Wind Turbines Get Bigger and Smarter

Wind Turbines Get Bigger and Smarter Wind Turbines Get Bigger and Smarter Early explorers were probably the first to exploit the power of the wind, sailing their ships across unknown seas to explore new lands. Centuries later windmills were used across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia to process grain and pump water. This same technology was used in America to pull water from wells to transform vast acres of arid ground into rich farmland. The basics of wind power havent changed much over the centuries. The force of the wind turns propeller-like blades around a rotor, which is connected to the main shaft. The shaft then spins a generator to generate electricity. A wind turbine seems easy enough to build, but its actually very complicated, says Paul Veers, chief engineer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratorys National Wind Technology Center. Engineers must integrate aerodynamics, structural dynamics, and material fatigue with gear boxes, electric generators, and other component s, and connect it all to the grid. Wind turbines are the largest rotating structures in the world. The entire processfrom design to installation to operation and maintenancedeals with very large components. Wind turbines are immense machines, says Douglas Adams, prof of mechanical engineering at Purdue University and director of the Purdue Center for Systems Integrity. Onshore, utility-scale wind turbines stand nearly 300 feet off the ground and have rotor durchmessers approaching 300 feet. It is fascinating that the operation of such immense machines depends critically on very small things, such as the lubricating layer between the 1-micron-thick gear teeth in the gear box. Enercon E-126 is the worlds tallest wind turbine. Image Armin Kbelbeck / Wikimedia Commons. Bigger Is Better Bigger rotors continue to be the most dominant trend in wind energy in recent years. This is especially true for the offshore market. We havent hit the barrier yet for how large these machines can be, say s Veers. The only restriction for size on land is the difficulty in transporting parts. Offshore, wind turbines continue to get larger because components can be brought in by barge. Rotors have increased in size from about 150 feet in diameter 20 years ago to about 400 feet in diameter today, with towers over 300 feet in height. A bigger turbine diameter means a larger area can be swept a taller tower allows turbines to catch faster-blowing winds at greater distances from the ground. When combined, these trends enable the turbine toextractmore power from the wind. Smart Wind Turbines Smart wind turbines are one of the most important developments in wind energy technology. With their embedded sensors and data processing algorithms, smart wind turbines can recognize when wind conditions have changed (wind direction, speed, etc.), so the turbine control system can quickly adapt to those changes. This adaptive capability is a game-changer because it allows the turbine to maximize the po wer it produces, while simultaneously ensuring the reliability of the turbine is maintained, says Adams. Research has shown that the performance of the downstream wind turbines is significantly degraded when operating in the wakes of the upstream turbines. Understanding the evolution of the wind turbine wakes within the wind plant, and its dependence on the atmospheric stability and turbulence, are keys to improving performance and reducing the cost of energy in the coming years, says Shreyas Ananthan, wind program aerodynamicist for the Department of Energy. Wind turbines on a wind farm actually interact with one another through these wake effects, which occur when wind passes through the rotor of a wind turbine and passes downstream. The wake consists of a volume of lower velocity air that creates fluctuations downstream which then encounter the next rotors, and so on. Detailed computer modeling shows how turbulence in the atmosphere and complex topography impact the energy-captur e ability of wind turbines, as well as impact structural loads on the turbine blades. Moving Forward Turbines keep getting bigger, especially for offshore deployment. Turbines with rated power as large as 10MW to 20MW and rotor diameters as great as 500 feet are now being developed. Research areas that are critical for the future success of the wind industry include aerodynamicdesign of blades, advanced approaches to control the turbulent flow around the blades, lighter and structurally moreresilientmaterials for blades, gear box technology and power transmission systems,and energy storagetechnologies. The integration of advanced computational approaches with laboratory and field-scale experimentationis helping researchers understand the very complex interaction between turbulence in the atmosphere and the machine. Such knowledge, which was not available to theengineerswho designed the current generation wind turbines, will revolutionize wind turbine design, says Fotis Sotiropoulos , a civil engineer and director of St. Anthony Falls Laboratory and the EOLOS Wind Consortium at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Most importantly, this knowledge and advanced research tools will enable engineers to tackle in the near future the problem of wind plant scale optimization, something that has never been possible in the past. Mark Crawford is an independent writer. Register here for a free webinar on waste-to-energy technology. For Further Discussion It is fascinating that the operation of such immense machines depends critically on very small things- such as the lubricating layer between the 1-micron-thick gear teeth in the gear box.Prof. Douglas Adams, Purdue University

Here are 5 signs of a toxic workplace and what to do

Here are 5 signs of a toxic workplace and what to doHere are 5 signs of a toxic workplace and what to doFrom negative communication patterns to low morale, five indicators that your workplace is sapping your energy and mental health. Plus a new resource to help.The 2018 Oxford Dictionarys Word of the Year TOXIC. leid surprisingly, recent results from an anonymous survey found 52% of employees report they believe their work environment to be toxic.Is your workplace toxic? All workplaces have some challenges and negative characteristics, so it can be difficult to determine if your workplace has a normal amount of challenges, is seriously dysfunctional, or possibly really toxic. Here are five signs that will help you determine the degree to which your work environment may be dangerous to your mental health.Unhealthy communication patternsAn initial sign of a dysfunctional, toxic workplace is that there are significant problems in communication, and often across multiple areasbetween emp loyees and their supervisors, from management to supervisors, across departments, with suppliers, and even with customersLack of communication where employees actually find out about decisions made after they have been implementedIndirect communication sending messages through othersWithholding informationGiving misleading informationWhy is communication so key to a healthy organization? Because without effective communication, working together to accomplish the tasks of the organization is virtually impossible.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraPolicies and procedures are non-existent or poorly implementedHave you ever been a customer in a business where no one really seems to know what they are doing, or you get different answers to questions depending on who you ask, and eventually the employee just seems to say whatever and does what they want? Then youve experienced a company that has major problems with their policies and procedures being implemented.When a companys policies and procedures are bedrngnis followed, chaos, inconsistency, and poor quality follow. Customers, vendors, and employees wind up hating having to deal with the company and its staff because of the frustration experienced.The organization is led by one (or mora) toxic leadersWhether toxic leaders create toxic workplaces or toxic workplaces are a magnet for toxic leaders is not completely clearin either case, the two usually go together. The hallmark characteristic of a toxic leader is their narcissism. They are all about themselves. They view themselves as categorically brighter and more talented than anyone else around. As a result, they believe they are deserving of special treatmentthe rules that apply to everyone else really are beneath them.Toxic leaders consistently relate to others in a condescending manner, they take credit for others successes, and they manipulate others to ensure that they look good. Trust and teamwork deteriorate in their areas they have a high turnover rate in their department, and they will eventually destroy the health of the organization.Negative communication patternsA toxic work environment exudes negative communication across the organization and in multiple forms in fact, negativity becomes a defining characteristic of the organization.Grumbling and complaining by employees are ubiquitousstaff can find something to complain about almost anytime. Next, sarcasm and cynicism show up, demonstrating an increasing lack of trust of the management and leadership, and turns into a low-level seething disgruntlement. Finally, making excuses and blaming others becomes widespread and commonplace no one seems to be willing to accept responsibility for their decisions or actions.Eventually, team members either start to withdraw, stop interacting with others, or leave the organization.Your personal life is affected negatively on many frontsW hen a workplace is toxic, by definition, it is unhealthy and damaging to those who work there. Individuals who work in toxic work environments begin to see problems with their own personal health. This can include physical symptoms such as not being able to sleep, gaining weight, and having increased medical problems.Emotionally, they become more discouraged, which eventually can lead to depression. For some, they are more irritable, touchy, and demonstrate problems managing their anger. Others experience anxiety and a general sense of dread when they think about work.Finally, you know your work is affecting you negatively when your friends and family start to make comments on how youve changed, or you seem stressed and maybe you need to talk to someone. When your personal relationships are impacted, it is time to take a serious look at what is going on.The bad news is that many, many workplace cultures continue to be seriously unhealthy (toxic?) - with seemingly little understandi ng from top level leaders why this is the case and what to do to improve their culture. One reason, I believe, is the presuppositions they approach the question what is work? with. Work is not just getting tasks done, and it is clearly not just making money. These views lead to a commoditization of employees - that they are just resources to be used to attain goals.The good news is that many, many workplaces - including large multinational corporations, large government agencies, and all kinds of businesses and organizations - are finding and starting to use our resources. They are being challenged to think about the people on their teams - and understand that we all have value, and are learning how to affirm employees through authentic appreciation. Good news indeedThis article was originally published on Appreciation at Work.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study fi nds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong peopleHere are 5 signs of a toxic workplace and what to doFrom negative communication patterns to low morale, five indicators that your workplace is sapping your energy and mental health. Plus a new resource to help.The 2018 Oxford Dictionarys Word of the Year TOXIC. Not surprisingly, recent results from an anonymous survey found 52% of employees report they believe their work environment to be toxic.Is your workplace toxic? All workplaces have some challenges and negative characteristics, so it can be difficult to determine if your workplace has a normal amount of challenges, is seriously dysfunctional, or possibly really toxic. Here are five signs that will help you determine the degree to which your work environment may be dangerous to your mental health.Unhealthy communication patternsAn initial s ign of a dysfunctional, toxic workplace is that there are significant problems in communication, and often across multiple areasbetween employees and their supervisors, from management to supervisors, across departments, with suppliers, and even with customersLack of communication where employees actually find out about decisions made after they have been implementedIndirect communication sending messages through othersWithholding informationGiving misleading informationWhy is communication so key to a healthy organization? Because without effective communication, working together to accomplish the tasks of the organization is virtually impossible.Policies and procedures are non-existent or poorly implementedHave you ever been a customer in a business where no one really seems to know what they are doing, or you get different answers to questions depending on who you ask, and eventually the employee just seems to say whatever and does what they want? Then youve experienced a company that has major problems with their policies and procedures being implemented.When a companys policies and procedures are not followed, chaos, inconsistency, and poor quality follow. Customers, vendors, and employees wind up hating having to deal with the company and its staff because of the frustration experienced.The organization is led by one (or more) toxic leadersWhether toxic leaders create toxic workplaces or toxic workplaces are a magnet for toxic leaders is not completely clearin either case, the two usually go together. The hallmark characteristic of a toxic leader is their narcissism. They are all about themselves. They view themselves as categorically brighter and more talented than anyone else around. As a result, they believe they are deserving of special treatmentthe rules that apply to everyone else really are beneath them.Toxic leaders consistently relate to others in a condescending manner, they take credit for others successes, and they manipulate others to ensure that they look good. Trust and teamwork deteriorate in their areas they have a high turnover rate in their department, and they will eventually destroy the health of the organization.Negative communication patternsA toxic work environment exudes negative communication across the organization and in multiple forms in fact, negativity becomes a defining characteristic of the organization.Grumbling and complaining by employees are ubiquitousstaff can find something to complain about almost anytime. Next, sarcasm and cynicism show up, demonstrating an increasing lack of trust of the management and leadership, and turns into a low-level seething disgruntlement. Finally, making excuses and blaming others becomes widespread and commonplace no one seems to be willing to accept responsibility for their decisions or actions.Eventually, team members either start to withdraw, stop interacting with others, or leave the organization.Your personal life is affected negatively on many frontsWhen a workplace is toxic, by definition, it is unhealthy and damaging to those who work there. Individuals who work in toxic work environments begin to see problems with their own personal health. This can include physical symptoms such as not being able to sleep, gaining weight, and having increased medical problems.Emotionally, they become more discouraged, which eventually can lead to depression. For some, they are more irritable, touchy, and demonstrate problems managing their anger. Others experience anxiety and a general sense of dread when they think about work.Finally, you know your work is affecting you negatively when your friends and family start to make comments on how youve changed, or you seem stressed and maybe you need to talk to someone. When your personal relationships are impacted, it is time to take a serious look at what is going on.The bad news is that many, many workplace cultures continue to be seriously unhealthy (toxic?) - with seemingly little understanding fro m top level leaders why this is the case and what to do to improve their culture. One reason, I believe, is the presuppositions they approach the question what is work? with. Work is not just getting tasks done, and it is clearly not just making money. These views lead to a commoditization of employees - that they are just resources to be used to attain goals.The good news is that many, many workplaces - including large multinational corporations, large government agencies, and all kinds of businesses and organizations - are finding and starting to use our resources. They are being challenged to think about the people on their teams - and understand that we all have value, and are learning how to affirm employees through authentic appreciation. Good news indeedThis article was originally published on Appreciation at Work.

How to Overcome Your Inexperience at a New Job - The Muse

How to Overcome Your Inexperience at a New Job - The MuseHow to Overcome Your Inexperience at a New Job There are few things more exciting than landing the job of your dreams. There are also few things more heart-stopping than leaving at the end of your first day only to realize youre probably the least experienced person on your team. First things first, lets do a quick pep talk Youre there because youre qualified- dont feel any differently. Now that we got that out of the way, here are some things you can do to catch on quickly and make everyone forget that youre the newbie.1. Always Run Ahead of ScheduleWhen it comes to proving yourself in the workplace, you cant go wrong with always being early (unless you show up, say, two hours before a meeting). By giving yourself this extra time, youre bedrngnis only making a very physical statement- Im here, Im present, and Im ready to work- but youre also giving yourself time to play catch up if needed. So, get to the office 10 minutes earl ier than youre asked to in the morning and stay 10 minutes later in the evening to get a head start on the next day. Whenever possible, show up to meetings in advance and give yourself some time to grab a seat and look over any related notes before everyone else gets there. Along those preparation lines, turn in projects a day (or more) before theyre due- so that if changes are needed, you wont be behind schedule, and your boss wont look at you like youve very possibly ruined everything. 2. Ask the Right Questions at the Right TimeYour manager and your teammates know that you wont walk in on day one knowing everything. So, youre not only encouraged to ask questions, but in most offices, its expected that you will. (Fun fact Doing this is an easy way to sound smarter) Following up on anything youre unsure about shows that youre proactive and doing your best to get the hang of things as fast as possible. By inquiring throughout your training (and not after a week of trying to figure o ut how to access the shared drive), youll not only learn faster and waste less time, but youll show that youre actively listening. Pro tip Why? is a completely valid question (assuming you dont ask it like, But whyyyyyyy?). Unlike other ones that pertain to your specific duties, this one shows youre curious about the entire process, and not just your part of it. Right off the bat, it proves youre a big picture thinker whos interested in putting all the pieces together. 3. Ask the Right part (or Search Engine)When looking for certain answers, try doing the research yourself first (Google is your best friend)- that way, youll be able to approach your manager with as much information as possible. Now, obviously, you shouldnt be searching the internet high and low for in-office processes, but rather industry acronyms youre unfamiliar with that keep getting brought up or people or companies mentioned as major influencers. And if its time to ask a live human being for assistance, think ab out whom youre approaching Is your boss the right person to be asking about your healthcare policy, or would HR be a better choice? Does your co-worker really understand the project youre designing for another department, or should you contact someone on that team? In general, you always want to gauge your audience. If the person looks busy, keep your questions short- or choose another peer whos more available. And, if he or she seems excited to talk to you, take advantage of the opportunity to ask even more4. Make Yourself as Available as Possible (in the Beginning)Lets start this one with a haftungsausschluss You do not need to be answering emails at 2 AM. Burning out before your first months over is a bad idea. But rather, you should expect to work longer hours in your first few weeks as you get the swing of things. Not only will you pick up more information, but youll show from the start that youre reliable (even if youre not the most experienced). If a project sounds up your al ley (and you can do it without learning an entirely new skill), volunteer to take it on or help out. Overall, be willing to volunteer for a number of responsibilities, no matter how big or small. For example, be the one to step up and take on more of the busy work- your boss will notice your work ethic and flexibility, and youll be soon be considered for more significant assignments.5. Dont Remind People of Your Age or InexperienceAfter all your hard work, youd hate to ruin your reputation with a joke about how funny it is that you still dont know how to use Excel, or that youre not used to waking up before noon, or how back when you started in marketing, the Twitter founder wasnt even born yet. These comments rarely make people laugh, but rather remind them that you are in fact the new amateur in town.So, rather than kidding around about what you dont know, talk with others about what you recently learned about your job, your company, or even about the industry. Rather than highli ghting areas youre not strong in, this instead points out how eager you are to soak up knowledge. Even when youre speaking more casually, make sure theyre highlighting your competencies, rather than the areas in which youre still lacking.Just because youre inexperienced doesnt mean you cant make a good impression. Use these tips to prove right away that youre a key member of the team- and someone with a lot of qualifikation to do really big and impressive things.How do you overcome your inexperience in a new job? Let me know on Twitter