Structure and components of wind mill

Structure and components of wind mill

The simple structure of horizontal axis wind turbine (wind mill) shown in fig.5.11.

The following components are used in a wind mill.

(1)   Anemometer

Measure the wind speed and transmits wind speed data to the controller

(2)   Blades

Most turbines have either two or three blades. Wind blowing over the blades causes the blades to “lift” and rotate.

(3) Brake

A disc brake, which can be applied mechanically, electrically, or hydraulically to stop the rotor in emergencies.

(4) Controller

The controller starts up the machine at wind speeds of about 8 to 16 miles per hour (mph) and shuts off the machine at about 55 mph. Turbines do not operate at wind speeds above about 55 mph because they might be damaged by the high winds.

(5) Gear box

Gear connect the low-speed shaft to the high speed shaft and increase rotational speeds from about 30 to 60 rotations per minute (rpm) to about 1000 to 1800 rpm, the rotational speed required by most generators to produce electricity. The gear box is a costly (and heavy) part of the wind turbine and engineers are exploting “direct-drive” generators that operate at lower rotational speeds and don’t need gear boxes.

(6)   Generator

Usually an off-the-shelf induction generator that produces 60-cyclic AC electricity.

(7)   High speed shaft

Drives the generator.

(8)   Low-speed shaft

The rotor turns the low-speed shaft 30 to 60 rotations per minute.

(9)   Nacelle

The nacelle sits the lower and contains the gear box, low-and high-speed shafts, generator, controller, and brake. Some nacelle are large enough for a helicopter to land on.

(10) Pitch

Blades are turned, or pitched, out of the wind to control the rotor speed and keep the rotor form turning in winds that are too high or too.

(11) Rotor

The blades and the hub together are called the rotor.

(12) Tower

Towers are made from tubular steel (shown here), concrete, or steel lattice. Because wind speed increases with height, taller towers enable turbines to capture more energy and generate more electricity.

(13) Wind direction

This is an “upwind” turbine, so called because it operates facing into the wind. Other turbines are designed to run “downwind”, facing away from the wind.

(14) Wind vane

Measure wind direction and communicates with the yaw drive to orient the turbine properly with respect to the wind.

(15) Yaw drive

Upwind turbines face into the wind, the yaw drive is used to keep the rotor facing into the wind as the wind direction changes. Downwind turbines don’t require a yaw drive, the wind blows the rotor downwind.

(16) Yaw motor

Powers the yaw drive.