The wind is a fickle source of power. Windspeeds are frequently too low to be of any practical use, so that windpower has generally remained a marginal resource. Since the inception of windpower around 1000 AD, technology has been deployed to obtain the most economical power from wind. The author traces its technical evolution, concentrating on the growth in understanding of wind and charting crucial developments in windmill design. The history of the windmill is focused on North Western Europe, drawing on the origins of the first horizontal windmills in Persia, Tibet and China. Industrial applications such as in textiles, papermaking and mining are examined. Gradually, windmills were improved but were finally eclipsed by steam engines in the nineteenth century due to increased levels of industrialisation. The book concludes with a look at the recent re-emergence of windpower as a viable source of power in the wake of the energy crisis.
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'Hills' Power from Wind, there is no doubt, is the definitive history of the technology developed over the ages to harness the power of the wind … This scholarly history will be useful to anyone professionally interested in the history of technology.' Benito Müller, Journal of Energy Literature
' … well written, contains a lot of valuable information with many good pictures, and moreover includes interesting contextual aspects. Thus, it serves as a most welcome addition to the history of wind power technology.' Kristian Hwidfelt Nielsen, Centaurus
' … well written, contains a lot of valuable information with many good pictures, and moreover includes interesting contextual aspects. Thus, it serves as a most welcome addition to the history of wind power technology.' Kristian Hwidfelt Nielsen, Centaurus
Book Description
This is the first general treatment of windpower in English, covering the unpredictable nature of wind and focusing on the technical evolution and industrial application of windpower. The book also focuses on the re-emergence of windpower in recent years as a viable source of power in the wake of the energy crisis.
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The power of the wind was well recognised in antiquity, when people took advantage of it to propel ships. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
The power of the wind was well recognised in antiquity, when people took advantage of it to propel ships. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
By Woodham
Format:Paperback
If you are looking for the ultimate book on this subject, then this is it. Here you have a wide ranging history of the winmill presented in a very readable way, but still containing a feast of technical detail. An excellent book which 'does exactly as it says on the cover.'
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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5.0 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
34 of 34 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
More depth on windmills
5 July 2000
By Innovan
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
More depth on the actual mechanics of windmills than anywhere else currently published in English. The chapter on Sails is the only treatment I've found, and explains the different windmill sail types quite understandably. The governor mechanisms introducted to smooth out windgusts into smoother power sources are also very interesting, while not bogging down the text. For those interested in the math and equations, the biography lists extensive historical sources.
Very good coverage of British and Dutch windmill technology. American style windmills, only used to pump water, are sparsely covered --"A Field Guide to American Windmills" is not in danger of being challenged here.
Windmills being used to grind grain or pump water are of course well covered, but the harnessing of wind for other industrial uses such as sawing in lumbermills, pulping paper, and uses in wool industry are also explained in their own chapters. Good to see these lessor subjects expanded on.
The author does spend some time reiterating the standard arguments for where vertical windmills *didn't* originate historically, but holds back from stating the growing if still controversial view of Viking origin for this invention sometime between 700-1000 AD. He simply states the known case of the earliest recorded windmills existing in Europe around 1300 AD, and Persians recording the first windmills they'd seen being built by the Crusaders and then spreading the technology East, and only in crude form. Hopefully future archeology digs will settle this question.
Other historical technology books focus on recording specific historical windmills and their sites. This book gives the overview on how construction and mechanical methods improved, how those improvements spread (not uniformly!), and which proved best in actually getting the job done. While most windmills must by necessity remain with their sails stripped and idle as part of preservation, this book gives a detailed view of how they actually worked and moved in their time.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Power from Wind
8 Jan 2011
By Frank Mc
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Wonderful book full of descriptive line drawings, b&w photos, history and observations. A real gem for teachers and students interested in early wind power and its technological evolution.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wind energy history book
29 Sep 2009
By G. Brewer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
This book was a great buy. Compared to the college's price this was the most cost effective and was in Great condition. I would recommend the seller, because of his prompt delivery and quality.
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