Wind turbines are springing up around the world. In fact, wind power generation is the fastest growing source of alternative energy in the world. Wind turbines are such an attractive alternative because they create no pollution, consume no fossil fuels, and are a renewable resource. Today’s technological advancements in industrial equipment, materials of construction, and tower aerodynamics continues to produce towers with greater generating capacity.
Industrial Supplies For industrial equipments suppliers Wind Power Generation
Like any utility, wind power has to be 100% reliable, since everything stops if the power goes out. Industrial equipment for wind technology focuses on durable solutions that require a minimum of maintenance while withstanding everything that nature can throw at a tower through all four seasons.
Wind turbine blades showcase how technology is advancing what is possible in the field of alternative energy. The blades are made from a space age blend of aluminum and composite materials. The end result is a blade that has a low weight, a high strength, and a low rotational inertia, meaning that a blade can pick up the wind as it changes and reach maximum speed quickly. This blended material can also handle temperatures as low as 0 degrees and as high as 100 degrees for operation in a wide range of climates during all four seasons.
The actual structure of the wind turbine showcases another technological marvel in industrial equipment. Towers can be built on top of water with floating bases. A floating tower can be installed off shore in order to catch the sea winds without taking up real estate back on land. The coastlines offer a huge potential source of wind energy that can now be utilized with floating bases.
In order to cut down on maintenance needs, industrial supplies that are designed to be self sufficient are used in the design of turbines. For example, self-lubricating bearings are used within the generator to ensure a long lifetime between services. This solid lubricant block slowly releases lube during the course of operation, removing the need for a reservoir or a maintenance worker to constantly add grease through a port.
Putting Together A Wind Turbine Piece By Piece
Wind turbines are constructed in three general parts. The rotor assembly encompasses the tower’s blades and the main shaft that turns in the wind. The turbine section is what converts the wind into electrical energy. product development cycle product manager The structural assembly includes the tower itself, the support structures, and the yaw mechanisms that move the rotor into the prevailing wind. This system is the most common setup for horizontal axis wind turbines.
The rotor assembly is the feature piece of any wind tower. The large, looming blades catch the wind and rotate a slow moving shaft. The low speed shaft connects to a gearbox, which transfers the slow rotation into a fast rotation. On the other end of the gearbox is the high speed shaft which runs through the turbine. This high speed rotation is used to generate electricity by inducing a magnetic field via spinning around a copper wound stator.
These components are supported by structural industrial equipment. The tower itself is constructed up to 300 feet in height and has to sit upon a 50-foot concrete base. Internally, a yaw motor and drive are connected to a wind vane and anemometer to create a control loop that directs the face of the tower into the wind for maximum energy generation efficiency.
Industrial Equipment For Wind Farms
A single tower produces about 3 MWs of energy, as compared to a coal-fired power plant that generates 650 MW on average. So when talking about wind energy, we are talking about wind farms to house many towers. In addition, the ideal location for a tower is in regions with strong, consistent winds, meaning on top of mountains, along ridge lines, and along (or on) the coast. Most of these locations are relatively remote, requiring additional industrial supplies just to access these sites for routine and emergency maintenance. For example, all-terrain vehicles and boats, which would be uncommon in a power plant, would be a necessity for a wind farm.
Worker Safety And Industrial Supplies
Just like any industry, personal protective industrial equipment is necessary for maintenance workers. Any work done on an operational tower requires elevated work. Consequently, fall arrest systems are absolutely mandatory. Standard safety gear, like hard hats, is also necessary, in addition to non-conductive apparel for handling electrical components and warm, durable clothing.
In the end, wind power holds the potential to answer many of our energy issues.
