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Title: Europe's largest windfarm shut down after 14-tonne turbine blade snaps
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URL Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art ... -shut-turbine-blade-snaps.html
Published: Mar 23, 2010
Author: By Daily Mail Reporter
Post Date: 2010-03-23 22:28:31 by DeaconBenjamin
Keywords: None
Views: 373
Comments: 17
Europe's largest windfarm was shut down after a blade snapped off one of the huge turbines, operators said today. All 140 turbines at the Whitelee windfarm on Eaglesham Moor near Glasgow are being inspected by engineers following Friday's incident. ScottishPower Renewables said mechanical failure or a lightning strike could be to blame for the breakage, which it described as 'highly unusual'. The 150ft, 14-tonne, fibreglass blade broke off in the early hours in windy conditions and landed at the base of its tower. Operators at the site's 24-hour control room were alerted to the damage by the turbine's automatic system and immediately closed it down. Sixty-five turbines have begun operating again following an inspection led by turbine manufacturers Siemens. The examination is expected to be completed by the end of the week. ScottishPower Renewables managing director Keith Anderson said: 'This type of incident is exceptionally rare and highly unusual. 'However, the safety of our people and the public is our first priority. 'While the investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing, our engineers continue to conduct an internal and external examination of all turbine blades at the wind farm.' The Whitelee windfarm, located around 20 minutes from Glasgow city centre, was officially switched on by Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond in May last year. Its turbines can generate 322MW of electricity, enough to power 180,000 homes. Two planned extensions will take the number of turbines to 215 by 2012.
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#1. To: DeaconBenjamin (#0)
Could one of those blades really weigh 28,000 pounds?
You never felt how heavy fiber glass is Meanie? Surely a heavy mover like you has bench pressed a Corvette or two in his life.
I once owned a '58 Corvette and I had a job building surfboards for 7 years. No, I don't think that blade weighs 28,000 lbs. What's a "heavy mover"?
Just a joke, Meanie. I am poking good natured fun at the absolute starkness of your fear of a Latino/a planet. I don't always agree with you, but I respect the honest conviction of your opinions. You don't try to wag he dog as some in here do, so I always listen to what you say and think about it - as in food for thought. Hey, as far as the mega wind blade goes, I can't argue with tht kind of experiance with fiber glass. I believe you, that blade can't be that heavy.
more from Composites Technology April 2004 While an optimized glass-only design was sufficient for its 54P, LM is turning to carbon fiber in the highly loaded areas of its 61.5m/200 ft blade. The 54P weighs 13,500 kg/29,700 lb. Using the 54P as a baseline, the "cubic rule of thumb" predicts a weight of 19,950 kg/43,890 lb for the longer blade. But the new 61.5P is expected to weigh in at about 18,000 kg/39,600 lb. Four prototype 61.5P blades, which use an epoxy matrix, were fabricated in the first quarter of 2004; one will undergo static testing while the other three will be installed by July on a prototype turbine. the euros are leaving america behind on wind technology, because we can steal oil from iraq and iran at gunpoint, and dont have to screw around with this sissy windpower crap.
I do know that the winds in th Columbia River gorge are consistent and astounding. I would have to agree with you we just don't do enough development in this department to please me. And we have many places this sort of power production could be profitable if it were done right. Wind is a much better choice than coal or oil.
When it blows.
#9. To: DeaconBenjamin (#8)
(Edited)
heaven forbid anyone comes around to admitting there's a need for alternative energy ...my goodness! ...that would imply that we're gonna be faced with oil shortages... the Institute for Energy Research, which put out that report on denmark and wind, is financed by the oil and coal companies... including, until recently, the AEI/PNAC'S allies at exxon... and their solution to energy shortages has nothing at all to do with windmills, and has everything to do with grabbing oil at gunpoint and protecting israel. if there was a looming energy shortage, and someone started connecting the dots between PNAC's need for a "new pearl harbor", impending energy shortages, and 9/11... well, that wouldnt be so pretty good. so, what that report boils down to is: another attempt to deny that neocons had motives to stage 9/11 (their "new pearl harbor") in order to kickstart their oil acquisition project... (we're supposed to overlook the fact that, if PNAC said they needed "a new pearl harbor", then they must have had a motive to make their "new pearl harbor" happen) ...because, if you can deny you had a motive to commit the crime, you wont be on the suspect list.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest"The 150ft, 14-tonne, fibreglass blade broke off in the early hours in windy conditions and landed at the base of its tower."
#2. To: Big Meanie (#1)
#3. To: Ferret (#2)
#4. To: Big Meanie (#3)
#6. To: Ferret (#4)
Carbon/glass hybrids used in composite wind turbine rotor blade design
#7. To: groundresonance (#6)
#8. To: Ferret (#7)
Wind is a much better choice than coal or oil.
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