What are wind turbine encoders?
May 17, 2011 by Windpower Engineering
Filed under Wind Basics
Excerpt: These devices indicate the angular position of a rotating shaft. They are described most often as incremental or absolute. Incremental encoders: This version needs an input voltage, often between 5 and 30 Vdc. The design is similar to a rotary switch in that it is on or off, so the output is 0 or …
What are the issues with cables in wind turbines?
May 17, 2011 by Windpower Engineering
Filed under Cables, Wind Basics
Excerpt: The issue surrounding cables is their flexibility at low temperatures. Resilience cables for wind turbines should be Wind Turbine Tray Cable (WTTC) approved, and NFPA 79 (12.2.2) rated for constant flex and high performance. Cables in the nacelle carry low-voltage control signals, data, and communic …
What are the electrical & electronic components in a wind turbine?
May 17, 2011 by Windpower Engineering
Filed under Electrical Systems, Wind Basics, Wind Power Generators
Excerpt: Motors and drives: nacelles on utility scale turbines are filled with motors and drives. The latter devices are part of the turbine controls that tell motors what to do. Generally, electric motors pitch the blades on turbines with less than 1.5 MW outputs and point nacelles in appropriate directions …
What is the equipment used in installing wind turbines?
May 16, 2011 by Windpower Engineering
Filed under Construction, Wind Basics, Wind Turbine Installation
Excerpt: Equipment can be anything used by companies to erect or maintain a wind farm. This small space will deal mostly with cranes because these have been specialized to lift heavy loads to considerable heights, mostly in response to a quest for taller towers. Other equipment, such as the road graders and …
What is wind turbine condition monitoring and how is it useful?
May 16, 2011 by Windpower Engineering
Filed under Condition Monitoring, Wind Basics
Excerpt: Condition monitoring is one way to keep tabs on all the equipment in a nacelle without a daily visit. SCADA systems provide some of this information, but a properly applied condition monitoring system provides more detail. The idea is to mount sensors on bearings, gearboxes, and generators. Press …
What are the different types of wind turbine brakes?
May 16, 2011 by Windpower Engineering
Filed under Mechanical Components, Wind Basics
Excerpt: Slowing and halting an 80-m rotor involves converting its kinetic energy into heat. Of course, there are several design decisions here. Rotor brakes control overspeed, and provide parking and emergency braking. These brakes can mount on the rotor (low-speed shaft) on the generator (high-speed sh …
How are wind turbine blades changing?
May 16, 2011 by Windpower Engineering
Filed under Mechanical Components, Turbine Blades, Wind Basics
Excerpt: Rotor blades, like aircraft wings, are essentially cantilevered beams with aerodynamic exteriors. Early blades were made of wood. More recently, they consist of fiberglass and epoxy resins manufactured by reaction injection molding in rather complex equipment. The quest for greater power will demand …
What are the different bearings used in wind turbines?
May 16, 2011 by Windpower Engineering
Filed under Bearings, Mechanical Components, Wind Basics
Excerpt: Turbines use a wide variety of bearings. Large ones include huge 2-m diameter main-shaft bearings with two opposing rows of cylindrical rollers to handle enormous thrust and radial loads. These support the shaft that holds the hub and rotor. Slew bearings mount between nacelles and towers to let nac …
