Check the flex

"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck) 07/18/2019 at 11:23 • Filed to: None

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I had to make a run to South Texas yesterday and it was the first time I’d seen the windmills running with a significant breeze. The surface winds were around 15 knots (17 mph).

I’m not sure of the exact blade length of these. Some generators run blades nearly 150 feet in length and are supported by 200' towers. Aeronautical charts for the area show minimum safe altitudes over 500 feet.

No matter. It’s still an amazing feat to have that much flex in something that big that’s spinning 10 to 15 rpm with a tip speed over 120 mph.

I’m impressed.

jimz > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/18/2019 at 11:29

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Weird flex but ok

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/18/2019 at 11:40

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It’s a hoax.

facw > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/18/2019 at 12:02

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I think at some point if the wind gets too strong the are supposed to brake the blades so that they don’t spin too fast (which is apparently more destructive, either to the blades or the generator) than the direct forces on the blades. Also it’s really astounding how big these things are these days. Here’s a pile of ~160ft long blade awaiting shipping in Houston in 2016:

Just look at the size of them compared to the rail cars (or anything really).

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/18/2019 at 12:47

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Impressive how they test them.  https://images.app.goo.gl/19FsgSpaWC89e9USA

TheRealBicycleBuck > facw 07/18/2019 at 13:51

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There’s a place near Gainesville, TX that makes the blades. I’ve seen them loaded on trucks.

You’re right about the brakes. There’s a video out there where the brakes fail and the windmill explodes because it runs too fast. 

TheRealBicycleBuck > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 07/18/2019 at 13:52

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Neat. 

Sammyno55 > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 07/18/2019 at 14:25

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Airplane wings and helicopter rotors flex like this as well. I work in aerospace testing and there are laboratories that have hydraulic bending machines to stress these parts. The deflection on these parts is crazy!

Shane Moore > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/18/2019 at 16:58

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Looks like you were in the Taft/Odem/Portland Area is that correct?

TheRealBicycleBuck > Shane Moore 07/18/2019 at 17:45

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Farther south.

Shane Moore > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/18/2019 at 17:56

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My condolences. 

jimz > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/21/2019 at 07:35

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don’t even think about what airplane wings do.