Windmills installed in Racine County Wisconsin

[kyleservicetech]

Take a look at these new windmills, put up by a factory on the same grounds. These units are some 400 feet high.

Question, does anyone know where in the heck is the gear box and alternator for the giant fan blades

The local paper indicated these two units will provide about 20-30% of the power required by the factory.

(Photo taken with my Canon SX20IS camera standing in the same place, with the lense optically zoomed out.)

[CHELLIE]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

Take a look at these new windmills, put up by a factory on the same grounds. These units are some 400 feet high.

Question, does anyone know where in the heck is the gear box and alternator for the giant fan blades

The local paper indicated these two units will provide about 20-30% of the power required by the factory.

(Photo taken with my Canon SX20IS camera standing in the same place, with the lense optically zoomed out.)

[CHELLIE]

[CHELLIE]

[CHELLIE]

Wind turbine components : 1-Foundation, 2-Connection to the electric grid, 3-Tower, 4-Access ladder, 5-Wind orientation control (Yaw control), 6-Nacelle, 7-Generator, 8-Anemometer, 9-Electric or Machanical Brake, 10-Gearbox, 11-Rotor blade, 12-Blade pitch control, 13-Rotor hub.

[CHELLIE]

http://inhabitat.com/floating-wind-turbines/

[kyleservicetech]

Thanks Chellie

The only way the units in our neighborhood would work is if the alternator is direct drive. I'd thought about a 90 degree gear at the top, with a shaft down the column, with the alternator and stuff at the bottom, easy to get to.

In this case, that alternator must be located between the fan hub and the column, or even inside the fan hub itself?

Must be an optical illusion, an article with your lead indicates the alternator is some 20 feet in diameter.

I've seen those wind mill farms in California, for anyone that has not seen them, they are quite impressive to say the least. Interesting, one whole wind farm system was protected by just one of our three phase high voltage circuit breakers that the company I worked for manufactured.

[CHELLIE]

a lot of people make their own windmill generator from a washing machine motor that has a lot of Coils and magnets in it

http://hackaday.com/2009/01/03/washi...ine-generator/
http://www.thebackshed.com/windmill/...ingstarted.asp

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by CHELLIE

a lot of people make their own windmill generator from a washing machine motor that has a lot of Coils and magnets in it

Now that would be a challenge, since these motors are induction motors with electo-magnets inside.

[CHELLIE]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

Now that would be a challenge, since these motors are induction motors with electo-magnets inside.

these washing maching motors have permanet magnets in them

Here in Australia we are fortunate that Fisher & Paykel sell a washing machine that uses a large permanent magnet stepper like motor. These motors ( referred to as a F&P Smartdrive ) are easy to come by and make excellent wind generators. You will notice most of the windmills and projects on this site revolve around the F&P. The F&P do have a problem with startup cog, but we have found a few tricks to eliminate the problem.

http://www.thebackshed.com/windmill/...ingstarted.asp

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by CHELLIE

these washing maching motors have permanet magnets in them

Yeah, those would be the newer washing machine motors. I've got a couple of old 1/2 HP washing machine motors with the rotor made from aluminum and steel. As the articles point out, this type of motor would have to have the rotor machined down so high power permanent magnets can be glued it it.

Also have a couple of high power DC motors, that would be the way to go.

[CrimzonRider]

Lots of blades here too. New wind farm just north of here, funny thing is, power goes to Georgia!

Couple of pics are from my pilot car days.
First one is somewhere on a FM in west texas just off 287.
Second one is in Baytown, Tx at the port.

cr

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by CrimzonRider

Lots of blades here too. New wind farm just north of here, funny thing is, power goes to Georgia!

Couple of pics are from my pilot car days.
First one is somewhere on a FM in west texas just off 287.
Second one is in Baytown, Tx at the port.

cr

People don't realize the size of these things, until they see them laying on the ground.

[CrimzonRider]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

People don't realize the size of these things, until they see them laying on the ground.

Yes that is so true, it still amazes me too after 7yrs! Those in the stacks I think are the 62meter blades, I heard they are up to around 90meter blades now.

On the 62's, the machined bearing that holds the "prop" to the cell is 16'4" dia.
The cells on a 19 axle semi usually weigh over 250,000lbs.

Old driver told me once (Don't know if this is 100%true), each hand-made blade is matched with two others that are within 3lbs of each other. Going from memory I think blades weigh between 11,000 -13,000lbs.
I'm pretty sure they have automation now, to keep weight extremely in close tolerance.


cr

[FlyWheel]

Originally Posted by CHELLIE

http://inhabitat.com/floating-wind-turbines/

Jeez. I don't want to know what kind of prevailing winds it would take to keep those aloft!

Originally Posted by CrimzonRider

Lots of blades here too. New wind farm just north of here, funny thing is, power goes to Georgia!

Couple of pics are from my pilot car days.
First one is somewhere on a FM in west texas just off 287.

Second one is in Baytown, Tx at the port.


cr

I saw some of those being trucked along US-287 when I was riding along it last April. What really suprised me was not the size of the blades, but the fact that they were being hauled along the highway on a day with what felt like a 20MPH side wind. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/...id=277086&v=Bq

[CrimzonRider]

Originally Posted by FlyWheel

... highway on a day with a 20MPH side wind.

Yeah thats pretty much top end of threshold, both the trailer and blade flex quite a bit. Its usually left up to the drivers responsibility though they do get in a hurry.

BTW meant to say the other day Congrats on your ride, pretty awesome to ride the USA!

Christopher

[FlyWheel]

Thanks Crim. I enjoyed it immensely.