4 ms·
> Additionally (and as a demonstration of just how much stress they come under), while coming under said strain, they've been known to burst into flames I thou
by jdmichal 12y ago
> Additionally (and as a demonstration of just how much stress they come under), while coming under said strain, they've been known to burst into flames
I thought all wind turbines were built with brakes now exactly to prevent this and other more spectacular failure modes, like the blades fragmenting. They have a defined operating range, and if the wind isn't in that range the brakes engage and the blades don't move.
- 69_years_and 12y agoNot quite, if the wind is too strong the blades feather (edge on to the wind) brakes exist but are puny and are only for maintenance use. Some blades have a tip that the rotates and causes high drag in the event of feathering failing and going into an overspeed.