Wind turbine: Difference between revisions
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Although there are many ways that the wind can be used to turn a turbine, this site concerns the 3-bladed horizontal-axis design that is usually used. | Although there are many ways that the wind can be used to turn a turbine, this site concerns the 3-bladed horizontal-axis design that is usually used. | ||
The only major design difference is direct-drive versus gearbox-driven generators. The former used to be primarily used in smaller | The only major design difference is direct-drive versus gearbox-driven generators. The former used to be primarily used in smaller wind turbines for on-site home and farm use but are increasingly used in larger wind turbines for the advantage of fewer moving parts. The gearbox on wind turbines is a common site of mechanical failure. Direct-drive generators, however, because the rotor speed is slower, require many – up to tenfold – more magnets, about a third of whose composition is the rare earth metal neodymium. The supply of rare earth metals is limited, and their mining and processing are highly toxic and environmentally harmful.<ref>https://kirbymtn.blogspot.com/2017/05/rare-earths-and-wind-turbines-yes-its.html</ref> | ||
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Revision as of 20:09, 27 August 2017
Although there are many ways that the wind can be used to turn a turbine, this site concerns the 3-bladed horizontal-axis design that is usually used.
The only major design difference is direct-drive versus gearbox-driven generators. The former used to be primarily used in smaller wind turbines for on-site home and farm use but are increasingly used in larger wind turbines for the advantage of fewer moving parts. The gearbox on wind turbines is a common site of mechanical failure. Direct-drive generators, however, because the rotor speed is slower, require many – up to tenfold – more magnets, about a third of whose composition is the rare earth metal neodymium. The supply of rare earth metals is limited, and their mining and processing are highly toxic and environmentally harmful.[1]