VOA标准英语2015--科学家致力于提高风力发电的效率

Scientists Aim to Boost Efficiency of Wind Farms 科学家致力于提高风力发电的效率

Modern wind turbines usually operate in groups or so-called "wind farms," some of them with more than 100 turbines.  But the air turbulence¹ they create decreases their overall efficiency. Scientists at Vanderbilt University are trying to solve this problem.

Wind energy is cheap and sustainable, and the number of installed wind turbines is rising everywhere in the world.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, wind turbines now supply nearly 5 percent of electrical power in the United States.

The average efficiency of wind turbines is about 50 percent.  But because of the turbulence they create, their interactions with each other in a wind farm tends to lower that number.

Observing what they call the "conversation" of three turbines placed in a wind tunnel, scientists at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, are trying to find a way to reduce the adverse² effects of the wake turbulences.

Engineering professor Doug Adams, the team leader, says the turbine blades are fitted with sensors⁴.

“We use that sensor³ to track the motion, to do motion tracking of the blade but monitor also what we call the dynamic response.  So every time a blade moves we are monitoring it and that tells us something about that conversation that is happening from one turbine to the next,” says he.

Adams says the sensors feed data to computers, which constantly adjust the rotors' blades - compensating⁵ for the loss of energy due to the wake effect.  The benefit comes not only in increased output but also in the reduction of wear on the turbine’s mechanical parts.  Savings of only 2 to 3 cents per kilowatt⁶ hour, he says, could mean a lot for turbine operators.

“That is a game changer from the standpoint of the viability⁷ of wind energy.  It becomes absolutely competitive with the fossil fuels that we rely on today.  Without subsidies⁸ it starts to become cost-competitive,” says he.

Adams says mutually-adjustable turbines could lead to wind farms producing more energy with smaller numbers of units, while reduction of fatigue⁹ may prolong their usefulness by as much as 10 years.

1 turbulence   

n.喧嚣，狂暴，骚乱，湍流

参考例句：

• The turbulence caused the plane to turn over.空气的激流导致飞机翻转。
• The world advances amidst turbulence.世界在动荡中前进。

2 adverse   

adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的

参考例句：

• He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
• The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。

3 sensor   

n.传感器，探测设备，感觉器（官）

参考例句：

• The temperature sensor is enclosed in a protective well.温度传感器密封在保护套管中。
• He plugged the sensor into a outlet.他把传感器插进电源插座。

4 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

5 compensating   

补偿，补助，修正

参考例句：

• I am able to set up compensating networks of nerve connections. 我能建立起补偿性的神经联系网。
• It is desirable that compensating cables be run in earthed conduit. 补偿导线最好在地下管道中穿过。

6 kilowatt   

n.千瓦

参考例句：

• They pay thirty fen per kilowatt hour.他们每度电付三角钱。
• The watt is a small unit of power so that we use the kilowatt instead.瓦特是小功率的单位，因此我们用千瓦代之。

7 viability   

n.存活(能力)

参考例句：

• What is required to achieve or maintain such viability? 要达到或维持这种生存能力需要什么？
• Scientists are experimenting to find ways to ensure the viability of seeds for even longer periods of time. 正如我们所说，科学家正在试验努力寻找让种子的生命力更加延长的方法。

8 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。