Whuff wrote:
Wind generators.
Being an election year we might consider "wind powered electric generators" to avoid confusion.
I took a photo of the information they have at a rest stop on SR33 in Ohio where there is a wind farm.
Quite amazing on the size of everything. HUGE!
Here is the photo. You can zoom in on it and read all of the details.
My wife drives a 1974 VW thing. A thrill is being passed on the local freeway by these trucks carrying the blades; inevitably, the truck drivers will blast their horns and wave. I just hang on for my dear life.
From wind-watch.org
Note the blade sweep area from just under an acre to 1.5 acres!
The widely used GE 1.5-megawatt model, for example, consists of 116-ft blades atop a 212-ft tower for a total height of 328 feet. The blades sweep a vertical airspace of just under an acre.
The 1.8-megawatt Vestas V90 from Denmark has 148-ft blades (sweeping more than 1.5 acres) on a 262-ft tower, totaling 410 feet.
Another model being seen more in the U.S. is the 2-megawatt Gamesa G87 from Spain, with 143-ft blades (just under 1.5 acres) on a 256-ft tower, totaling 399 feet.
Many existing models and new ones being introduced reach well over 400 feet high. See the specs for several models at AWEO.org.
We have plenty of wind farms here in Texas and if anyone is ever in the area of Lubbock, check out the "American Wind Power Center" huge display of old wind mills to the huge wind turbines.
UXOEOD wrote:
John, if you do the math, calculate the circumference of the circle the tips of the blades create each rotation, and count the rotations per minute, than convert to mph, you will be seriously surprised at the speed the blade tips make!
From what I understand, the U.S.fines the company a stiff penalty for every eagle killed by the blades. I have calculated the tip speed. Surprising!
We have train loads of the propellers going thru here, last one I inspected was 154 feet long. The railcars are 90 feet alone, ( takes two cars for one propeller ) and they have stantions or uprights that hold the propellers from sticking out and hitting the signals when going around the spirals ( curves ). Saw a semi pull off for a rest area with a prop, the rest area was on the other side of the interstate, when he realized he couldn't make the turn, he had to back-up the off ramp. Lucky he had a pilot car to the rear, but it still took some time to do....wondered if he ever made it to a rest area. I heard they cost 4 million apiece to put up....takes alot of fresh air to pay that back...Nice pics Paul
That first one is beautiful; I love fog shots. But the road shows how massive these things are.
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