,000 watts. So, a 300 kilowatt (300,000 watts) wind turbine could light up 3,000 light bulbs that use 100 watts! These turbines are grouped together in what are called wind ‘farms’. About 11 per cent of the entire world’s wind-generated electricity is found in California. Other countries that use a lot of wind energy are Denmark and Germany. Once electricity is made by the turbine, the electricity from the entire wind farm is collected together and sent through a transformer. There the voltage is increased to send it long distances over high power lines.

Exercise 31. Translate the following word-combinations into English (a) and into Ukrainian (b).

a) виконувати роботу; змінюватися на інші форми енергії; використовувати енергію вітру; качати воду; обертати лопатки турбіни; встановлювати на валу турбіни; молоти зерно; кріпитися до ступиці; постачати енергію у житло; працювати ефективно; виробляти електроенергію;

b) mechanical energy; electrical energy; to use windmills; to grind wheat or corn; to be called a wind turbine; through a gear transmission box; high speed shaft; to keep from turning too fast and being damaged; above 12 to 14 miles per hour; wind-generated electricity; to send over high power lines.

Exercise 32. Translate and comment upon the following grammar forms.

Have been using; can be used; is using; using; to turn; has to be high speed to turn; is turned; turning; pumped; to power; will keep from; being damaged; makes; is collected; to send; sent; spins; blowing; is found; must be high; to be attached, was found.

Exercise 33. Distribute the following words according to the part of speech into separate groups; define their suffixes where possible; translate them.

Energy, changed, through, many, windmill, electricity, transmission, speed, high, attach, generator, brake, keep, fast, smaller, usually, generate, produce, transformer, voltage, grinding, lift, mechanical, other, where, has, all, windy, single, electrical, efficiently, low-eying, too, either…or, each, Vabove, Holland, over, if, into, today.

Exercise 34. Find in text 2 the words that can be used both as a noun and a verb. Translate them.

Model: pump – to pump насос – качати

Exercise 35. Translate and discuss the following statements.

1. Knowledge is power. 2. Ocean energy is used to power our homes and businesses. 3. Great Powers make great future. 4. Harnessing the power of clean, alternative energy sources has become a necessity. 5. Hydraulic power plant or powerhouse uses moving water to make electricity.

Exercise 36. Combine the words of two groups to make all possible word combinations. Translate them.

Group I: mechanical, electrical, kinetic, wind, power, water.

Group II: work, house, plant, energy, mill, turbine, energy.

Exercise 37. Say whether the following statements are true or false. If the statement is wrong correct it. If true, enrich it with details.

1. The kinetic energy of the wind can be changed into other forms of energy. 2. Farmers have been using moving water for many years to pump water from wells. 3. Today, the wind is also used to make electricity. 4. Water mill grinds or mills grain, or is used to pump water. 5. You can use a single smaller wind turbine to power a home or a school.

Exercise 38. Find synonyms for the following words.

Rate, force, to make, to rise, speedy, to work out, to turn.

Exercise 39. Translate the words given in brackets into English complete the sentences.

1. The kinetic energy of the wind can be changed into either (механічна або електрична енергія). 2. Today, blowing wind is also used to spin the blades on a (повітряна турбіна). 3. The (лопатки турбіни) are attached to a hub that is mounted on a (вал, що обертається). 4. The shaft goes through a (коробка передач трансмісії) where the turning speed is increased. 5. Wind has to be this speed to turn the turbine fast enough to (виробляти електрику).

6. The turbines usually produce (від 50 до 300 кіловат електрики) each. 7. The (напруга) is increased to send electricity long distances over (лінії високої напруги).

Exercise 40. Translate into English.

1. Вітер використовують для виконання різних видів робіт.

2. Енергія вітру допомагає човну просуватись по воді, коли човен піднімає парус. 3. Впродовж багатьох сторіч фермери використовували вітряки для того, щоб качати воду з водоймищ та молоти зерно. 4. Сьогодні вітер також використовується для вироблення електрики. 5. Сучасний пристрій, що виробляє електрику за допомогою вітру, називається повітряною турбіною. 6. Вал проходить через коробку передач трансмісії, де підвищується швидкість обертання. 7. Високошвидкісний вал обертає генератор, який виробляє електрику.

Exercise 41. Answer the questions oт text 3.

1. What forms of energy can the kinetic energy of the wind be changed into? 2. How has wind energy been used for many years?

3. What device is called a wind turbine? 4. What is the difference between a wind turbine and a wind mill? 5. What disadvantages does a wind turbine have? 6. How can we use a lot of wind energy?

Exercise 42. Learn the following words and word combinations.

Solar - сонячний

decay – розкладатися, гнити

coal – вугілля

responsible – відповідальний

artificial – штучний, неприродній

deposit – родовище

swimming pool – плавальний басейн

curve – вигин, кривизна; гнути, вигинати(ся)

focus – зосередження, фокус; зосереджувати(ся), фокусувати

boil – кип’ятити, кипіти

steam – пара

plant – 1) рослина; 2) устаткування

reflect – відбивати (тепло, світло)

fluid – рідина

heliostat – геліостат

desert – пустеля

trough – жолоб

hit – удар; влучання; влучати

turn hot – нагрівати(ся)

ray – промінь

Exercise 43. Read, translate and give the gist of text 4.