Wind turbine BLADES, WHAT WEARS OUT ON THEM?
Apr 9, 2022 11:43:08 #
Doctor Dave
Loc: Madisonville, Tx.
It seems that disposal of worn out wind turbine blades has become a real problem, but I find no one that explained what causes the blades become unfit for service.
Apr 9, 2022 11:44:18 #
microphor
Loc: Home is TN
Doctor Dave wrote:
It seems that disposal of worn out wind turbine blades has become a real problem, but I find no one that explained what causes the blades become unfit for service.
soon as we stop producing oil, it will be lack of grease! But good question.
Apr 9, 2022 12:22:47 #
Apr 9, 2022 14:16:08 #
Tiptop789
Loc: State of Denial
Doctor Dave wrote:
It seems that disposal of worn out wind turbine blades has become a real problem, but I find no one that explained what causes the blades become unfit for service.
I read the leading edge of the blades wear by water droplet impingement. Fancy words meaning water striking the leading edges of the blades.
Apr 9, 2022 21:45:30 #
Doctor Dave
Loc: Madisonville, Tx.
Tiptop789 wrote:
I read the leading edge of the blades wear by water droplet impingement. Fancy words meaning water striking the leading edges of the blades.
Thank you, that makes sense, but it seems that a refurbishing procedure would be less expensive than manufacturing an entirely new blade. The fatigue factor may be something unfixable.
Apr 10, 2022 05:41:04 #
Tiptop789 wrote:
I read the leading edge of the blades wear by water droplet impingement. Fancy words meaning water striking the leading edges of the blades.
Airplanes fly through the rain but you never hear of their wings wearing out.
Apr 10, 2022 10:56:40 #
microphor
Loc: Home is TN
rjoeholl wrote:
Airplanes fly through the rain but you never hear of their wings wearing out.
come to think of it, I haven't! Interestesting
Apr 10, 2022 11:29:40 #
Tiptop789
Loc: State of Denial
rjoeholl wrote:
Airplanes fly through the rain but you never hear of their wings wearing out.
Leading edges on wings do wear, but they can be replaced quickly and easily. The leading edges are polished aluminum while turbine blades are composite. A helicopter rotor blade might be a better comparison. I'm not sure of the exact answer but i they think have a special tape applied to the leading edge. The rotor blade will be spinning at 200-500 RPMs so it has to be perfectly balanced. Not only rain, but dust produces considerable wear on the blades.
Apr 10, 2022 14:48:39 #
Doctor Dave wrote:
It seems that disposal of worn out wind turbine blades has become a real problem, but I find no one that explained what causes the blades become unfit for service.
The lack of grease as was said, they k**l birds, they simply fall apart.
Apr 10, 2022 15:15:39 #
Don't be so sure, when the wing wears out on a plane you have two choices, 1 replace the wing or, number 2, junk the plane !
Apr 10, 2022 17:31:32 #
Tiptop789
Loc: State of Denial
Ray Smith wrote:
Don't be so sure, when the wing wears out on a plane you have two choices, 1 replace the wing or, number 2, junk the plane !
I'm not positive. Here's a link for leading egde repair of a Hawker 800.
https://cla.aero/corporate-home/corporate-aircraft-specialities/hawker-800/hawker-leading-edges/#:~:text=Because%20of%20this%2C%20leading%20edges,the%20operation%20of%20the%20aircraft.
Sometimes I've seen bird strikes (or ground equipment impacts) dent a a leasing edge and they're easily fixed.
Apr 10, 2022 18:48:00 #
Doctor Dave wrote:
It seems that disposal of worn out wind turbine blades has become a real problem, but I find no one that explained what causes the blades become unfit for service.
I posted on this subject a long time ago. As I remember, I hope correctly, these blades are subjected to large stress forces. To be as efficient as possible the blades are engineered to be quite long and light. The closest similar examples I can think of would be airplane wings. However, Turbine Wings, I believe are subject to larger stresses than airplane wings.
The composite materials, while very good, are not invulnerable to the wear and tear of time and wind. They eventually wear out. I believe the best description is fatigue. Unfortunately the composite materials that make large wind turbine blades so efficient, also make them a disposal nightmare at the end of their engineered lifespans. I think this article may shed better light on this subject than my explanation.
https://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/tb/pub/features/articles/8602
Apr 10, 2022 19:51:39 #
Apr 11, 2022 11:06:04 #
rjoeholl wrote:
Airplanes fly through the rain but you never hear of their wings wearing out.
The plane wings are not fiberglass. Fiberglass of that size will fatigue in the center. They cannot be repaired and if they fail during operations they tear up the gear box and generator.
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