Supplemental Learning Module Forces & Equivalent Systems COHERENT APPLICATION THREADS CATs   Wind Turbines Supplemental Learning Module EK 301 MECHANICS 1 Wind Turbines Forces & Equivalent Systems Don Wroblewski Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering Associate Chair, Aerospace Engineering Undergraduate Program

Aerodynamic forces on blades WIND TURBINE FORCES Aerodynamic forces on blades Torque Aerodynamic forces in rotation direction generate useful power Wind Direction Thrust Aerodynamic forces in wind direction can cause blades to bend in high winds (called coning) Tower weight Nacelle and blade weight The nacelle, hub and blades can weigh as much as 200,000 lb Aerodynamic forces on tower Blades about 15,000 lbs each nacelle+hub+blades=200,000 lbs or about 100 tons tower 400,000 lbs or about 200 tons. Combined system weighs about the same as a 777 aircraft

WIND TURBINE FORCES DISTRIBUTED FORCES & EQUIVALENT SYSTEMS Distributed Aerodynamic Forces Equivalent Discrete Aerodynamic Forces V (Wind speed) Torque Forces FP FT y Thrust forces x Rotation