Wind turbine weights to be halved by new technology

A new and innovative mechanical power transmission system for wind turbines has managed to reduce their weight by about fifty per cent. The innovative system has also increased the efficiency of the wind turbines

The new mechanical power transmission system was inspired by the vee pulley assembly and sprag clutch. The system was created by Renold Clutches & Couplings of Cardiff for an overseas wind turbine manufacturer who sought anonymity.

The revised assembly is linked to a gearbox through a Renoldflex torsionally rigid coupling. This lets the gearbox alter the pitch angle of the turbine’s rotors to comply with the prevailing wind conditions.

The majority of wind turbines utilise fixed-speed rotors and in high wind conditions they have to deal with huge torque variations that can lead to discrepancies in generator output power of up to a hundred per cent. The new design gets around this problem by utilising a gearbox and clutch combination that lets the rotor speed be altered by changing the pitch angle of the blades. This enables the generator output to be kept at a steady level, irrespective of fluctuations in wind velocity. If an over speed happens, the rotor adopts a fully feathered position and will cut out, but the clutch will allow the generator to continue operating.

Standard wind turbine assemblies demand weighty and very strong construction to handle heavy stress loads in situations of high wind. The new design weighs just half of what the traditional designs weighed. This consequently leads to a reduction in operating expenses.