Electricals MidQuiz1

Anemometer

Measures wind speed and transmits the data directly to the controller.

Blades

Lifts and rotates when wind flows over them, forcing the rotor to spin. Most modern turbines feature two or three blades

Brake

Stops the rotor mechanically, electrically, or hydraulically during emergencies or high winds

Controller

Manages machine operation—starts the system at wind speeds around 8 to 16 mph and shuts it off near 55 mph to prevent structural damage from extreme winds.

Gear box

Connects the low-speed shaft to the high-speed shaft, increasing rotational speed to generate electricity efficiently

Generator

Converts mechanical rotation into 60-cycle AC electricity. Typically operates around 1,000 to 1,800 rpm using an off-the-shelf induction generator

High - speed shaft

Drives the generator at the high rotational speeds required to produce electricity.

Low - speed shaft

Rotates at lower speeds (about 30 to 60 rpm) directly connected to the rotor and turns the gearbox

Nacelle

Houses the internal operational components atop the tower, including the gearbox, low/high-speed shafts, generator, controller, and brake system

Pitch

Turns or "pitches" the blades out of the wind to control rotor speed and protect the rotor from damage in winds that are too high or too low to safely generate power

Rotor

Serves as the main component collecting wind energy and transforming it

into mechanical rotational power.

○ Composition: Consists of two or more blades and a protective hub that rotates around a central axis.

Tower

Supports the structure of the turbine elevated above ground. High towers allow turbines to capture stronger wind speeds found at higher altitudes to produce more electricity.

Function: Determines the overall structural design of the turbine based on wind flow orientation: ○ Upwind Turbines: Face directly into the wind. ○ Downwind Turbines: Face away from the wind. ● Wind Vane ○ Function: Measures wind

Wind direction

Function: Determines the overall structural design of the turbine based on wind flow orientation: ○ Upwind Turbines: Face directly into the wind. ○ Downwind Turbines: Face away from the wind.

Wind vane

Function: Measures wind direction

and communicates with the yaw drive to keep the turbine properly aligned into the wind

Yaw drive

Orients upwind turbines to keep them facing directly into the wind as wind directions change.

Yaw motor

Provides the physical power required to drive and rotate the yaw mechanism