Windmill 43490 225171546 2008-07-12T07:32:33Z VolkovBot 3035831 robot Adding: [[sr:Вјетрењача]] {{otheruses4|machines that convert wind energy into mechanical energy| machines that convert wind energy into electricity see [[wind turbine]]s. Other uses}} A '''windmill''' is a machine that is powered by the energy of the wind. It is designed to convert the energy of the wind into more useful forms using rotating blades or sails. The term also refers to the structure it is commonly built on. In much of Europe, windmills served originally to grind [[cereal|grain]], though later applications included pumping water and, more recently, [[Electricity generation|generation of electricity]]. Recent electricity generating versions are referred to as wind turbines. [[Image:Molen Wageningen de Vlijt Windmill.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Netherlands|Dutch]] windmill in [[Wageningen]]]] == History == === Vertical axle windmills === The first practical windmills were the vertical axle windmills invented in eastern [[History of Iran|Persia]] by the Iranian geographer [[Estakhri]] in the [[ninth century]].<ref>http://www.cgie.org.ir/shavad.asp?id=123&avaid=3609</ref><ref name="Al-Hassan, Hill, p.54f.">[[Ahmad Y Hassan]], [[Donald Routledge Hill]] (1986). ''Islamic Technology: An illustrated history'', p. 54. [[Cambridge University Press]]. ISBN 0-521-42239-6.</ref> The authenticity of an earlier anecdote of a windmill involving the second caliph [[Umar]] (634&ndash;644 AD) is questioned on the grounds of being a 10th-century amendment.<ref>Dietrich Lohrmann, "Von der östlichen zur westlichen Windmühle", ''Archiv für Kulturgeschichte'', Vol. 77, Issue 1 (1995), pp.1-30 (8)</ref> Made of six to twelve sails covered in reed matting or cloth material, these windmills were used to grind corn or draw up water, and quite different from the European versions. A similar type of vertical shaft windmill with rectangle blades, used for irrigation, can also be found in 13th-century [[China]] (during the [[Jurchen]] [[Jin Dynasty, 1115-1234|Jin Dynasty]] in the north), introduced by the travels of Yelü Chucai to [[Turkestan]] in 1219.<ref name="needham volume 4 part 2 560">Needham, Volume 4, Part 2, 560.</ref> {{-}} === Horizontal axle windmills === [[Image:CycladesWindmill06749.jpg|thumb|upright|right|A fixed windmill typical of the [[Cyclades]] Islands]] {{Refimprove|date=February 2008}} Fixed windmills, oriented to the prevailing wind were, for example, extensively used in the [[Cyclades]] islands of Greece. The economies of power and transport allowed the use of these 'offshore' mills for grinding grain transported from the mainland and flour returned. A 1/10th share of the flour was paid to the miller in return for his service. This type would mount triangular sails when in operation. In North Western [[Europe]], the horizontal-shaft or vertical windmill (so called due to the dimension of the movement of its blades) dates from the last quarter of the 12th century in the triangle of northern [[France]], eastern [[England]] and [[Flanders]]. [[Joseph Needham]] states that the earliest known reference came in 1191 by a Dean Herbert of [[East Anglia]], who supposedly competed with the mills of the abbey of [[Bury St Edmunds]].<ref>Needham, Volume 4, Part 2, 555.</ref> These earliest mills were used to grind cereals. The evidence at present is that the earliest type was the [[post mill]], so named because of the large upright post on which the mill's main structure (the "body" or "buck") is balanced. By mounting the body this way, the mill is able to rotate to face the (variable) wind direction; an essential requirement for windmills to operate economically in North-Western Europe, where wind directions are various. By the end of the thirteenth century the masonry [[tower mill]], on which only the timber cap rotated rather than the whole body of the mill, had been introduced. In the Netherlands these stone towerlike mills are called "round or eight-sided stone stage mills, ground-sailers (windmills with long blades/sails reaching almost down to the ground), mound mills, etc." (Dutch: ronde/achtkante stenen stelling molens, grond-zeilers, beltmolens, etc.). Dutch tower mills ("torenmolens") are always cylindrical (such as atop castle or city wall towers). Due to the fact that only the cap of the tower mill needed to be turned the main structure could be made much taller, allowing the blades to be made longer, which enabled them to provide useful work even in low winds. Windmills were often built atop castle towers or city walls, and were a unique part of a number of fortifications in [[New France]], such as at [[Fort Senneville]]. [[Image:MeophamGreen.svg|thumb|upright|250px|left|Diagram of the [[smock mill]] at [[Killick's Mill, Meopham|Meopham]], [[Kent]] which uses a fantail and [[William Cubitt|Cubitt's]] patent sails]] The familiar lattice style of windmill [[windmill sail|sails]] (also called "common" sails) allowed the miller to attach sailcloths to the sails (while applying a brake). Trimming the sails allowed the windmill to turn at near the optimal speed in a large range of wind velocities. The [[Windmill fantail|fantail]], a small windmill mounted at right angles to the main sails which automatically turns the heavy cap and main sails into the wind, was invented by [[Edmund Lee]] in 1745, in England. The [[smock mill]] is a later variation of the tower mill, constructed of timber and originally developed in the sixteenth century for land drainage. With some subsequent development mills became versatile in windy regions for all kind of industry, most notably [[cereal|grain]] grinding mills, [[sawmill]]s (late 16th century), [[threshing]], and, by applying scoop wheels, [[Archimedes' screw]]s, and piston pumps, pumping water either for land drainage or for water supply. In 1772, Scottish millwright, [[Andrew Meikle]] developed the spring sail made from a series of connected parallel shutters that could be opened or closed according to windspeed. To do this the sails had to be stopped, but the sails also incorporated a spring which allowed the shutters to open a little more to prevent damage if the wind suddenly strengthens. In 1789, Stephen Hooper invented the roller reefing sail, which allowed automatic adjustment of the sail whilst in motion. In 1807, [[William Cubitt]] a Norfolk engineer, invented a new type of sail, known there on as patent sails, using a chain and a rod that passed through the centre of the windshaft. These sails had the shutters of Meikle's spring sails and the automatic adjustment of Hooper's roller reefing sails. This became the basis of self-regulating sails. These avoided the constant supervision that had been required up till then. With the [[industrial revolution]], the importance of windmills as primary industrial energy source was replaced by [[steam engine|steam]] and [[internal combustion]] engines. [[Polder]] mills were replaced by steam, or diesel engines. The industrial revolution and increased use of Steam and later Diesel power however had a lesser effect on the Mills of the [[Norfolk Broads]] in the [[United Kingdom]], these being so isolated (on extensive uninhabitable marshland), therefore some of these mills continued use as drainage pumps till as late as 1959. More recently historic windmills have been preserved for their historic value, in some cases as static exhibits when the antique machinery is too fragile to put in motion, and in other cases as fully working mills. See [[Flood control in the Netherlands#Windmills|Flood control in the Netherlands]] for use of windmills in land reclamation in the Netherlands. {{-}} ===In Canada and the United States=== [[Image:Beebe Windmill Isometric of Machinery Long Island NY.jpg|thumb|upright|right|An isometric drawing of the machinery of the Beebe Windmill. It was built in [[Bridgehampton, NY]] in 1820.]] Windmills feature uniquely in the history of [[New France]], particularly in [[Canada]], where they were used as strong points in fortifications.<ref name="Chartrand">Chartrand, ''French Fortresses in North America 1535–1763: Québec, Montréal, Louisbourg and New Orleans''</ref> Prior to the [[Battle of Quebec (1690)|1690 Battle of Québec]], the strong point of the city's landward defenses was a windmill called Mont-Carmel, where a three-gun battery was in place.<ref name="Chartrand"/> At [[Fort Senneville]], a large stone windmill was built on a hill by late 1686, doubling as a watch tower.<ref name="Chartrand41"/> This windmill was like no other in New France, with thick walls, square loopholes for [[musket]]s, with [[machicolation]] at the top for pouring lethally hot liquids and rocks onto attackers.<ref name="Chartrand41">Chartrand, p 41</ref> This helped make it the "most substantial [[castle]]-like fort" near [[Montreal]].<ref name="Chartrand38">Chartrand, p. 38</ref> In the [[United States]], the development of the '''water-pumping windmill''' was the major factor in allowing the farming and ranching of vast areas of North America, which were otherwise devoid of readily accessible water. They contributed to the expansion of [[rail transport]] systems throughout the world, by pumping water from [[water well|well]]s to supply the needs of the [[steam locomotive]]s of those early times. Two prominent brands were the Eclipse Windmill developed in 1867 (which was later bought by [[Fairbanks-Morse]]) and the [[Aermotor]], which first appeared in 1888 and is still in production. The effectiveness of the Aermotor's automatic governor, which prevents it from flying apart in a windstorm, led to its popularity over other models. Currently, the Aermotor windmill company is the only remaining water windmill manufacturer in the United States. They continue to be used in areas of the world where a connection to electric power lines is not a realistic option.<ref>[http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/weather/weatherwise/stories/MYSA092407.01A.State_windmills.3430a27.html Quirky old-style contraptions make water from wind on the mesas of West Texas]</ref> The multi-bladed wind [[turbine]] atop a lattice tower made of wood or steel was, for many years, a fixture of the landscape throughout rural America. These mills, made by a variety of manufacturers, featured a large number of blades so that they would turn slowly with considerable [[torque]] in low winds and be self regulating in high winds. A tower-top [[Transmission (mechanics)|gearbox]] and [[crankshaft]] converted the rotary motion into reciprocating strokes carried downward through a rod to the pump cylinder below. Windmills and related equipment are still manufactured and installed today on farms and ranches, usually in remote parts of the western United States where electric power is not readily available. The arrival of electricity in rural areas, brought by the Rural Electrification Administration ([[Rural Utilities Service|REA]]) in the 1930s through 1950s, contributed to the decline in the use of windmills in the US. Today, the increases in energy prices and the expense of replacing electric pumps has led to an increase in the repair, restoration and installation of new windmills. {{-}} ===Modern windmills=== [[Image:Windmill 02.JPG|thumb|upright|right|A modern [[Vestas]] windmill in [[Sweden]]]] {{main|Wind turbine}} The most modern generations of windmills are more properly called [[wind turbine]]s, or wind generators, and are primarily used to generate [[electricity]]. Modern windmills are designed to convert the energy of the wind into electricity. The largest wind turbines can generate up to 6MW of power (for comparison a modern [[fossil fuel power plant]] generates between 500 and 1,300MW). With increasing environmental concern, and approaching limits to [[fossil fuel]] consumption, [[wind power]] has regained interest as a [[renewable energy]] source. It is increasingly becoming more useful and sufficient in providing energy for many areas of the world. One area in which it is becoming rather popular is around the midwest of the United States where, due to great amounts of wind, turbines have become very useful. {{-}} ==Windpumps== [[Image:BrograveMill.JPG|thumb|left|[[Brograve Mill]], UK. An example of the derelict state of many [[Broadland]] Windpumps]] A '''windpump''' is a type of windmill used for pumping water from a [[water well|well]] or draining land. Windpumps are used extensively in [[Southern Africa]] and [[Australia]] and on farms and ranches in the central plains of the United States. In [[South Africa]] and [[Namibia]] thousands of windpumps are still operating. These are mostly used to provide water for human use as well as drinking water for large sheep stocks. [[Kenya]] has also benefited from the Africa development of windpump technologies. At the end of the 70s, the [[UK]] [[NGO]] [[Intermediate Technology Development Group]] provided engineering support to the Kenyan company Bobs Harries Engineering Ltd for the development of the Kijito windpumps. Nowadays Bobs Harries Engineering Ltd is still manufacturing the Kijito windpumps and more than 300 Kijito windpumps are operating in the whole of [[East Africa]]. [[The Netherlands]] is well known for its windmills. Most of these iconic structures situated along the edge of [[polders]] are actually windpumps, designed to drain the land. These are particularly important as much of the country lies below [[sea level]]. Many windpumps were built in [[The Broads]], of [[East Anglia]] in the [[United Kingdom]] for the draining of land. They have since been mostly replaced by electric power, many of these windpumps still remain, mainly in a derelict state (pictured), however some have been restored. {{clear}} On [[United States|US]] [[farm]]s, particularly in the Midwest, windpumps of the type pictured were used to pump [[water]] from farm wells for [[cattle]]. Today this is done primarily by [[electric]] pumps, and only a few windpumps survive as unused relics of an [[greenhouse effect|environmentally sustainable]] technology. ===Tjasker=== [[Image:Tjasker Sanpoel 04.JPG|thumb|A tjasker]] A tjasker is a type of drainage windmill found in the [[Netherlands]]. It is a simple design used for raising water where only a low head is required. ;Description A tjasker comprises four [[windmill sail|Common sails]] mounted on a windshaft. The windshaft sits on a tripod which allows it to pivot, and carries an [[Archimedes screw]] at its lower end. The screw raises water into a collecting ring, where it is drawn off into a ditch at a higher level, thus draining the land. The tjasker can only raise water to a relatively low height.<ref name=Tjasker>{{cite web|url=http://odur.let.rug.nl/polders/boekje/types.htm|title=The types of windmills|publisher=Odur|accessdate=2008-05-24}}</ref> *See also [[:nl:Tjasker|The Dutch Wikipedia article]]. ==Windmills in culture and literature== [[Image:Campo de Criptana Molinos de Viento 1.jpg|thumb|left|[[Spain|Spanish]] windmills in [[La Mancha]]]] ;Books [[Miguel de Cervantes]]'s book ''[[Don Quixote|Don Quixote de La Mancha]]'', which helped cement the modern [[Spanish language]] and is regarded as one of the greatest works of fiction ever published<ref>{{cite web | title=BBC - Don Quixote gets authors' votes (Tuesday, 7 May, 2002, 12:03 GMT 13:03 UK) | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1972609.stm}}</ref>, features an iconic scene in which Don Quixote attacks windmills that he believes to be ferocious giants. This gave international fame to [[La Mancha]] and its windmills, and is the origin of the phrase "[[tilting at windmills]]", to describe an act of futility. The Windmill also plays an important role in [[Animal Farm]], a book by [[George Orwell]]. In the book, an allegory of the [[Russian Revolution (1917)|Russian Revolution]] and the subsequent early [[Soviet Union]], the effort invested construction of a windmill is provided by the animals in the hope of reduced manual labour and increased living standards. ;People [[George Green]], a famous UK self-taught mathematician and physicist, owned and operated a windmill. [[Green's Windmill]] has been restored as cultural heritage.Sir [[Bernard Montgomery]] lived in a converted windmill after he retired. ;Music Windmills feature prominently in the [[Gorillaz]] track [[Feel Good Inc.]]. The track's lyrics themselves contain the line "windmill windmill for the land." The tracks attendant music video contains a windmill situated on an airborne [[island]] on which one of the [[Band (music)|band's]] members ([[Noodle (Gorillaz)|Noodle]]) sits playing a [[guitar]]. The same island also appears bearing both Noodle and the aforementioned windmill in the music video of the Gorillaz track [[El Mañana]] in which the island, Noodle and windmill come under [[Offensive (military)|heavy assault]] from two [[attack helicopter]]s. The island including all its inhabitants and structures subsequently crash. ;Films :1937 - [[Oh, Mr Porter!]] was partly filmed at Terling windmill in Essex. :1968 - [[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (film)|Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ]] features [[Cobstone Windmill]] in Buckinghamshire. :1974 - [[The Black Windmill]] was partly filmed at [[Clayton Windmills]] in Sussex. :2001 - [[Moulin Rouge!]] is set in the famous Paris caberet nightclub of the same name famous for its iconic red windmill mounted on the roof. ==See also== [[Image:Texas Windmill.JPG|thumb|right|A Windmill at the [[National Ranching Heritage Center]]]] *[[Éolienne Bollée]] *[[Renewable energy]] *[[Land reclamation]] *[[List of windmills]] *[[watermill]] *[[tension leg platform]] *[[wind generator]] *[[Don Quixote]] *[[Molinology]] *[[The International Molinological Society]] *[[klopotec]] *[[Mill machinery]] *[[Savonius wind turbine]] ==Notes== {{reflist|2}} ==References== * A.G. Drachmann: "Heron's Windmill," ''Centaurus'', 7 (1961), pp. 145-151 ==Further reading== *Ahmad Y Hassan, Donald Routledge Hill (1986). ''Islamic Technology: An illustrated history''. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-42239-6. *Chartrand, ''French Fortresses in North America 1535–1763'': Québec, Montréal, Louisbourg and New Orleans. *Dietrich Lohrmann, "Von der östlichen zur westlichen Windmühle", Archiv für Kulturgeschichte, Vol. 77, Issue 1 (1995) *A.G. Drachmann, "Heron's Windmill", Centaurus, 7 (1961). *Needham, Joseph (1986). ''Science and Civilization in China: Volume 4, Physics and Physical Technology, Part 2, Mechanical Engineering''. Taipei: Caves Books Ltd. * [[Hugh Pembroke Vowles]]: "An Enquiry into Origins of the Windmill", ''Journal of the Newcomen Society'', Vol. 11 (1930-31) ==External links== {{Sisterlinks|Windmill}} {{commons|Windmill}} *{{dmoz|Arts/Architecture/Building_Types/Mills/Windmills/|Architecture: Windmills}} *[http://earthsci.org/mineral/energy/wind/wind.html Earth Science Australia, Wind Power and Windmills] *[http://www.timsmills.info The International Molinological Society] *[http://www.windmillworld.com/ Windmills at Windmill World] *[http://www.molendatabase.nl/index_en.php The Mill Database, Europe] {{Wind power}} [[Category:Windmills]] [[Category:Grinding mills]] [[Category:Sustainable technologies]] [[Category:Agricultural buildings]] [[Category:Pumps]] [[Category:Post mills]] [[Category:Smock mills]] [[Category:Tower mills]] [[Category:Wind energy]] [[af:Windmeul]] [[ar:طاحونة هوائية]] [[bs:Vjetrenjača]] [[cs:Větrný mlýn]] [[da:Vindmølle]] [[pdc:Windbump]] [[de:Windmühle]] [[et:Tuuleveski]] [[el:Ανεμόμυλος]] [[es:Molino#Molinos de viento]] [[eo:Ventmuelejo]] [[fa:آسیاب بادی]] [[fr:Moulin à vent]] [[fy:Wynmûne]] [[ko:풍차]] [[hy:Հողմաղաց]] [[hr:Vjetrenjača]] [[id:Kincir angin]] [[is:Vindmylla]] [[it:Mulino a vento]] [[he:טחנת רוח]] [[ka:ქარის წისქვილი]] [[lb:Wandmillen]] [[li:Windmeule]] [[ms:Kincir angin]] [[nl:Windmolen]] [[ja:風車]] [[no:Vindmølle]] [[nn:Vindmølle]] [[pl:Wiatrak]] [[pt:Moinho de vento]] [[ro:Moară de vânt]] [[ru:Ветряная мельница]] [[sr:Вјетрењача]] [[fi:Tuulimylly]] [[sv:Väderkvarn]] [[ta:காற்றாலை]] [[vi:Cối xay gió]] [[tr:Yeldeğirmeni]] [[uk:Вітряк]] [[vec:Molin a vent]] [[zh:风车 (机械)]]